Lietuva visais laikais garsėjo savo miškais. Nepražengiamos girios stebindavo į mūsų kraštą negausiai užklydusius svetimšalius. Savo prisiminimuose apie Lietuvos Didžiąją Kunigaikštystę jie sutartinai akcentuodavo stulbinamą girių didumą bei žvėrių įvairovę. Iš visų miško teikiamų dovanų žmogui galėtume išskirti medžius. Mediena buvo nepamainomas šilumos šaltinis, pagrindinė statybinė medžiaga. XVI amžiuje, Vakarų Europoje smarkiai išaugus medienos gaminių poreikiui, miškas, jo gaminiai Lietuvoje po truputį tapo viena iš pagrindinių eksporto prekių. / Lithuania has always been famous for own forests. Rarely foreigners who for some reason had a possibility to see our nature were surprised by its heavy forests. In the memories of Grand Ducky of Lithuania they were always highlighting the shocking immensity of the forests and the big variety of animals. Out of all the gifts offered by the forest we should distinguish the trees. The wood was invaluable source of heat as well as the main building material. In the sixteenth century in Western Europe the demand for wood products increased which led to increase of Lithuania‘s wood export. Wood became the main export product.

The present dissertation in its essence is an interdisciplinary (i.e. historical, musicological and liturgical) research. The primary aim of this work is to settle the explicit, historically and methodologically correct general view of the plainchant within the concrete historical, cultural and geographical location in a defined period of time. The object of the dissertation is the expression and development of the Gregorian chant in the Grand Duchy of Lithuania as represented in a variety of sources. The time period examined is from 1387 to 1795 (i.e. from the Latin Baptism of the state until the fall of the Republic of Two Nations). However, the main focus is for the period of the 15th to the 17th centuries. The principal methods used in this research are: the historical, musicological and source analysis, the descriptive, retrospective, and comparative. All of these methods are coordinated with the principles of the methodology, developed by Prof. Laszlo Dobszay and his school. / Disertacija savo esme yra tarpdisciplininis (muzikologinis-istorinis-liturginis) tyrimas. Pirminis darbo tikslas yra sudėlioti kuo aiškesnį, istoriškai bei metodologiškai korektišką šio fenomeno visuminį vaizdą konkrečioje istorinėje-kultūrinėje bei geografinėje erdvėje chronologiškai apibrėžtu laikotarpiu. Disertacijos tyrimo objektas — grigališkojo choralo raiška ir raida, atsispindinti išlikusiuose įvairiuose šaltiniuose, konkrečioje istorinėje geografinėje Lietuvos Didžiosios kunigaikštystės erdvėje apibrėžtu istoriniu laikotarpiu. Laiko rėmai, kuriais remiamasi šioje studijoje, iš dalies sąlygoti valstybės istorinių aplinkybių, o iš dalies ir pačių išlikusių šaltinių. Tyrimo chronologinės ribos apsiriboja 1386-1795 m., t.y. nuo lotyniškojo valstybės Krikšto iki Abiejų Tautų Respublikos žlugimo. Pagrindinis dėmesys teikiamas XV-XVII a. periodui. Pagrindiniai tyrime naudojami metodai yra šaltinių analizė, apra-šomasis, retrospekcinis, lyginamasis, istorinis ir muzikologinis analitinis metodai. Visa tai grindžiama ir koordinuojama, pagal prof. Laszlo Dobszay ir jo mokyklos išplėtotą metodologiją.

