Elective Monarchy in Poland

On the death of the last Piast monarch in 1370, Polish nobles began drawing on ancient claims and historical precedent to assert their independence from the monarchy. At first, only a small part of the szlachta, or 'noble class', would assert its privilege to choose the next king (or, in 1384 and 1523 Queen, since they backed Jadwiga's and Anna's claims). But eventually the right to elect the ruler of Poland was extended to Polish nobles. Keep in mind that in Poland, nobility was inherited by all children of an entitled person, so at its peak, half a million Poles could claim a voice in the election - by far the widest possible franchise in Renaissance Europe and probably the largest 'democratic' system until American and French Republics. True royal elections began in 1573 at the election of Henry of Valois, since foreign princes were always claiming the Polish throne anyway, why not have the nobles choose among them.\n\nDuring the Commonwealth period, the Kings of Poland and Grand Princes of Lithuania were elected by noble gatherings at a field in Wola, just outside Warsaw. Tens of thousands of nobles could be expected to attend, and the richest magnates would mingle with the poorest count in exchanges of favors and votes. This first election took four days to conclude (future ones would be smaller and over in a day or two) and these events would be full of parties, fairs and armed men. While the election was going on, royal power would be vested in an interrex, a temporary regent - usually the Primate of Warsaw, who would oversee the voting.