| has gloss | eng: The Prussian estates were representative bodies of Prussia, first created by the Teutonic Knights in the 14th century (around 1370s) but later becoming a devolved legislature for Prussia within the Kingdom of Poland. They were at first composed of officials of six big cities of the region; Braniewo (Braunsberg), Chełmno (Culm), Elbląg (Elbing), Gdańsk (Danzig), Königsberg (Królewiec) and Toruń (Thorn). The estates met on average four times per year, and discussed issues such as commerce and foreign relations. At first, the estates opposed the Order passively, by denying requests for additional taxes and support in Order wars with Poland; by 1440s Prussian estates acted openly in defiance of the German Order, rebelling against the knights and siding with Poland militarily (see Lizard Union, Prussian Confederation and the Thirteen Years' War). Under Polish sovereignty, Prussians, particularly those from the Royal Prussia, saw their liberties confirmed and expanded; local cities prospered economically (Gdańsk become the largest and richest city in the Commonwealth), and local nobility participated in the benefits of Golden Liberty, such as the right to elect the king. |
