Elites of Eastern Galician cities and towns in the late 18th century in the light of Austrian tax sources

Abstract

This article presents some remarks on urban and small-town elites in the urban settlements of Eastern Galicia at the end of the 18th century. On the basis of the surviving tax documents, i.e. the Josephine metric and urbarial descriptions, an attempt was made to indicate who could be regarded as representatives of urban elites. These included noble owners of parcels in towns, town nobility owning free land in towns without feudal obligations, and clergy of both rites, i.e. Roman Catholic and Uniate. In addition, the elite included private officials (plenipotents, foresters, justiciars, mandataries), and state officials (postmasters, circular officials). In addition, the local elite encompassed people holding positions in municipal magistrates' offices.