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Columns of Gediminas, symbol of the Gediminids.
Columns of Gediminas, symbol of the Gediminids. The Columns of Gediminas or Pillars of Gediminas (Gediminaičių stulpai are one of the earliest symbols of Lithuania and one of its historical coats of arms The Gediminids ( Lithuanian: Gediminaičiai, singular Gediminaitis) were a Dynasty of Monarchs of the medieval Lithuania
Medieval Coat of Arms of Lithuania was adopted by influential families
Medieval Coat of Arms of Lithuania was adopted by influential families
Coat of arms with crossed arrows come from ancient times, like Kościesza coat of arms
Coat of arms with crossed arrows come from ancient times, like Kościesza coat of arms

The Lithuanian nobility was historically a legally privileged class in the Grand Duchy of Lithuania consisting of Lithuanian (from historical regions of Lithuania Proper and Samogitia) and in some cases Ruthenian noble families. Kościesza - is a Polish Coat of Arms. It was used by several Szlachta families in the times of the Polish-Lithuanian The Grand Duchy of Lithuania (Lietuvos Didžioji Kunigaikštystė old literary Lithuanian Didi Kunigiste Letuvos, Ruthenian: Wialikaje Kniastwa Litowskaje Lithuanians are the Baltic Ethnic group native to Lithuania, where they number a little over 3 million Lithuania proper (Lithuania propria Lietuva siaurąją prasme tikroji Lietuva, literally "Lithuania in a narrow sense" "Genuine Lithuania " Samogitia ( Samogitian: Žemaitėjė, Žemaitija literally lowlands) is one of the five Ethnographic Regions of Lithuania. Families were mostly granted privileges for military service in the Grand Duchy. A privilege &mdashetymologically "private law" or law relating to a specific individual&mdashis a special Entitlement or immunity granted by a government After the Union of Lublin in 1569 it had merged to a significant extent with Polish szlachta. The Union of Lublin (Liublino unija Belarusian: Лю́блінская ву́нія Polish: Unia Szlachta ( refers to the noble class in the Kingdom of Poland, the Grand Duchy of Lithuania (since 1569 semi-federal semi-confederal

Contents

In the Grand Duchy of Lithuania

Prior to the creation of the Lithuanian state by Mindaugas, lesser members of the nobility were called bajorai (singular - bajoras) and greater nobles, kunigai (singular - kunigas), from the Old German: kunig, meaning "king", or Lithuanian: kunigaikštis, usually translated as duke, Latin: dux. The Kingdom of Lithuania was a Lithuanian Monarchy which existed from 1251 to roughly 1263 Mindaugas (ˈmındoʊgʌs ca 1203 – 12 September 1263) was the first known Grand Duke of Lithuania, a title he gained ca The German language (de ''Deutsch'') is a West Germanic language and one of the world's major languages. Lithuanian ( lietuvių kalba) is the official state language of Lithuania and is recognised as one of the official languages of the European Union. A duke is a member of the Nobility, historically of highest rank below the Sovereign, and historically controlled a Duchy or a Dukedom Latin ( lingua Latīna, laˈtiːna is an Italic language, historically spoken in Latium and Ancient Rome. They evolved from tribal leaders, and had chiefly been responsible for waging war and carrying out raiding operations. After the establishment of a unified state they gradually became subordinates to greater Dukes, and later to the King of Lithuania. King of Lithuania, the title of rulers of Lithuanian state recognised by the Pope. After Mindaugas death all Lithuanian rulers held the title Grand Duke (Lithuanian: Didysis Kunigaikštis), or king (rex which was used in Gediminas' title). Lithuania, officially the Republic of Lithuania (Lietuvos Respublika is a Country in Eastern often referred to as Northern Europe or in the The Title Grand Prince or Great Prince (Magnus Princeps Russian and Ukrainian: Великий князь Velikiy knyaz; Вялíкий Lithuanian ( lietuvių kalba) is the official state language of Lithuania and is recognised as one of the official languages of the European Union. A king is a male Monarch, or a Head of state, who may or may not depending on the style of government of a nation exercise monarchal powers over a territory usually Gediminas (ca 1275 – winter 1341 was the Monarch of medieval Grand Duchy of Lithuania with the title lt didysis kunigaikštis (вялікі князь A title is a prefix or suffix added to a person's name to signify either veneration an official position or a professional or academic qualification

Ethnic Lithuanian nobility had different names than usual people, as their names were made of two stems. A word is a unit of Language that carries meaning and consists of one or more Morphemes which are linked more or less tightly together and has a Phonetic The greater noble families generally used the Lithuanian pagan given names of their precursors as their family names; this was the case with Goštautai, Radvilos, Astikai, Kęsgailos and others. Lithuanian ( lietuvių kalba) is the official state language of Lithuania and is recognised as one of the official languages of the European Union. A Lithuanian personal name, like in most European cultures consists of two main elements the Given name ( vardas) followed by Family name ( A family name or last name is a type of Surname and part of a person's name indicating the family to which the person belongs Goštautai was a Lithuanian noble family one of the most influential families in the 14-16th centuries Radziwiłł in Polish, (Radvila Radziwill Радзівіл Radzivił Radvil is a family of high nobility which has been powerful and important for centuries Astikai (Astikus Ościk Ościkowicze or Ostik }} was a Lithuanian noble family that prospered in late 14th and early 17th centuries Kęsgailos – was the Lithuanian noble family one of the biggest landowners in the Grand Duchy of Lithuania. Those families acquired great wealth and evolved into magnates. Magnate, from the Late Latin magnas, a great man itself from Latin magnus 'great' designates a noble or other man in a high social position Their representatives are respectively Jonas Goštautas, Radvila Astikas, Kristinas Astikas and Mykolas Kęsgaila. Jonas Gostautas or Goštautas (c 1383 in Geranainys &ndash 1 September 1458 in Vilnius was the nobleman from the Grand Duchy of Lithuania Radvila Astikas or Radvila Astikaitis (Radziwiłł Ościkowicz (1384 1477 was a Lithuanian magnate a member of the Astikai family of Vilnius Kristinas Astikas (b 1363 in Trakai; d 1442 or 1444) was a leading Lithuanian noble and statesman of the Astikai family Mykolas Kęsgaila Valimantaitis (died between 1451 and 1452 in Kražiai (? was a Lithuanian nobleman a precursor of the Kęsgailos family Those families were granted Coats of Arms under the Union of Horodlo in 1413. The Pact of Horodlo or Union of Horodło was a set of acts introduced in the town of Horodło in 1413.

While at the beginning the nobility was allmost all Lithuanian, with expansion more Ruthenian families joined Lithuanian nobility. Already in 16th century several Ruthenian noble familyes began to call themselves gente Ruthenus, natione Lithuanus[1]. Ruthenia is a geographic and culturo-ethnic name applied to the parts of Eastern Europe populated by Eastern Slavic peoples, as well as to the past various A good example is the Chodkiewicz family, that claimed its ancestry from the House of Gediminas. Chodkiewicz (Chodkevičius Kadkevičius Katkevičius Katkus was one of the most influential noble families of Ruthenian descent in the Grand Duchy of Lithuania The House of Gediminas refers to the siblings children and grandchildren of Gediminas, Grand Duke of Lithuania (ca

According to the 1528 military servicemen census, ethnic Lithuanian lands had 5730 horsemen, and Ruthenian lands of Grand Duchy - 5372. [2]

Evolution

In the late 14th century Grand Duke Jogaila and Skirgaila instead of calling all men to war, started to form forces consisting of professional warriors - bajorai (nobles). Jogaila, later Władysław II Jagiełło (b about 1362 d 1 June 1434 was Grand Duke of Lithuania and King of Poland. Skirgaila, also known as Ivan; ca 1353 or 1354 – 11 January 1397 in Kiev; baptized 1383/1384 as Casimir) was a regent of the In early 15th century, Vytautas the Great reformed the army of the Grand Duchy of Lithuania further: as there were not enough warriors, Vytautas following further chose suitable free men relieving them from labour on the land and other duties; for their military service for the Grand Duke they were given land, that was worked by hired men - veldamai[3]. Vytautas the Great ( Lithuanian:; Vitaŭt; Latin: Alexander Vitoldus; Witold Ruthenian: Vitovt; c The Grand Duchy of Lithuania (Lietuvos Didžioji Kunigaikštystė old literary Lithuanian Didi Kunigiste Letuvos, Ruthenian: Wialikaje Kniastwa Litowskaje Veldamas (plural veldamai) was a form of landownership in the early stages of Lithuanian Serfdom. At first the land was given to the serving men until death (benefice), but during the 14th and 15th centuries most of it became patrimony, granted by privileges of monarch. Originally a benefice was a gift of land ( Precaria) for life as a reward for services rendered Whilst during the 14th century the Grand Duke owned 2/3 of the Duchy's land, by 1569 he was the direct owner of only 1/3.

In the Grand Duchy of Lithuania together with the Kingdom of Poland the number of nobles was the greatest in Europe reaching up to 7 % of population, in some parts - like Samogitia - reaching up to 10%.

In the 15th century, the noble social class as such was already formed in Lithuania; for quite a long time it remained open and anyone could be ennobled for services to the Grand Duke. In time, the influence of lesser nobles decreased and higher nobles acquired increasingly more power, especially during the interregnum fights following Vytautas' death. An interregnum (plural interregna or interregnums) is a period of discontinuity of a government organization or social order

Wealthier families were distinct from other nobles because they had latifundias in different lands including Lithuanian, Ruthenian and even Polish. Latifundia are pieces of property covering tremendous areas The latifundia (Latin lātifundium; lātus, "spacious" + fundus, "farm estate" In the 15th century, the biggest landowners began to call themselves "lords" (ponai or didikai), and the Lithuanian Council of Lords was established to represent their interests. The Lithuanian Council of Lords (Ponų taryba was the main permanent institution of central government in the Grand Duchy of Lithuania active in its capital city of Vilnius In time most of them received Holy Roman Empire titles - dukes, earls and others. The Holy Roman Empire ( HRE; German Heiliges Römisches Reich (HRR, Latin Sacrum Romanum Imperium (SRI was a union of territories in Grand Duchy of Lithuania offices were held allmos exclusively by magnates.

In the 16th century, Lithuanian nobility stopped calling themselves Bajorai; they adopted a term Šlėkta in Lithuanian and Szlachta in Polish instead. Landlords called themselves Ziemionys or Ziemiane[4].

Privileges

After the Grand Duke distributed state land, he became dependent on powerful landowners, who demanded greater liberties and privileges. The Title grand duke (in Latin, magnus dux; in Spanish, gran duque; in Russian, Великий Герцог The nobles were granted administrative and judicial power in their domains and increasing rights in state politics. The legal status of the nobility was based on several privileges, granted by the Grand Dukes:

Most of the nobility rights were retained even after the third partition of the Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth in 1795.

Ties to the Kingdom of Poland

After the Union of Horodło (1413) Lithuanian nobility acquired equal rights with the Kingdom of Poland nobility (szlachta), and during following centuries began to merge into it. The Pact of Horodlo or Union of Horodło was a set of acts introduced in the town of Horodło in 1413. The Kingdom of Poland of the Jagiellons was the Polish state created by the accession of Wladislaus II Jagiełło, Grand Duke of Lithuania, to Szlachta ( refers to the noble class in the Kingdom of Poland, the Grand Duchy of Lithuania (since 1569 semi-federal semi-confederal The process was accelerated after the Union of Lublin (1569) which created the Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth. The Union of Lublin (Liublino unija Belarusian: Лю́блінская ву́нія Polish: Unia The Polish–Lithuanian Commonwealth, officially the Commonwealth of the Crown of the Polish Kingdom and the Grand Duchy of Lithuania also known as the Most Serene Republic

Lithuanian nobility self-polonised, replacing Lithuanian and Ruthenian languages with Polish although the process took centuries. Polonization (polonizacja is the acquisition or imposition Lithuanian ( lietuvių kalba) is the official state language of Lithuania and is recognised as one of the official languages of the European Union. Ruthenian (also Polish ( język polski, polszczyzna) is the Official language of Poland. In the 16th century a newly established theory amongst Lithuanian nobility was popular, claiming that Lithuanian nobility was of Roman extraction, and the Lithuanian language was just a morphed Latin language [5][6]. Lithuanian ( lietuvių kalba) is the official state language of Lithuania and is recognised as one of the official languages of the European Union. Latin ( lingua Latīna, laˈtiːna is an Italic language, historically spoken in Latium and Ancient Rome. In 1595 Mikalojus Daukša addressed Lithuanian nobility calling for the Lithuanian language to play a more important role in state life. Mikalojus Daukša (other possible spellings include Mikalojus Daugsza, Mikołaj Dauksza and Mikolay Dowksza after 1527 – February 16, 1613 in Varniai However, the usage of Lithuanian declined, and the Polish language became the rule in the offices of the Grand Duchy of Lithuania in the late 17th century. The Grand Duchy of Lithuania (Lietuvos Didžioji Kunigaikštystė old literary Lithuanian Didi Kunigiste Letuvos, Ruthenian: Wialikaje Kniastwa Litowskaje

At first only Lithuanian magnate families were affected, although many of them like the Radziwiłłs remained patriots of Lithuania who fought long and hard against the ever-encroaching Polish dominion, even after 1795. Magnate, from the Late Latin magnas, a great man itself from Latin magnus 'great' designates a noble or other man in a high social position Radziwiłł in Polish, (Radvila Radziwill Радзівіл Radzivił Radvil is a family of high nobility which has been powerful and important for centuries Gradually it evolved to the wider population, and for the most part Lithuanian nobility became part of both nations szlachta. Szlachta ( refers to the noble class in the Kingdom of Poland, the Grand Duchy of Lithuania (since 1569 semi-federal semi-confederal

Nonetheless the Lithuanian nobles did preserve their national awareness as members of the Grand Duchy, and in most cases recognition of their Lithuanian family roots; their leaders would continue to represent the interests of Grand Duchy of Lithuania in the Sejm of the Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth and in the royal court. A nation is a Human Cultural and Social Community. In as much as most members never meet each other yet feel a common bond it may be considered Lithuania, officially the Republic of Lithuania (Lietuvos Respublika is a Country in Eastern often referred to as Northern Europe or in the The Grand Duchy of Lithuania (Lietuvos Didžioji Kunigaikštystė old literary Lithuanian Didi Kunigiste Letuvos, Ruthenian: Wialikaje Kniastwa Litowskaje The General Sejm (Sejm walny was the Parliament of Poland for four centuries from the late 15th through the late 18th century

