ABSTRACT
The Kingdom of Poland and the Grand Duchy of Lithuania were connected by a loose union that gradually grew closer until, in 1569, the Union of Lublin established a new multicultural and multi-religious polity, called the Commonwealth of the Two Nations. The king's powers were limited. He was theoretically elected by universal suffrage of all nobles, but usually the nobles of particular territories elected several dozen representatives to participate in a monarchical election in Warsaw. Some of the district officials were directly appointed by the king while others were elected by sejmiks, but they also needed the king's approval. The most prestigious office in a district's hierarchy was the marshal. The administrative reforms of the 1560s established several courts in each district. The most important were the land court and the castle court. Both courts had their judges and scribes.