<p>This book examines and analyses the Union between the Grand Duchy of Lithuania and Sweden signed in 1655 at Kėdainiai and the political crisis that followed. The union was a result of strong separatist dreams among the Lithuanian-Ruthenian Protestant elite led by the Radziwiłł family, and if implemented it would radically change the balance of power in the Baltic Sea region. The main legal point of the Union was the breach of Lithuanian federation with Poland and the establishment of a federation with Sweden. The Grand Duchy of Lithuania aspired to return to international relations as a self-governing subject. The Union meant a new Scandinavian alternative to Polish and Russian domination. The author places the events in the Grand Duchy of Lithuania in the general crisis that occurred in Europe in the middle of the 17th century characterized by a great number of wars, rebellions and civil wars from Portugal to Ukraine, and which builds the background to the crisis for Lithuania and Sweden. The research proved the importance of lesser powers in changing the geopolitical balance between the Great Powers. The conflict over Lithuania and Belarus was the main reason for the Swedish-Russian, Polish-Russian and Ukrainian-Russian wars. The failure of the Union with Sweden was caused by both internal and external factors. Internally, various ethnic, confessional and political groups within the nobility of Lithuania were split in favour of different foreign powers – from Muscovy to Transylvania. The external cause for the failure of the Union project was the failure of Swedish strategy. Sweden concentrated its activity to Poland, not to Lithuania. After the Union, Swedish authorities treated the Grand Duchy as an invaded country, not an equal. The Swedish administration introduced heavy taxation and was unable to control the brutality of the army. As a result Sweden was defeated in both Lithuania and Poland. Among the different economic, political and religious explanations of the general crisis, the case of Lithuania shows the importance of the political conflicts. For the separatists of Lithuania the main motive to turn against Poland and to promote alliance with Sweden, Russia or the Cossacks was the inability of Poland to shield the Grand Duchy from a Russian invasion.The Lithuanian case was a provincial rebellion led by the native nobility against their monarch, based on tradition of the previous independence and statehood period. It was not nationalism in its modern meaning, but instead a crisis of identity in the form of a conflict between Patria and Central Power. However, the cost of being a part of Sweden or Muscovy was greater than the benefit of political protection. Therefore, the pro-Polish orientation prevailed when Poland after 1658 recovered its military ability the local nobility regrouped around Warsaw. The Grand Duchy of Lithuania managed to remain on the political map of Europe, but at the price of general religious Catholization and cultural Polonization. After the crisis, the Grand Duchy of Lithuania gradually changed into a deep province of the Polish state.</p>

<p>This book examines and analyses the Union between the Grand Duchy of Lithuania and Sweden signed in 1655 at Kėdainiai and the political crisis that followed. The union was a result of strong separatist dreams among the Lithuanian-Ruthenian Protestant elite led by the Radziwiłł family, and if implemented it would radically change the balance of power in the Baltic Sea region. The main legal point of the Union was the breach of Lithuanian federation with Poland and the establishment of a federation with Sweden. The Grand Duchy of Lithuania aspired to return to international relations as a self-governing subject. The Union meant a new Scandinavian alternative to Polish and Russian domination. The author places the events in the Grand Duchy of Lithuania in the general crisis that occurred in Europe in the middle of the 17th century characterized by a great number of wars, rebellions and civil wars from Portugal to Ukraine, and which builds the background to the crisis for Lithuania and Sweden. The research proved the importance of lesser powers in changing the geopolitical balance between the Great Powers. The conflict over Lithuania and Belarus was the main reason for the Swedish-Russian, Polish-Russian and Ukrainian-Russian wars. The failure of the Union with Sweden was caused by both internal and external factors. Internally, various ethnic, confessional and political groups within the nobility of Lithuania were split in favour of different foreign powers – from Muscovy to Transylvania. The external cause for the failure of the Union project was the failure of Swedish strategy. Sweden concentrated its activity to Poland, not to Lithuania. After the Union, Swedish authorities treated the Grand Duchy as an invaded country, not an equal. The Swedish administration introduced heavy taxation and was unable to control the brutality of the army. As a result Sweden was defeated in both Lithuania and Poland. Among the different economic, political and religious explanations of the general crisis, the case of Lithuania shows the importance of the political conflicts. For the separatists of Lithuania the main motive to turn against Poland and to promote alliance with Sweden, Russia or the Cossacks was the inability of Poland to shield the Grand Duchy from a Russian invasion.The Lithuanian case was a provincial rebellion led by the native nobility against their monarch, based on tradition of the previous independence and statehood period. It was not nationalism in its modern meaning, but instead a crisis of identity in the form of a conflict between Patria and Central Power. However, the cost of being a part of Sweden or Muscovy was greater than the benefit of political protection. Therefore, the pro-Polish orientation prevailed when Poland after 1658 recovered its military ability the local nobility regrouped around Warsaw. The Grand Duchy of Lithuania managed to remain on the political map of Europe, but at the price of general religious Catholization and cultural Polonization. After the crisis, the Grand Duchy of Lithuania gradually changed into a deep province of the Polish state.</p>

