The rituals and charters for the social estates and territorial units in the Grand Duchy of Lithuania from the mid-15th to the mid-16th century Cover Image

Rytuał a przywileje dla stanów i grup terytorialnych w Wielkim Księstwie Litewskim od połowy XV do połowy XVI wieku
The rituals and charters for the social estates and territorial units in the Grand Duchy of Lithuania from the mid-15th to the mid-16th century

Author(s): Hlieb Bierastavy
Subject(s): Social history, 15th Century, 16th Century
Published by: Uniwersytet Adama Mickiewicza
Keywords: Grand Duchy of Lithuania; charters; grand-ducal chancery; social estates; voivodeship; ritual;

Summary/Abstract: Land and regional charters were diplomas used in the Grand Duchy of Lithuania (mainly in the second half of the 15th century and in the first half of the 16th century) by means of which rights were granted to the residents of the Grand Duchy of Lithuania and its regions. The paper examines the ritualistic features of such diplomas, i.e. the narrative concerning the role of charters in the ritual and the rituals associated with the granting of a diploma. The narrative concerning the granting of regional charters as a result of supposed collective requests from the local population is characterized in the article as well as the narrative created by the grand-ducal chancellery concerning land grants. The rituals associated with these acts and their impact on the identity of the population are also examined.

  • Issue Year: 76/2024
  • Issue No: 1
  • Page Range: 7-36
  • Page Count: 30
  • Language: Polish
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