After Partitions of the Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth

The major effects on the lesser Lithuanian nobility after partitions of the Commonwealthtook place after Russian Empire's sanctions removing Lithuania from names of Gubernya's[7] (see Lithuanian Governorate) Situation worsened during the rule of tzar Nicholas I of Russia. The Partitions of Poland or Partitions of the Polish Lithuanian Commonwealth took place in the second half of the 18th century and ended the existence of the The Russian Empire ( Pre-reform Russian: Pоссійская Имперія Modern Russian: Российская Империя translit: Rossiyskaya Guberniya (губе́рния) (also gubernia, guberniia, gubernya) was a major administrative subdivision of Imperial Russia, usually The Lithuania Governorate was a short-lived governorate ( Guberniya) of the Russian Empire. After November uprising emperial officials were quite eager to remove people form noble class, thus minimising a saocial base for another potential uprising. The November Uprising (1830&ndash1831&mdashalso known as the Cadet Revolution &mdashwas an armed rebellion against the rule of the Russian Empire in Poland The Russian Empire ( Pre-reform Russian: Pоссійская Имперія Modern Russian: Российская Империя translit: Rossiyskaya In period 1833-1860 status as a noble lost 25,692 people in Vilna Governorate and 17,032 people in Kovno Governorate, who could not prove their status with monarchs privileges or owned land. The Vilnа Governorate (1801-1840 often named Lithuania-Vilna Governorate) (Виленская губерния Vilenskaya guberniya, Vilniaus gubernija or The Kovno Governorate (Ковенская губеpния or Kovenskaja Gubernija; Kauno gubernija or Government of Kovno was a governorate ( Guberniya [8]. They did not lost personal freedom, but were assigned as one steaders Russian: однодворцы in rural areas and citizens in towns. Russian ( transliteration:,) is the most geographically widespread language of Eurasia, the most widely spoken of the Slavic languages

Following January Uprising empirial official announced that "Lithuanians are Russians seduced by Poles and Christianity" and banned the print in Lithuanian language and started Program of Restoration of Russian Beginnings. The January Uprising ( Polish: powstanie styczniowe, Lithuanian: 1863 m The Lithuanian press ban (spaudos draudimas was a ban on all Lithuanian language publications printed in the Latin alphabet within the Russian Empire, The Lithuanian press ban (spaudos draudimas was a ban on all Lithuanian language publications printed in the Latin alphabet within the Russian Empire,

In the 19th century a Latin formula gente Lithuanus, natione Polonus (Lithuanian people, Polish nation) was common in the Lithuania Proper and former Samogitian Eldership. Lithuania proper (Lithuania propria Lietuva siaurąją prasme tikroji Lietuva, literally "Lithuania in a narrow sense" "Genuine Lithuania " The Duchy of Samogitia (Žemaičių seniūnija Księstwo żmudzkie had been the administrative unit of the Grand Duchy of Lithuania from 1219 (and from 1569 a part of the With Polish culture becoming one of the primary centers of resistance to the Russian Empire, polonization in some regions actually strengthened - fighting the Russification, and hence an even larger part of Lithuanian nobility was Polonised and adopted Polish identity by the late 19th century, although the 1897 Russian census shows that 27. Russification (in Russian: русификация rusifikátsiya)is an adoption of the Russian language or some other Russian attribute (whether voluntarily 7 percent of nobility living within modern Lithuania's borders were speaking Lithuanian as a mother language. [9][10] This number was even higher in Kovno Governorate, where 36. The Kovno Governorate (Ковенская губеpния or Kovenskaja Gubernija; Kauno gubernija or Government of Kovno was a governorate ( Guberniya 6 percent of nobility declared the Lithuanian language their mother language[9]. Lithuanian ( lietuvių kalba) is the official state language of Lithuania and is recognised as one of the official languages of the European Union.

The processes of Polonization and Russification were however partially reversed with the Lithuanian National Revival which also began around that time. Lithuanian National Revival, alternatively Lithuanian National Awakening (Lietuvių tautinis atgimimas was a period of the History of Lithuania in the 19th century Although originating mostly from the non-noble classes, a number of nobles re-embraced their Lithuanian roots.

During the interbellum years the government of Lithuania issued land reform limiting manors with 150 hectares of land, and confiscating land from those nobles who were fighting in the Polish-Lithuanian War on the Polish side. Many members of the Lithuanian nobility during the interbellum and post WW2 years emigrated to Poland, many were deported to Siberia during the years 1945-53 of Soviet occupation, many manors were destroyed. Siberia (Сиби́рь Sibir) is the name given to the vast region constituting almost all of Northern Asia and for the most part currently serving Currently the Lithuanian nobility association has been restored.

