How were Polish kings elected after the Jagiellonian dynasty ended?

Following the death of the last Jagiellonian king, Sigismund II Augustus, in 1572, Poland transitioned to a system of unrestricted, free elections to the throne. To avoid civil war, the nobility (szlachta) established a process where the king was elected viritim—meaning by the direct vote of all participating nobles and squires.12

The first monarch chosen through this process was Henry of Valois in 1573. Upon his election, he was required to accept the Henrician Articles and the Pacta Conventa. These documents served as a formal contract between the monarch and the "noble nation," severely limiting royal authority. Key provisions included:123

• Constitutional Limits: The king was required to convoke the Sejm (legislature) every two years.31
• Governance: A standing body of senators was established to advise the king between sessions.31
• Accountability: The gentry reserved the right to renounce their allegiance to the king if he failed to honor the terms of the contract.31
• Religious Liberty: The king was obligated to uphold the Compact of Warsaw, which guaranteed religious freedom.31