Until the death of Sigismund II Augustus, the last king of the Jagiellonian dynasty, monarchs could be elected from within only the royal family. However, starting from 1573, practically any Polish noble or foreigner of royal blood could become a Polish–Lithuanian monarch. Every newly elected king was supposed to sign two documents—the Pacta conventa ("agreed pacts")—a confirmation of the king's pre-election promises, and Henrican articles (artykuły henrykowskie, named after the first freely elected king, Henry of Valois). The latter document served as a virtual Polish constitution and contained the basic laws of the Commonwealth: COUNT 5
QSN1 Who was the last king of the Jagiellonian dynasty? ANS1 Sigismund II Augustus QSN2 What stopped after the death of Sigismund II Augustus? ANS2 monarchs could be elected from within only the royal family QSN3 After 1573 who could become a polish-lithuanian monarch? ANS3 any Polish noble or foreigner of royal blood QSN4 How many documents should the new elected king sign? ANS4 two documents QSN5 What was contained in the Henrican articles and the Pacta conventa? ANS5 basic laws of the Commonwealth