Heraldry

The most ancient heraldry has crossed arrows motive. In 1413 Union of Horodło 47 Lithuanian noble families adopted Polish nobility coat of arms. The Pact of Horodlo or Union of Horodło was a set of acts introduced in the town of Horodło in 1413. This is a List of Polish Coats of Arms. For more general information on the history of heraldry in Poland and Lithuania see the main project page. Later more families adopted more Coat of Arms.

Influential Lithuanian families

Families from ethnic Lithuania

Families from Ruthenia

Families from Livonia

See also

References

  1. ^ Bumblauskas, Alfredas (1995). Szlachta ( refers to the noble class in the Kingdom of Poland, the Grand Duchy of Lithuania (since 1569 semi-federal semi-confederal The Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth was a federal monarchic republic comprising the Kingdom of Poland and Grand Duchy of Lithuania, from 1569 until 1795 "About the Lithuanian Baroque in a Baroque Manner". Lituanus 41 (3). Lituanus is an English language quarterly journal dedicated to Lithuanian and Baltic languages linguistics political science arts history literature ISSN 00245089. “gente Ruthenus, natione Lithuanus” 
  2. ^ Jerzy Ochmański, Dawna Litwa, Wydawnictwo Pojerzierze. Olsztyn, 1986.
  3. ^ Kiaupa, Zigmantas; Jūratė Kiaupienė, Albinas Kunevičius [1995] (2000). The History of Lithuania Before 1795, English, Vilnius: Lithuanian Institute of History, 172–174. The Lithuanian Institute of History is a state-funded research institution and the country’s main institution of history research ISBN 9986-810-13-2.  
  4. ^ Jučas, M. (1995). "Gyvi istorijos puslapiai" (in Lithuanian). Lietuvos bajoras 1: 10-13. Danielius. ISSN 1392-1304. An International Standard Serial Number ( ISSN) is a unique eight-digit number used to identify a print or electronic Periodical publication. “Tikruosius bajorus - luomą su pilietinėmis teisėmis - imta vadinti iš lenkų perimtu žodžiu „šlėktomis“, arba ziemionimis (ziemiane, szlachta). . . . Istoriškai neturėtume vadinti Lietuvos kilmingųjų žemvaldžių bajorais, nes jie nuo XVI a. vidurio taip savęs niekur nebevadino. ” 
  5. ^ Gudmantas, Kęstutis (2004). "Vėlyvųjų Lietuvos metraščių veikėjai ir jų prototipai: „Romėnai“ (The personages of the Lithuanian chronicles and their prototypes: The „Romans”)". Ancient Lithuanian Literature XVII: 113-139.  
  6. ^ unlikely, especially because the Romans had very little hold, if any, in the lands so far north) (see also sarmatism
  7. ^ Ochmański, Jerzy (1986). Sarmatism embodied the dominant Lifestyle, Culture and Ideology of the Szlachta ( Nobility) in the Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth The National Idea in Lithuania from the 16th to the First Half of the 19th Century: The Problem of Cultural-Linguistic Differentiation. Poznań: Mickiewicz University.  
  8. ^ Aleksandravičius, p. 207
  9. ^ a b Aleksandravičius, Egidijus; Antanas Kulakauskas (1996). Carų valdžioje, 232-233. ISBN 9986-403-69-3.  
  10. ^ Vėbra, Rimantas (1990). Llietuvių visuomenė XIXa. antrojoje pusėje. Mokslas, 152. ISBN 9986-403-69-3.  
  11. ^ (Lithuanian) Jonynas, Ignas (1933). "Alšėniškiai". Lietuviškoji enciklopedija I. Ed. Vaclovas Biržiška. Kaunas: Spaudos Fondas. 347-359.  
  12. ^ (Lithuanian) "Alšėnų kunigaikščiai". Tarybų Lietuvos enciklopedija I. (1985). Ed. Jonas Zinkus, et. al. Vilnius, Lithuania: Vyriausioji enciklopedijų redakcija. 52.  

Further reading

External links

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