On This Day

Articles of the Warsaw Confederation are signed, granting religious freedom in Poland

The Warsaw Confederation, also called the Compact of Warsaw, was a political-legal act signed in Warsaw on 28 January 1573 by the first Convocation Sejm (Sejm konwokacyjny) held in the Polish...

The Warsaw Confederation, also called the Compact of Warsaw, was a political-legal act signed in Warsaw on 28 January 1573 by the first Convocation Sejm (Sejm konwokacyjny) held in the Polish Commonwealth. Convened and deliberating as a confederation between 6 and 29 January 1573, during the Commonwealth's first interregnum period (1572–1574), it aimed to form a general confederation to prepare the election of a new king of Poland and ensure continuity during the interregnum. The confederation also pursued the goal of a religious tolerance edict, while ensuring the political equality of dissenters with Catholics.

Historical Significance

The Warsaw Confederation, also called the Compact of Warsaw, was a political-legal act signed in Warsaw on 28 January 1573 by the first Convocation Sejm (Sejm konwokacyjny) held in the Polish Commonwealth.

Events Before

  1. Henry of Navarre (later Henry IV of France) marries Margaret of Valois in Notre Dame cathedral, Paris, in attempt to mak

    Henry of Navarre (later Henry IV of France) marries Margaret of Valois in Notre Dame cathedral, Paris, in attempt to make truce between Catholics and Protestants but prompts St. Bartholomew's Day massacre days later

  2. St. Bartholomew's Day Massacre of Protestants by Roman Catholics begins in Paris with the murder by defenestration of Ad

    St. Bartholomew's Day Massacre of Protestants by Roman Catholics begins in Paris with the murder by defenestration of Admiral Gaspard de Coligny and later spreads to the French provinces

  3. Thomas Howard, 4th Duke of Norfolk is tried and convicted of high treason for his part in the Ridolfi plot to restore Ca

    Thomas Howard, 4th Duke of Norfolk is tried and convicted of high treason for his part in the Ridolfi plot to restore Catholicism in England

  4. Beggars assault Oisterwijk in the Netherlands, drive nuns out

    Beggars assault Oisterwijk in the Netherlands, drive nuns out

  5. Poet Luís Vaz de Camões publishes the epic poem "Os Lusíadas" in Portugal

    Os Lusíadas, usually translated as The Lusiads, is a Portuguese epic poem written by Luís Vaz de Camões (1524/5 – 1580) and first published in 1572.

Events After

  1. Battle of the Scheldt: Dutch rebel Sea Beggar fleet led by Lodewijk van Boisot defeats the Spanish and sinks 15 Spanish

    Battle of the Scheldt: Dutch rebel Sea Beggar fleet led by Lodewijk van Boisot defeats the Spanish and sinks 15 Spanish ships

  2. Zeeland falls to Dutch rebels

    Zeeland falls to Dutch rebels

  3. Spanish troops plunder Krommenie, Wormerveer, and Jisp in the Netherlands

    Spanish troops plunder Krommenie, Wormerveer, and Jisp in the Netherlands

  4. Spanish garrison of Middelburg, Netherlands, surrenders

    The siege of Middelburg (1572–1574) lasted over a year during the Eighty Years' War.

  5. France begins 5th "holy war" against Huguenots

    France begins 5th "holy war" against Huguenots

More from the 1570s

Frequently Asked Questions

What happened on January 28, 1573?
The Warsaw Confederation, also called the Compact of Warsaw, was a political-legal act signed in Warsaw on 28 January 1573 by the first Convocation Sejm (Sejm konwokacyjny) held in the Polish Commonwealth. Convened and deliberating as a confederation between 6 and 29 January 1573, during the Commonwealth's first interregnum period (1572–1574), it aimed to form a general confederation to prepare the election of a new king of Poland and ensure continuity during the interregnum. The confederation also pursued the goal of a religious tolerance edict, while ensuring the political equality of dissenters with Catholics.
Why is Articles of the Warsaw Confederation are signed, granting religious freedom i... significant?
The Warsaw Confederation, also called the Compact of Warsaw, was a political-legal act signed in Warsaw on 28 January 1573 by the first Convocation Sejm (Sejm konwokacyjny) held in the Polish Commonwealth.

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