Status prawny i społeczny kobiet w XVII wieku w świetle testamentów szlachty Prus Królewskich.
The legal and social status of women in the 17th century in the light of the wills of the nobility of Royal Prussia

Summary/Abstract: Women’s wills of the nobility are an intriguing but still largely unexplored source. This also applies to wills from Royal Prussia, mainly because of their scarce number and difficult availability.An important element when considering the nobility of Royal Prussia is their specific legal situation. Since 1599 the so-called Prussian Adjustment, based on the Chełmno Law, was in force, under which only movable property could be freely disposed of in wills. Against this background, the legal status of women was all the more impaired. Often they could not independently assert their property rights without the legal protection of men. This legal disadvantage was also strongly pervaded in the social consciousness. For the upbringing of girls focused on the education of the future wife and mother. However, such an upbringing could paradoxically produce surprisingly high levels of competence. Women used them willingly, for example when drawing up their last will, in a way breaking the formal restrictions imposed on them by law.

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