Abolition of serfdom in Galicia – Rudka

Fact of the Polish figure „Lvov-Tarnów-Poznan„

Part of the „Revolutions of 1848″ topic

Serfdom of peasants existed in Poland since the Middle Ages and continued to develop in modern times. It was based largely on privileges issued to the nobility by Polish kings in the 15th century. Not counting the participation of peasants in the Cossack uprising of 1648, there were no massive and large-scale peasant revolts in the Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth. 

At the end of the 18th century when the Republic ceased to exist, the situation of peasants began to improve in that part of the former Poland that came under Habsburg rule. In 1797 Emperor Joseph II Habsburg banned the nobility from enforcing outstanding serfdom (a type of feudal annuity), which was part of his policy toward the peasants guided by the spirit of Enlightenment absolutism. 

In the 19th century, serfdom is becoming increasingly outdated and economically inadequate. In addition, the peasants are increasingly dissatisfied with their position. In 1846, the so-called „Galician Robbery” takes place, that is, a peasant revolution within Galicia. During it, peasants attacked many residences and killed many representatives of the upper classes. The Austrian authorities saw this event as an opportunity to extinguish the independence tendencies of the Galician nobility and paid peasants for the heads of their masters. The leader of the rebellion – Jakub Szela – was immortalized on a medal together with the Austrian Chancellor – Clement Metternich and after the 1846 incidents he was given his own house, surrounded by a cordon of imperial troops for safety.

As a result of the great changes of 1848, Emperor Ferdinand I Habsburg issued a decree abolishing serfdom throughout Galicia (April 17). To commemorate this event, peasants set up a number of commemorative crosses. One of them can be seen in the village of Nowe Bruśno with this inscription:

THIS CROSS WAS ERECTED BY THE RUDNIA COMMUNITY TO COMMEMORATE THE GRANTING OF FREEDOM TO US DURING THE REIGN OF CES: FERDINAND I ON MAY 15, 1848