The Duchy of Warsaw: a leap into modernity

On 17-18 November 2022, the Institute De Republica is organising an international scientific conference on the history of the Duchy of Warsaw.

The Duchy of Warsaw was for many reasons an accelerated lesson in modernity for a nation deprived of statehood in tragic circumstances. During that tumultuous period, it was possible to create a modern state with political, social and economic institutions. The legal and organisational structure was developed, from the constitution to the mortgage or the archival network. The school system, the army and the first modern, professional administration were established. In retrospect, the period of the Duchy of Warsaw formed the foundations of modern society, and it allowed the nation to prepare for the next hundred years of bondage by creating not only legal models, but also civic attitudes that were, on the one hand, native and, on the other hand, functional in the new era.

The purpose of the conference “The Duchy of Warsaw: a leap into modernity” is to provide a platform for summarising the state of research and exchanging views, as well as attempting to increase interest in the Duchy of Warsaw and its legacy.