Samogitian nobility

Samogitian nobility was nobility originating in the Lithuanian region of Samogitia. Samogitian nobility was an integral part of Lithuanian nobility. Historically, the local gentry was formed of people of various ethnic backgrounds, including Lithuanian, Polish, Tartar, German and Ruthenian.[1]

Gabriel Narutowicz and Józef Piłsudski are 20th century descendants of the Samogitian nobility

As the Duchy of Samogitia maintained a certain level of autonomy within the Polish–Lithuanian Commonwealth,[2] its nobility was considered a separate subject of the laws, on par with the nobility of other Commonwealth lands.[3]

Samogitian nobility, especially its lower class, preserved knowledge of the Lithuanian language and the Samogitian dialect very well.[4] In fact, the Lithuanian language remained dominant in Samogitia and its nobility throughout the early modern period.[5] This is proven by the letter of Stanisław Radziwiłł to his brother Mikołaj Krzysztof Radziwiłł immediately after becoming the Elder of Samogitia that: "While learning various languages, I forgot Lithuanian, and now I see, I have to go to school again, because that language, as I see, God willing, will be needed."[5]

See also

Notes and references
In-line:
  1. Janusz Tazbir (2000). "Szlachta a teologowie". Państwo bez stosów i inne szkice (in Polish). Kraków: Universitas. p. 393. ISBN 83-7052-751-5., also published in English as: Janusz Tazbir; Alexander T. Jordan (1973). A State Without Stakes. New York: Kościuszko Foundation. p. 232. doi:10.2307/2497261. ISBN 0-8057-6137-3. JSTOR 2497261. S2CID 165106520.
  2. Simas Suziedielis (1999). "Samogitia". Postilla 400. The State Committee for theCommemoration of the 400th Anniversary of the Postile. Retrieved 2007-10-31.
  3. Włodzimierz Budka (1921). "Kto podpisał Konfederację Warszawską 1573 r.?". Reformacja W Polsce (in Polish). 1 (4): 314–319.
  4. Aleksandravičius, Egidijus; Antanas Kulakauskas (1996). Carų valdžioje. Vilnius: Baltos lankos. ISBN 9986-403-69-3.
  5. Drungila 2019, p. 131.

Sources
  • Drungila, Jonas (2019). Erelis lokio guolyje (in Lithuanian).


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