Constitution of the Kingdom of Poland creates Congress Poland

Background. The Congress of Vienna obliged Emperor Alexander I, acting as King of Poland, to issue a constitution for the newly recreated Polish state. This obligation led to the creation of the Kingdom of Poland, unofficially known as Congress Poland, which was established as a semi-autonomous entity in personal union with the Russian Empire.

Constitutional Framework. The 1815 constitution outlined the government of Congress Poland, introducing the office of the namiestnik and a council composed of five ministers, special nominees, and the viceroy. These provisions defined the political structure of the kingdom, which was theoretically a semi-autonomous state ruled by the Russian emperor.

Administrative Structure. Immediately after its creation, the Kingdom of Poland was divided into departments, a relic from the French-dominated Duchy of Warsaw. In January 1816, this structure was reformed, replacing departments with eight traditionally Polish voivodeships, obwóds, and powiats, marking a shift toward traditional Polish administrative units.