Castellans of the Polish–Lithuanian Commonwealth were the lowest rank of territorial
official who could sit in the
Senate of Poland. Their numbers varied over time and with the shifting borders of the Commonwealth.
With the exception of the Castellan of Kraków, whose seat was representative of the Commonwealth's
capital until 1596, Castellans were usually considered subordinate to Voivodes. Two castellans in the
Grand Duchy of Lithuania - those of
Vilnius and
Trakai - were also considered privileged, and had a status equal to a voivode. Castellans were in charge of a subdivision of a
Voivodship called a
Castellany (Polish: Kasztelania) until the late 15th century when domains were administratively divided into
provinces in the case of larger castellanies and
powiats for smaller castellanies.
From 1565, the principle of "incompatibilitas" - "incompatibility" - precluded Voivodes and Castellans from holding a second ministerial role, except for the post of
Hetman.
List
The list below is based on data from 1569. The number of castellans changed in later centuries.
Distinguished Castellans Kasztelanowie Wyróżnieni — of
Kraków,
Vilnius and
Trakai were seated alongside the Voivodes:
Castellans of the Polish–Lithuanian Commonwealth were the lowest rank of territorial
official who could sit in the
Senate of Poland. Their numbers varied over time and with the shifting borders of the Commonwealth.
With the exception of the Castellan of Kraków, whose seat was representative of the Commonwealth's
capital until 1596, Castellans were usually considered subordinate to Voivodes. Two castellans in the
Grand Duchy of Lithuania - those of
Vilnius and
Trakai - were also considered privileged, and had a status equal to a voivode. Castellans were in charge of a subdivision of a
Voivodship called a
Castellany (Polish: Kasztelania) until the late 15th century when domains were administratively divided into
provinces in the case of larger castellanies and
powiats for smaller castellanies.
From 1565, the principle of "incompatibilitas" - "incompatibility" - precluded Voivodes and Castellans from holding a second ministerial role, except for the post of
Hetman.
List
The list below is based on data from 1569. The number of castellans changed in later centuries.
Distinguished Castellans Kasztelanowie Wyróżnieni — of
Kraków,
Vilnius and
Trakai were seated alongside the Voivodes: