Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth Research Articles

Religious Practices of Widows as an Example of Piety at Noble Courts in the Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth in the Saxon Era

Religious Practices of Widows as an Example of Piety at Noble Courts in the Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth in the Saxon Era

The legal status and activities of the authorities of the Ukrainian People’s Republic in exile (end of 1920 – August 22, 1992): historical and legal aspects

A historical and legal study of the legal status and activities of the authorities of the Ukrainian People’s Republic (hereinafter - the UPR) in exile (late 1920 – August 22, 1992). It is concluded that, since at the end of 1920 the authorities of the UPR lost influence on the population as a result of the establishment of Soviet power in most of the Ukrainian territories and the UPR actually ceased to exist, which was formally fixed by a peace treaty between the Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth and Soviet Russia on March 18, 1921. in Riga, the UNR authorities lost their state status and acquired public status. The content adopted by the Council of People’s Ministers and approved by the Chairman of the Directory on January 9, 1921 was analyzed. a normative act entitled “Law on the Council of the Republic,” in which the Council of the Republic was defined as “a temporary supreme authority of the people, which has full power.” The authorities of the UPR imitated state activity: the Council of the Republic – as legislative, the Council of People’s Ministers - as executive authority, the Head of the Directory – as the head of the UPR. After the termination of the existence of the Council of the Republic in August 1921 the functions of the UNR authorities in exile were carried out by the Head of the Directory and the Council of People’s Ministers. The content of the “Temporary Law on the Reorganization of the State Center of the UNR in Exile” of June 10, 1948, which established the competence of the constituent parts of the State Center of the UNR: President, Vice-President, Government, Ukrainian National Council, was studied. Based on the analysis of the content of this normative act, it was concluded that the State Center of the UPR in exile formally had the status of a public organization, but pretended to be a state authority and imitated state functions. According to this document, the Ukrainian National Council performs “the functions of a temporary legislative representation.” The relationship between the constituent parts of the State Center of the UPR in exile had to be revealed in the rule-making process and in the formation of the Government. The political responsibility of the Government to the Ukrainian National Council and the President of the UPR was envisaged. The Government’s accountability to the Ukrainian National Council and control over the UNR President were established. The UNR President was vested with the right to dissolve the Ukrainian National Council at the suggestion of the Government. The authorities formed on the basis of this normative act had the status of public and performed functions in international, normative, political, scientific and other spheres.

Unsuccessful Peace-making: the Mission of Francesco da Collo and Antonio de Conti to Moscow (1518-1519)

This article explores the peace mission of Francesco da Collo and Antonio de Conti, envoys of Emperor Maximilian I of the Holy Roman Empire, to Grand Prince Vasily III of Moscow in 1518–1519. The mission aimed to mediate between Moscow and the PolishLithuanian Commonwealth, seeking to align both states for a planned united Christian campaign against the Ottoman Empire, whose expansion in Southeastern Europe posed a serious threat. The study centers on da Collo’s report from the mission, which not only chronicles the negotiations but also provides rare insights into Russian diplomacy and courtly traditions of the early 16th century. The article underscores the critical role of ceremonial practices, such as receptions, banquets, and hunts, in the diplomatic culture of the period.Particular focus is given to da Collo's accounts of his interactions with Vasily III and his entourage, highlighting the crucial importance of personal meetings and informal contacts in the diplomatic process of the time. Despite the envoys' efforts, the mission achieved only a temporary one-year truce, with insurmountable barriers to a comprehensive peace including territorial disputes—especially over the control of Smolensk—and the issue of repatriating Russian prisoners of war from Poland.Furthermore, da Collo’s report serves as an early illustration of how Muscovy was constructed as an eastern, despotic power, offering one of the first examples of Russia being depicted as the “Other” in early modern European thought. The study sheds light on the complex dynamics of diplomacy in this era and reveals how these interactions contributed to the broader European perception of Russia as an alien and adversarial state.

