Hugo Kollataj
(* 1750 - +1812)
Hugo Kollataj was priest, scholar and philosopher. As a follower of the political ideas of Rousseau and Montesquieu he became one of leaders of the progressive camp of the political elites of the pre-partition time.
As an exponent of the movement of enlightenment Kollataj worked primarily in the field of education. He was member of the National Education Commission and of the Association for Elementary Books. From 1783 till 1786 he was rector of the Cracow Academy and realised major reforms.
Kollataj became an important figure of the groups who wanted to save Poland-Lithuania by means of political reforms. He was one of the most influential co-authors of the May 3 Constitution in 1791. His ideas are expressed in “To Stanislaw Malachowski - Several Anonymous Letters” Poland should become a limited monarchy. Separation of Powers and the abolition of the “liberum veto” should create an enlightened and viable Poland. During the debates about the constitution in the Polish Parliament, the Sejm, Kollataj stood up for the emancipation of the towns, for equal rights for citizen and aristocrats, for the personal freedom of the peasants and for a two-chamber system.
The progressive ideas of the Polish constitution couldn't been realised because of the two partitions of Poland in 1793 and 1795 which lead to the disappearance of Poland as a independent state. During this time the political ideas of Kollataj became more radical. He was one of the political leaders of the Kosciuszko uprising. He fought against villenage and for equality before the law. His political ideas and his steadfastness during his 8 year internment lead and encouraged many political associations and parties in their fight for the independence of Poland.
Literature
| 1788-89 | To Stanislaw Malachowski - Several Anonymous Letters |
| 1790 | The political law and the Polish Nation |
| 1793 | On the Establishment and Fall of the May 3 Constitution |
| 1810 | The Moral and Physical Order |
Links
The Polish Constitution of 1791 in Polish and English
About the political background
Text provided by Peter Cichon