Pospólno

Pospólno (Polish, archaic)

Pospólno is a historical Polish term that generally refers to the common people or the general populace. It signifies the broader citizenry as distinct from the nobility (szlachta), clergy, or other privileged social classes.

In the context of the Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth (Rzeczpospolita Obojga Narodów), pospólno often denoted the free inhabitants of towns and villages, excluding the aforementioned privileged groups. It encompassed merchants, artisans, farmers, and other individuals engaged in various forms of labor. While technically free, their rights and privileges were significantly less than those enjoyed by the nobility.

The term can also carry connotations of "commonality" or "collectivity," implying a sense of shared identity or common purpose among those who belonged to this social group. Pospólno could also be used in legal or administrative contexts to refer to the broader citizenry who were subject to certain laws or regulations. The distinction between pospólno and the szlachta was a significant factor in the social and political dynamics of the Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth. The concept of złota wolność ("Golden Liberty"), which emphasized the rights and privileges of the nobility, often stood in contrast to the limited rights and influence of the pospólno.