A Polish Patriot in Paris: Albert Sowiński, Essayist, Anthologist and Lexicographer

If there was one musician in mid-nineteenth-century Paris who diligently promoted Polish accomplishments, it was Albert Sowinski (Wojciech Sowiński). From his arrival in France in 1828 until his death in 1880, he championed the Polish cause as a performer, composer and scholar. Sowinski was a prolific writer, but with the exception of his Les musiciens polonais et slaves, anciens et modernes, Dictionnaire (1857), his studies of Polish repertoire rarely receive more than passing attention in modern scholarship. In this essay, I investigate Sowinski’s developing paradigms of Polish nationalism and Polish identity across the entirety of his major writings about and collections of Polish music: Chants polonais nationaux et populaires (1830), Chants de la révolution du 29 novembre 1830 (1830), Mélodies polonaises album lyrique (1833), ‘Chants populaires de l’Ukraine’ (1842), ‘De l’état actuel de la musique en Pologne’ (1842), Dictionnaire (1857) and Chants religieux de la Pologne, Op. 93 (1859). The four works from the 1830s, which focused on Polish folk music and revolutionary songs, were closely tied to Sowinski’s work with Léonard Chodzko (Leonard Chodźko) and his circle in Paris. Especially in the Chants polonais, Sowinski followed Chodzko and Joachim Lelewel in emphasising the exceptional geographic, linguistic and even ethnic diversity of the old Polish–Lithuanian Commonwealth, viewing this diversity as the basis for a glorious musical and political future. By contrast, in his critical writings of the 1840s, Sowinski interpreted Ukraine’s folk traditions as speaking largely to regional experience; he cast Warsaw and its musical institutions as the basis for a modern Polish musical identity. By the time of his Dictionnaire and Chants religieux de la Pologne, Sowinski de-emphasised Poland’s musical exceptionality in favour of delineating its long tradition of exchange with Western Europe, facilitated particularly through courts and the Roman Catholic Church.

Ojczyzna w przekładach biblijnych XVI wieku, powstałych na terytorium Rzeczpospolitej i Wielkiego Księstwa Litewskiego

The article presents an analysis of the concept of homeland in 16th-c. Biblical translations produced on the territory of Poland (the late period of the Jagiellonian dynasty and early Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth) and the Grand Duchy of Lithuania. Those include translations into Polish: the Catholic Leopolita Bible (1561) and the Jakub Wujek Bible (1599), the Protestant Radziwiłł or Brest Bible (1563), the Arian translation by Symon Budny (the Nesvizh Bible) (1572), as well as into Church Slavonic: the Ostrog Bible (1580–1581) or a hybrid translation by Francis Skaryna (1517–1519). It is argued that despite religious and linguistic differences, Biblical translations reveal a large number of similarities. Based on the analysis of these similarities, it can be assumed that the 16th century was a turning point in the development of the concept of homeland, and its formation in the modern understanding was influenced, in different ways, by both the New and the Old Testament.

The Trade Relations of the Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth with the Kingdom of Prussia from the First to the Third Partition (1772–1795). An Attempt at Evaluation and Research Perspectives (Part 1)

Artykuł prezentuje różne aspekty polsko-pruskich stosunków handlowych w okresie między pierwszym a trzecim rozbiorem polsko-litewskiej Rzeczypospolitej (1772–1795). Traktat handlowy z 1775 r. i pruska polityka celna odgrywały kluczową rolę w kontaktach gospodarczych między Rzeczpospolitą a Królestwem Prus aż do śmierci Fryderyka II Wielkiego w 1786 r. Stosunki handlowe między oboma krajami w tym okresie okazały się niekorzystne dla obu stron. Negatywne aspekty pruskiej polityki celnej po 1775 r. stały się przedmiotem dyskusji w kręgach dworskich w Berlinie po śmierci Fryderyka II. Nowy król Prus, Fryderyk Wilhelm II, próbował na nowo ułożyć stosunki handlowe z Rzeczpospolitą zgodnie z zasadami wolnego handlu. Ułatwienia wprowadzone przez władze pruskie w 1788 r. na granicy Prus Wschodnich i Wielkiego Księstwa Litewskiego doprowadziły do zwiększenia obrotów handlowych, zarazem jednak podwyższenie opłat celnych przez stronę litewską powodowało zwyżkę cen towarów importowanych do Prus. Wzrost obrotów handlowych i liczby kupców litewskich przybywających do Królewca sprzyjał utworzeniu w mieście polsko-litewskiego konsulatu, na czele którego w latach 1792–1794 stał Jerzy Wojna-Okołow. Nowy traktat handlowy między Rzeczpospolitą a Królestwem Prus został zawarty w kwietniu 1794 r., na początku insurekcji kościuszkowskiej, na krótko przed upadkiem dawnej Rzeczypospolitej. W części pierwszej omówiono stosunki handlowe polsko-pruskie do końca panowania Fryderyka II Wielkiego. * Artykuł ten jest znacznie rozbudowaną i poszerzoną chronologicznie wersją tekstu w języku niemieckim: J. Wijaczka, I. Kąkolewski, Die Handelsbeziehungen Polen-Litauens mit dem Königreich Preußen von der Ersten bis zur Zweiten Teilung (1772–1792), „Nordost-Archiv” 2024, Bd. XXXIII, s. 61–72.

Herbal medicine in the Jewish Renaissance rare medical handbook The Guide to the Tree of Life (Sejfer derech ejc ha-chajim)

Ethnopharmacological relevanceThe only known copy of Sejfer derech ejc ha-chajim, an anonymous old print, is stored in the Austrian National Library in Vienna. It was written in the Yiddish Ashkenazi language and printed in 1613. The author, a Jewish physician, resided or lived in the Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth. This rare book, although it was printed over 400 years ago, has not yet been systematically assessed in the ethnomedical context of those times. Aim of the studyA quantitative assessment of the botanical drugs and kinds of healthy diets described in The Guide is presented to recognise the medicinal, diachronic, and botanical outlines of this peculiar rarum. Materials and methodsTo investigate various recipes describing the use of medicinal plants of Jewish culture in the former Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth, the content of The Guide was analysed. All therapeutic uses of herbal medicines and nutritional recommendations for health were obtained by reviewing the Polish translation of the rare medical handbook. For each plant usage revealed in the text, we noted: Scientific, Common and Yiddish name of the taxon, Plant family, Part of the plant or substance used, Administration, Preparation, Primary pathology, Broad use, and Inferred pathology (ICD-11 and ICPC-3). ResultsAmong the 161 recipes, 58 plant taxa and 361 use records were recorded. Additionally, 127 mixtures with 68 plant taxa and 183 use mixture records were noted. 22 diet recipes with 19 plant taxa were also found. These data constitute three separate analyses, according to the intention of the author of The Guide. Formulations using Apiaceae were recommended primarily for gastroenterology and gynecology, while those using Rosaceae for gastroenterology, urology, and neurology. For mixtures, Lamiaceae plants are also represented and used for gastroenterology, respiratory system treatment, and gynecology. ConclusionThe medicinal knowledge described in Sejfer derech ejc ha-chajim fills a gap in contemporary knowledge regarding phyto-medical writing of the Renaissance. The Guide has a form of home first aid kit, used both for medicinal purposes and on the daily menu. In response to current challenges in healthcare, there is a growing interest among researchers in ethnomedicinal sources for the discovery of novel therapeutic compounds. This includes the re-evaluation of formulations and therapeutic indications that have been recognised for centuries. The remedies analysed and detailed in The Guide can provide valuable insights for researchers focused on identifying biologically active therapeutic raw materials of plant origin, thus contributing to advances in modern healthcare.

The Nobility of the Kaunas District in the Local Sejmiks of 1615 and 1632

Based on the instructions of the Kaunas sejmiks of 1615 and 1632, the article analyses the questions resolved by the nobility of the Kaunas district related to the life of the district and the whole Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth. A particular focus is given to how different state processes and events were reflected in the sejmiks of the Kaunas district. The article also includes a list of nobility who signed the 1615 sejmik instructions.

