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The seal was associated with the person of the ruler.{{Sfn|Wisner|2008|p=38}} Upon the monarch’s death, the chancellor broke the seal during the funeral ceremony.{{Sfn|Góralski|1988|p=83}} During the [[interregnum]], he did not use the seal, as his authority was suspended. A new seal was made after the election of a new ruler. In the event of the chancellor’s death, his family returned the seal to the king.{{Sfn|Góralski|1988|p=84}} |
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The seal was associated with the person of the ruler.{{Sfn|Wisner|2008|p=38}} Upon the monarch’s death, the chancellor broke the seal during the funeral ceremony.{{Sfn|Góralski|1988|p=83}} During the [[interregnum]], he did not use the seal, as his authority was suspended. A new seal was made after the election of a new ruler. In the event of the chancellor’s death, his family returned the seal to the king.{{Sfn|Góralski|1988|p=84}} |
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After concluding the [[Union of Lublin]] in 1569 which established the [[Polish–Lithuanian Commonwealth]], a [[Federation|federative]] [[real union]] state, the Grand Duchy of Lithuania remained a separate state and the Great Seal of Lithuania was preserved, together with a separate territory, central offices, laws, etc.[{{cite web |last1=Jasas |first1=Rimantas |title=Liublino unija |url=https://www.vle.lt/straipsnis/liublino-unija/ |website=Visuotinė lietuvių enciklopedija |access-date=1 February 2026 |language=lt}}][{{cite web |last1=Gudavičius |first1=Edvardas |last2=Spečiūnas |first2=Vytautas |title=Kancleris |url=https://www.vle.lt/straipsnis/kancleris/ |website=[[Visuotinė lietuvių enciklopedija]] |access-date=1 February 2026 |language=lt}}] There was no single, unified state seal of the Polish–Lithuanian Commonwealth.{{Sfn|Wisner|2008|p=38}} Documents confirmed by the great seals were more prestigious.[{{cite journal |last1=Diemantaitė |first1=Vita |title=Lietuvos Didžiosios Kunigaikštystės kanceliarijos veikla vadovaujant Leonui Sapiegai (1585–1623 m.) |journal=Lietuvos istorijos studijos |date=2020 |volume=45 |pages=47–60 |url=https://www.zurnalai.vu.lt/lietuvos-istorijos-studijos/en/article/download/18868/18070 |access-date=1 February 2026 |language=lt}}] |
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After concluding the [[Union of Lublin]] in 1569 which established the [[Polish–Lithuanian Commonwealth]], a [[Federation|federative]] [[real union]] state, the Grand Duchy of Lithuania remained a separate state and the Great Seal of Lithuania was preserved, together with a separate territory, central offices, laws, etc.[{{cite web |last1=Jasas |first1=Rimantas |title=Liublino unija |url=https://www.vle.lt/straipsnis/liublino-unija/ |website=Visuotinė lietuvių enciklopedija |access-date=1 February 2026 |language=lt}}][>][{{cite book |last1=Kiaupa |first1=Zigmantas |title=The History of the Baltic Countries |date=2002 |publisher=Avita |location=[[Tallinn]] |isbn=978-9985-2-0605-8 |page=80 |url=https://www.google.com/books/edition/The_History_of_the_Baltic_Countries/r_MgAQAAMAAJ |access-date=21 February 2026}}> During the period of the union’s conclusion, despite the claims of the Crown chancellery, the practice was established of affixing only the Lithuanian seal to royal documents addressed to the Grand Duchy.{{Sfn|Wisner|2008|pp=27–28}} In the hierarchy of the state seals of the Polish–Lithuanian Commonwealth, it ranked below the king’s majestic seal, on a par with other state seals: the Great and Lesser Crown Seals as well as the [[Lesser Seal of Lithuania|Lesser Lithuanian Seal]], and above the ruler’s signet seals.{{Sfn|Krawczuk|1994|pp=3–4}}{{Sfn|Krawczuk|1994|p=3}}][{{cite web |last1=Gudavičius |first1=Edvardas |last2=Spečiūnas |first2=Vytautas |title=Kancleris |url=https://www.vle.lt/straipsnis/kancleris/ |website=[[Visuotinė lietuvių enciklopedija]] |access-date=1 February 2026 |language=lt}}] There was no single, unified state seal of the Polish–Lithuanian Commonwealth.{{Sfn|Wisner|2008|p=38}} Documents confirmed by the great seals were more prestigious.[{{cite journal |last1=Diemantaitė |first1=Vita |title=Lietuvos Didžiosios Kunigaikštystės kanceliarijos veikla vadovaujant Leonui Sapiegai (1585–1623 m.) |journal=Lietuvos istorijos studijos |date=2020 |volume=45 |pages=47–60 |url=https://www.zurnalai.vu.lt/lietuvos-istorijos-studijos/en/article/download/18868/18070 |access-date=1 February 2026 |language=lt}}] |
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As a rule, the division of competencies was observed, and acts pertaining solely to the Grand Duchy could be confirmed only with Lithuanian seals. Documents concerning the entire state were sealed by the dignitary who was at the ruler’s side, in accordance with the hierarchy.{{Sfn|Krawczuk|1994|pp=5–6}} When the ruler was present in the territory of the Grand Duchy, the Lithuanian chancellor was at a top of it.{{Sfn|Góralski|1988|p=86}} From 1589, documents addressed to Livonia were to be issued under two seals, the Crown and the Lithuanian, due to the province’s subordination to both the Crown and Lithuania.{{Sfn|Krawczuk|1994|p=5}} |
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As a rule, the division of competencies was observed, and acts pertaining solely to the Grand Duchy could be confirmed only with Lithuanian seals. Documents concerning the entire state were sealed by the dignitary who was at the ruler’s side, in accordance with the hierarchy.{{Sfn|Krawczuk|1994|pp=5–6}} When the ruler was present in the territory of the Grand Duchy, the Lithuanian chancellor was at a top of it.{{Sfn|Góralski|1988|p=86}} From 1589, documents addressed to Livonia were to be issued under two seals, the Crown and the Lithuanian, due to the province’s subordination to both the Crown and Lithuania.{{Sfn|Krawczuk|1994|p=5}} |