This book examines and analyses the Union between the Grand Duchy of Lithuania and Sweden signed in 1655 at Kėdainiai and the political crisis that followed. The union was a result of strong separatist dreams among the Lithuanian-Ruthenian Protestant elite led by the Radziwiłł family, and if implemented it would radically change the balance of power in the Baltic Sea region. The main legal point of the Union was the breach of Lithuanian federation with Poland and the establishment of a federation with Sweden. The Grand Duchy of Lithuania aspired to return to international relations as a self-governing subject. The Union meant a new Scandinavian alternative to Polish and Russian domination. The author places the events in the Grand Duchy of Lithuania in the general crisis that occurred in Europe in the middle of the 17th century characterized by a great number of wars, rebellions and civil wars from Portugal to Ukraine, and which builds the background to the crisis for Lithuania and Sweden. The research proved the importance of lesser powers in changing the geopolitical balance between the Great Powers. The conflict over Lithuania and Belarus was the main reason for the Swedish-Russian, Polish-Russian and Ukrainian-Russian wars. The failure of the Union with Sweden was caused by both internal and external factors. Internally, various ethnic, confessional and political groups within the nobility of Lithuania were split in favour of different foreign powers – from Muscovy to Transylvania. The external cause for the failure of the Union project was the failure of Swedish strategy. Sweden concentrated its activity to Poland, not to Lithuania. After the Union, Swedish authorities treated the Grand Duchy as an invaded country, not an equal. The Swedish administration introduced heavy taxation and was unable to control the brutality of the army. As a result Sweden was defeated in both Lithuania and Poland. Among the different economic, political and religious explanations of the general crisis, the case of Lithuania shows the importance of the political conflicts. For the separatists of Lithuania the main motive to turn against Poland and to promote alliance with Sweden, Russia or the Cossacks was the inability of Poland to shield the Grand Duchy from a Russian invasion.The Lithuanian case was a provincial rebellion led by the native nobility against their monarch, based on tradition of the previous independence and statehood period. It was not nationalism in its modern meaning, but instead a crisis of identity in the form of a conflict between Patria and Central Power. However, the cost of being a part of Sweden or Muscovy was greater than the benefit of political protection. Therefore, the pro-Polish orientation prevailed when Poland after 1658 recovered its military ability the local nobility regrouped around Warsaw. The Grand Duchy of Lithuania managed to remain on the political map of Europe, but at the price of general religious Catholization and cultural Polonization. After the crisis, the Grand Duchy of Lithuania gradually changed into a deep province of the Polish state.

Šio darbo objektas yra Lucko (1507-1536 m.) ir Vilniaus (1536-1555 m.) vyskupo, kunigaikščio Pauliaus Alšėniškio dvaras ir klientūra. Šio darbo tikslas yra nustatyti Pauliaus Alšėniškio klientų ir dvariškių vietą XVI a. I pusės Lietuvos Didžiosios kunigaikštystės visuomeninėje struktūroje. Naudodamiesi istoriografija apsibrėžėme keturias skirtingas patronato formas, atsispindėjusias Pauliaus Alšėniškio aplinkoje: asmeninį patronatą, regioninį patronatą, politinė klientūra bei bažnytinė klientūra. Darbo struktūrą parėmėme šiuo skirstymu. Šio darbo įžanginę dalį sudaro, įvadas, šaltinių ir literatūros apžvalga, teorinių patronato ir klientūros klausimų aptarimas. Darbo dėstomąją dalį sudaro penki skyriai. Pirmasis skyrius yra skirtas Pauliaus Alšėniškio dvaro problemoms: dvaro pareigūnų ir dvariškių identifikavimui bei kasdienio veikimo problemoms. Antrasis dėstymo dalies skyrius skirtas „regioniniam“ patronatui. Jame nagrinėjame pagrindinių Pauliaus Alšėniškio valdų – Alšėnų, Volpos ir Punios bajorų santykius su Pauliumi Alšėniškiu bei jų statusą valstybėje. Trečiasis dėstomosios dalies skyrius skirtas klientūrai siaurąja – politinio patronato prasme. Šiame skyriuje mes aptariame Pauliaus Alšėniškio klientus LDK didžiojo kunigaikščio dvare bei jų socialinio mobilumo klausimus. Ketvirtasis dėstomosios dalies skyrius skirtas Pauliaus Alšėniškio klientūra jo pagrindinėje veiklos sferoje – katalikų bažnyčioje. Šiame skyriuje mes identifikavome jo klientus dvasininkus Lucko ir... [toliau žr. visą tekstą] / The research object of this thesis is the court ant the clientage (client system) of duke, bishop of Lutsk (1507-1536) and Vilnius (1536-1555) Paul of Holshany. The aim of this research is to identify the status of courtiers and clients of Paulo f Holshany in the context of social structure of Grand Duchy of Lithuania (GDL). After reviewing newest historiographical positions on the subject of social structure of 16th century GDL, we have identified 4 different spheres of patronage (personal patronage, regional patronage, political patronage (clientage proper), and institutional patronage), which have been researched by other historians and therefore we have divided our work accordingly. This thesis begins with (review of sources and theoretical framework of patron-client relations). Main body of this work is divided into five chapters. The first chapter is dedicated to identifying the courtiers and members of the court of Paul of Holshany and the problems of the everyday existence of this institution. The second chapter is dedicated to the problems of regional patronage in the main landholdings of the duke-bishop – Volpa, Holshany and Punia. Third chapter is dedicated to the clientage proper – political clients of Paul of Holshany and the political influence he had in the GDL. The Fourth chapter explores the system of clientage that Paul of Holshany created in his main sphere of work – the Catholic Church. We dedicate this chapter to identify the church – clients in the... [to full text]