Кореспонденція між князем Василем-Костянтином Острозьким та Криштофом Радзивіллом як джерело

The article analyzes the correspondence of Kyiv voivode V.- K. Ostrozkyi to his son-in-law, an influential Lithuanian politician Kryštof Radziwill. This is almost the only relatively complete complex of the prince's correspondence in Ostroh, which, given the trusting relationship between both participants of the correspondence, allows us to reconstruct his inner world. As one might suspect, he significantly contradicted Ostroh's public persona. For the prince, the correct ("old") "world" remained in the past, in the times before the Union of Lublin from the year 1569. Innovations were perceived by Vasyl-Kostiantyn as a challenge to this world, which violated its traditional foundations and consisted of an attack on regionalism, a reduction in the political role of princes, and attempts to change the confessional picture of the newly created state. The prince believed that the policy of the Rzeczpospolita's leadership toward the Moscow state was ill-conceived. Ostrozkyi argued that constant wars with the eastern neighbor reduced the overall potential of Christian civilization in its confrontation with Islamic civilization, especially with the country which at that time embodied its offensive in Europe, the Ottoman Empire. Ostrozkyi appealed to Radziwill with the expectation of finding support in the confrontation with Jan Zajmoyskyi, an extremely influential crown chancellor and hetman in the Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth. It is no coincidence that the Kyiv voivode focused on issues that might have been of interest to the Lithuanian magnate. In particular, these interests included: the attempts of the crown elite, led by J. Zamoyskyi to ignore the interests of the Lithuanian and Ruthenian nobility, unwillingness to pay due attention to defense issues, insufficient allocation of funds for the repair and construction of castle fortifications. Gradually, the correspondence reflects the problem of interfaith confrontation, which was the result of the growth of counter-reformation processes from the beginning of Sigismund III's rule in the Polish-Lithuanian state. Their main emphasis in Europe was on Protestantism (K. Radziwill represented Calvinism), but in the Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth, as a result of the Union of Brest in 1596, the Counter-Reformation also acquired anti-Orthodox content. In general, the correspondence of Prince V.-K. Ostrozkyi is a unique source that allows us to reconstruct the main features of the identity of an influential princely stratum, which was significantly influenced by the transformation processes in the Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth in the second half of the sixteenth and early seventeenth centuries.

The Czortoryski Princes Cultural Heritage: the Beginnings of the Family History Archive (15–16 centuries)

The Czortoryski princely family representatives held high government positions first in the Grand Duchy of Lithuania and then in the Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth. The cultural heritage of the family is extremely extensive: from written documents to architectural monuments on the territory of the modern states: Poland, Ukraine, Lithuania and Belarus. The subject of the article is the history of the Czortoryski princes family archive formation during the 15–16th centuries. Having started since the 40s of the 16th century, the number of written documents increased significantly, so we limited the upper chronological limit with 1524, the death year of Semen Oleksandrovych Czortoryski, the representative of the Lithuanian branch. The origin of the family is connected with the name of Prince Kostiantyn, the son of Grand Duke of Lithuania Olgerd or his brother Koriat. His own documentary heritage is not known to us. His descendants, namely Vasyl Kostiantynovych and his sons Ivan, Olexandr and Mykhailo are of great importance for the study of the subject matter in this research. Among the documentary materials studied, we note the first grants of the Grand Duke of Lithuania Kazimierz Jagiellonczyk to Prince Ivan Vasylovych, which are known from later confirmations. This prince left no descendants, and thus it is unlikely that his personal archive has survived. Two other Vasyl Kostiantynovich's sons Olexandr and Mykhailo founded two branches of the family: Lithuanian (Lohoisk/Lohozsk) and Volyn. According to the information from the sources we have found, we can assume that, firstly the family archive dates back to the 40s of the 15th century, when the first source information was recorded, and secondly each family branch kept its family documents separately. Accordingly, two collections were formed: 1) descendants of Oleksandr Vasylovych; 2) descendants of Mykhailo Vasylovych.

