Livonia in the Early Modern Period – factors of nobility migration vs. stability

Abstract

The Privilege of Sigismund Augustus (Latin: Privilegium Sigismundi Augusti) was an act issued in 1561, which constituted the Livonian nobility and stabilized its social position. It had been a significant benchmark throughout the whole early modern period, regardless
of whether Livonia’s territory belonged to the Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth, Sweden or Russia. Social and geographical mobility of the Livonian nobility was shaped by three factors: 1) Livonians’ service for and affiliations with the aforementioned empires, 2) new state-structures in Livonia, such as the Duchy of Courland, 3) armed conflicts on Livonia’s territory, which involved the local nobility.