The daily routine of the starostwo administration in Red Rus' and Subcarpathia in the early 17th century (based on the letters from Yury Mniszek to Sigismund III)

The system of administrative management in the First Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth is of considerable interest from the point of view of its effectiveness under severely limited royal power. Some researchers are inclined to believe that the economic situation of the state at the turn of the 17th century could be described as the last period of the "golden age", while others believe that there were signs of an economic crisis and decline. The personal correspondence of the Sandomierz Voivode Yury Mniszek (the father of the Moscow Queen Marina Mniszek) to Polish King Sigismund III is a valuable historical source that allows reconstructing many of the difficulties and vicissitudes Yury Mniszek faced as the administrator and representative of the king in such regions as Red Rus' and Subcarpathia, whose specificity was determined by the polyethnic population and border position. The analysis of the correspondence leads to the conclusion that, despite available natural resources (salt and oil) and favorable conditions for agriculture, these territories were in a state of ever increasing economic decline caused by ineffective management, frequent military incursions from the south, including rebellious soldiers underpaid by the royal power. In addition, this correspondence eloquently characterises the personality of Yuri Mniszek and his relationships with King

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