Colophons in Cyrillic Codices as a Unique Socio-Cultural Phenomenon of Early Modern Times

In this research, colophons are studied as an essential component of Cyrillic codices, which were created on the lands of the Grand Duchy of Lithuania and the Crown of Poland (later the Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth). To write the study, the author analysed more than seventy colophons preserved in manuscripts from the collections of libraries in Lithuania, Poland, Russia, and Ukraine. The earliest colophon is contained in the “Lviv Gospel completed (full) aprakos” 1477, and the latest – the “Kotsuriv Gospel” 1600. The study of the text’s structure showed that these colophons belonged to six types with two subtypes, the classifying feature of which was the initial formula. A detailed analysis of the content of each colophon showed that the main components were the recording of the book’s title, the name of its copyist, its origin, time and place of publication, and mention of the customer or buyer. The analysis of the colophons illustrated the phenomenon of authorial statements of scribes, which consisted of explaining the motives of their work, an idea of their mission, instructions to readers, or a request to correct errors in the text. In the colophons 1594 and 1595 by Stepan Popovych, who was from Trushevychi village, the inadmissibility of stealing codices with an appeal to the Holy Scriptures, in particular the passage Hbr 10,31 with its author’s interpretation, was emphasised quite extensively.

O literaturze mirakularnej, epilepsji i innych zagadnieniach poruszonych przez Elżbietę Nowosielską w książce pt. „Melancholia, szaleństwo i inne »choroby głowy« w Rzeczypospolitej w XVII i XVIII wieku”

For decades, the history of medicine, healing, medical culture, health, etc. has been fascinating researchers: historians, anthropologists, archaeologists, and doctors alike. Researchers in this field use source materials that have been known in science for a long time, often creating a questionnaire of issues and questions that no one has posed so far. Elżbieta Nowosielska’s publication, entitled „Melancholy, madness and other ‘headaches’ in the Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth in the 17th and 18th centuries” (2021) belongs to this group of works. It is clear to anyone who has dealt with books of miracles and graces that, on the basis of the miraculous literature, if properly explored, E. Nowosielska would have come close to one of the goals outlined in the book’s introduction – a possibly complete picture of the approach to madness or melancholy. The author underestimated the effort made by Jowita Jagla, a researcher into the books of miracles and graces, and the votive offerings, who discusses issues related to epilepsy in her work, and disregarded several other texts. This does not speak very well of the search she carried out.

Hacer Topaktaş o poselstwie Franciszka Piotra Potockiego do Stambułu (1788–1793)

Reading Ottoman-Polish diplomatic relations leads to a clear conclusion that in the late 18th century, the Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth had an opportunity to enter into an international alliance as a partner alongside the Ottoman Empire. Topaktaş has not attempted to create hypothetical scenarios regarding the survival or otherwise of the First Republic, but has reconstructed the idea of an Ottoman-Polish alliance in a scholarly manner, drawing on a rich body of historical sources. The publication contains innovative insights from the fields of history, political science and international relations. It takes into account the latest state of research and the results of searches personally conducted by the author. Topaktaş has almost managed to avoid factual mistakes and errors. The scale of the research apparatus used and the high specialisation of the technique of the historian of Polish-Turkish relations makes this monograph a work complementary to the diplomatic relations between the Republic of Poland and the Ottoman Empire. The reader is presented with a convincing argument alternating with a narrative that gives the impression of a reportage on the journey and stay of Franciszek Piotr Potocki - all wrapped up in academic terminology. The author has accomplished the research goals declared in the introduction. I personally believe that Topaktaşs book is a groundbreaking and inspiring treatise on the late 18th century. It is worth recommending to enthusiasts of Ottoman studies, but also to students of history interested in the subject.

