Pochówek w Galicji. Wybrane zagadnienia administracyjno-prawne. Część I

The second half of 18th century brought the era of change in existing burial procedures in many European countries, where corpses were buried in churches and adjacent cemeteries. The changes were implemented due to health related aspects, but also through limited burial capabilities within the town administrative borders. In Austria, the decision to move cemeteries outside the town administrative borders, was made by Emperor Franz Joseph II before the end of 1783. As a consequence, numerous new cemeteries were commonly established within the territory of the State, including Galicia, many of which exist to the present day. Concurrently with time, there were a number of legal acts issued in Austria, that precisely governed issues relating to organization of cemeteries and funerals. The study presents selected legal and administrative solutions, being in force throughout the years on the territory of Habsburg Monarchy in the broadly understood area of cemetery regulations. The legal acts directly relating to and only being in force in Galicia were also included in the study. Thus, in the subsequent parts of the study, the specific issues related to establishing new cemeteries outside the town administrative borders, enlarging their areas, closing them and legal status were presented. The study presents the legal regulations concerning the transportation of the corpse, rules of organizing burials and related fees. Concurrently, the special attention was drawn to specific forms of burials, which were in force during cholera epidemic, occurring in Galicia. It is well worth mentioning, that many solutions of cemetery law implemented during Galician times were still biding in Reborn Poland and had direct infl uence not only on the modern appearance of the cemeteries established during that time, but also on certain burial practices.