Książka i literatura w kręgu Radziwiłłów birżańskich w pierwszej połowie XVII wieku

Abstract

The present work is an attempt to present the literary life in the milieu of non-Catholic magnates in Lithuania. An interesting group of intellectuals, who shared religious and literary views, gathered at the court of the last representatives of the Birża line of the house of the Radziwills. They managed to produce an interesting body of writings, and touched upon many subjects that were common to them, e.g. the motif of death, pedagogical, and religious problems. The poets, who often filled the function of secretaries in the ducal chancellery, were also obliged to write occasional pieces to celebrate the Radziwill’s family festivities. Such poems were usually put to press, whereas other texts by the Radziwiłł poets, such as facetious epigrams, lyrical poetry, or translations, remained in manuscripts. Among the books that were typical of the Radziwiłł circle, we can distinguish first of all the printed publications that were dedicated to the lords of Birża, and that came from the Kmitas’ library, which functioned under the Radziwills’ patronage. A few of the Radziwills’ or their courtiers’ book records survived (there is one, inter alia, by S. Rysiński), and they were subjected to analysis. The reading interests of the Birża magnates have also been presented, just as well as the functioning of emblem prints and manuscript books. Political activity was no doubt the most important in the Radziwills’ lives. They were also interested in plastic arts, took care of enlarging their residences, and they acted as patrons of Protestant schools. Such activity was dictated, first of all, by their concern for the fate of their co-religionists, and also by a concern for the family’s splendour.