Formation of Social Ties in P. I. Potemkin's Embassy to France (1680–1682)

Based on the extant complex of Russian and French sources, this article analyses the mechanisms of the formation of social ties of the Russian embassy in France in 1681. The embassy had both foreign policy and diplomatic significance for the representation of tsarist power and Russian culture in France: the envoys had not only to inform Louis XIV about the events in Eastern Europe, but also to get an overview of the French position on the preparation of the Perpetual Peace of Russia with the Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth, the conclusion of the Russian-French trade treaty, and to ensure the recruitment of foreign specialists. The author examines the formation of relations in the context of the new diplomatic history, paying special attention to the problems of power representation, the personalities of diplomats and the cultural side of their mission. For the first time in historiography, the article characterises the whole complex of archival documents about the embassy, the peculiarities of the formation of social ties of the embassy participants necessary for the successful implementation of the tasks of the diplomatic mission. The study is based on French court reports on ceremonies, notes of courtiers, internal correspondence of Russian and French diplomatic departments, materials of the Parisian periodical press, and reports of Russian envoys. Conclusions are drawn on the peculiarities of the strategies of the envoy P. I. Potemkin in establishing social relations, their significance for the development of Russian diplomacy, foreign policy, and cultural contacts with Western Europe, as well as on the peculiarities of the reflection of these relations in the surviving sources.

Aspekty prawno-ustrojowe unii troistej. Z dziejów federalizmu w Europie Środkowo-Wschodniej w epoce nowożytnej

The history of European federalism, including associations of union in which the Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth participated, has recently become particularly topical. Quite a lot was written about it, in particular the Polish-Lithuanian Union linking the two states over several centuries. Whereas relatively little is known about the history of attempts made in the early modern era to create a power in Central and Eastern Europe based on a union of states that were particularly important in the region at the time. This idea of a union was to unite three states: Poland, Lithuania and Russia, hence the name Triple Union (Pol. unia troista), was first outlined in 1572. It was then renewed at three successive elections until 1587. It was also current during the reign of Sigismund III Vasa, until 1613, when Mikhail Romanov ascended the Moscow throne, starting a new dynasty. With the election of Romanov as Tsar, the project of the Triple Union was abandoned, although Vladislav IV still laid claim to the Moscow throne for a dozen or so years (until 1634), but these claims no longer had any great practical significance and were finally abandoned. Plans for a union advanced by the Polish side often referred to the solutions applied in the earlier acts of union between the Kingdom of Poland and the Grand Duchy of Lithuania. This testifies to a strongly developed federalist practice which was characteristic of the Commonwealth, and was at the same time implemented in its own peculiar way. Undoubtedly, the greatest impact on the negotiations was exerted by the Union of Lublin, which at that time was still quite recent. Its provisions, and at the same time the positive effects that is provided for both nations, likely shaped the consciousness of the nobility during the preparation of subsequent diplomatic missions to Moscow. The idea of a Triple Union was undoubtedly one of the boldest political projects of the era. Although it is true, that the concept of the Triple Union remained only in the sphere of projects, it was nevertheless of great importance in the 16th and 17th centuries. However, no dedicated study has yet appeared that would comprehensively present its development, content and significance. This article is an attempt to even partially fill this gap in Polish historiography.

Niedokończona twierdza – plan Christiana Dahlkego z 1746 r. dotyczący ufortyfikowania klasztoru OO. Dominikanów na Górze Różańcowej w Podkamieniu

The article discusses the unrealized 18th-c. proposal to fortify the Dominican Monastery on Mount Rosary in Pidkamin, situated in the southern region of the then-Volhynian Province. The author of this project was Christian Dahlke, a military engineer and colonel of the Crown Artillery. While researchers have been familiar with the plan, it has yet to receive a thorough analysis regarding the author’s proposed solutions, particularly in comparison to fortification concepts prevalent during that era. Given the military context of the Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth in the mid-18th c., a closer examination of this plan is warranted, as it provides insight into potential advancements in military engineering of the time.