This book examines and analyses the Union between the Grand Duchy of Lithuania and Sweden signed in 1655 at Kėdainiai and the political crisis that followed. The union was a result of strong separatist dreams among the Lithuanian-Ruthenian Protestant elite led by the Radziwiłł family, and if implemented it would radically change the balance of power in the Baltic Sea region. The main legal point of the Union was the breach of Lithuanian federation with Poland and the establishment of a federation with Sweden. The Grand Duchy of Lithuania aspired to return to international relations as a self-governing subject. The Union meant a new Scandinavian alternative to Polish and Russian domination. The author places the events in the Grand Duchy of Lithuania in the general crisis that occurred in Europe in the middle of the 17th century characterized by a great number of wars, rebellions and civil wars from Portugal to Ukraine, and which builds the background to the crisis for Lithuania and Sweden. The research proved the importance of lesser powers in changing the geopolitical balance between the Great Powers. The conflict over Lithuania and Belarus was the main reason for the Swedish-Russian, Polish-Russian and Ukrainian-Russian wars. The failure of the Union with Sweden was caused by both internal and external factors. Internally, various ethnic, confessional and political groups within the nobility of Lithuania were split in favour of different foreign powers – from Muscovy to Transylvania. The external cause for the failure of the Union project was the failure of Swedish strategy. Sweden concentrated its activity to Poland, not to Lithuania. After the Union, Swedish authorities treated the Grand Duchy as an invaded country, not an equal. The Swedish administration introduced heavy taxation and was unable to control the brutality of the army. As a result Sweden was defeated in both Lithuania and Poland. Among the different economic, political and religious explanations of the general crisis, the case of Lithuania shows the importance of the political conflicts. For the separatists of Lithuania the main motive to turn against Poland and to promote alliance with Sweden, Russia or the Cossacks was the inability of Poland to shield the Grand Duchy from a Russian invasion.The Lithuanian case was a provincial rebellion led by the native nobility against their monarch, based on tradition of the previous independence and statehood period. It was not nationalism in its modern meaning, but instead a crisis of identity in the form of a conflict between Patria and Central Power. However, the cost of being a part of Sweden or Muscovy was greater than the benefit of political protection. Therefore, the pro-Polish orientation prevailed when Poland after 1658 recovered its military ability the local nobility regrouped around Warsaw. The Grand Duchy of Lithuania managed to remain on the political map of Europe, but at the price of general religious Catholization and cultural Polonization. After the crisis, the Grand Duchy of Lithuania gradually changed into a deep province of the Polish state.

The dissemination of monastic culture int he Grand Duchy of Lithuania had a profound effect on the country’s cultural life. By the seventeenth century quite a few Christian religious orders had sent their members to settle here. Since the Christianization of the Grand Duchy of Lithuania in 1387 monastics became instrumental in creating, preserving and enhancing the institutions of religious and secular learning and in transmitting Western cultural goods, artefacts, and intellectual skills. When the first Franciscan and Dominican friars settled in the territory of pagan Lithuania in the beginning of the thirteenth century, they sought acceptance within the local society and laid foundation for the arrival of Roman Catholic Church in theselands. The official Christianization of the Grand Duchy of Lithuania led to even more active expansion of monastic networks and activities. The latter extended to various domains of culture and social life, catering to theneedsofdifferentclasses. Living in isolated communities, some of them under a strict rule,monks and mendicant friars were harbingers of Western civilization in many areas of the country’s life (like medicine, agronomy, gastronomy) and social domains, including learning and arts.