Grand Duchy Of Lithuania's "First Constitution" Put Into Effect This Day In 1588

• 17.10.2017, 8:57

October 17, 1588 the Statute of the Grand Duchy of Lithuania was put into action.

Some historians call it the first European constitution. This code of law was in effect in the territory of Belarus, Lithuania and Ukraine for 250 years and was the basis of the entire legal system of the Grand Duchy.

Chancellor of the GDL Lev Sapega was the codifier of this revolutionary document for his era.

Being the heir of the famous magnate family and a brilliantly educated man, Lev Sapega achieved the highest positions in the Grand Duchy of Lithuania and made a lot of good to the country. His views on personal freedom and the rule of law in the state were reflected in the third edition of the GDL Statute. They are considered the norm in modern society and they were more than progressive for the time he lived in.