Transakcje sprzedaży chłopów w powiecie mohylowskim w pierwszej dekadzie XIX wieku

Nowadays, peasants are becoming the subject of scientific studies more and more often. The problem of selling the peasants became an important part of current historical research on rural population. This issue takes an important part within the scope of social history but also history of economics. The aim of the research was to describe phenomenon of selling the peasants in microscale of Mohylów Podolski poviat within Podillia Province of Russian Empire during the first decade of 19th century. At that time Podillia was already an integral part of Russian Empire however it was still under strong social and cultural influence of recently fallen Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth. A source query in the court books of the Civil Chamber of the Land Court of the Mohylów Podolski poviat revealed 24 commercial entries regarding the sale of serfs. Transactions were expressed in both Polish zlotys and rubles. There is a great deal of variation in transaction values; from 29 to 100 rubles (from 200 to 700 zlotys) for male souls, from 13 to 30 rubles (from 90 to 210 zlotys) for a female soul and from 46.5 to 47.5 rubles (from 325.5 to 333 zlotys) for whole family. The differentiation of transaction values in individual categories could result from the age, health and qualifications of a peasant. The main reasons for the sale were: immediate financial need, repayment of previous credit obligations or compensation in the event of the marriage of the subjects and the related departure to another owner.

Łukasz Wróbel. Józef Jerzy Hylzen. Studium kariery magnackiej w XVIII wieku. Toruń: Wydawnictwo Naukowe Uniwersytetu Mikołaja Kopernika, 2022

The book review evaluates the biography of the Inflantian (Polish Livonian) nobleman (szlachcic), prominent politician of the Polish–Lithuanian Commonwealth in the 18th century, Józef Jerzy Hylzen, written by Łukasz Wróbel, published in 2022. This work is an important contribution to the history of both Poland and Latvia, since it is the first comprehensive research dedicated to a representative of a noble family closely connected with Latvia. The structure of the book is based on the five criteria proving one’s belonging to the informal nobility elite, magnates: the family's ancient origins, education, including European travel (the so-called Le Grand Tour), political activities, property, and lifestyle. This monograph outlines the perspectives for further studies: border in the consciousness of the nobles of Inflantia in the context of politics, religion, and intellectual movements. Wróbel’s work is unique, factually rich, conceptually interesting, and easily readable. It also presents a very useful source of information for any future researchers of Inflanty.

A DEMOGRAPHIC STUDY OF THE FAMILY IN A PROTOINDUSTRIAL TOWN, BASED ON 18THCENTURY WIELICZKA (POLAND)

Based on thorough studies of Wieliczka’s parish registers and the 1788 census, the most relevant ratios for the protoindustrial population are presented. The results are compared with other towns and cities of the Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth and in Europe, in order to present the characteristics of a mining town in comparison with other centers. Building on the results, it will be possible to determine whether Wieliczka can be characterized as a Western European town.

The Polish-Lithuanian legacy of Sir Thomas More in the rediscovered plays and playbills of the eighteenth century

The life and execution of Sir Thomas More, humanist writer and Chancellor of England under King Henry VIII Tudor, has captured the imagination of both Elizabethan and Continental playwrights. The article discusses the cultural context as well as the form and structure of a 1736 playbill, Messis immortalium trophaeorum ex triumphalibus palmis, Thomae Mori cancellarii Angliae (Wrocław Ossolineum Library, XVIII – 15241. IV), originally from Zamoyski Academy; and a newly discovered 1765 manuscript play, Morus Angliae Cancellarius tragedia (Vilnius University Library, MS F3-1118), from the Jesuit College in Lwów, both from the early modern Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth. The article argues that specific representations of More’s life and martyrdom in the Jesuit theatre of Poland-Lithuania can be explained and analyzed in the light of the political traditions and multi-denominational religious life of the Commonwealth up to its partitions in the second half of the eighteenth century. They raise interesting questions regarding the balance of spiritual and secular concerns, and creatively link Thomas More’s story with the Commonwealth’s political culture to offer moral and ethical exemplars for the young.