Karaliaus Stanislovo Augusto Poniatovskio kelionė į Sankt Peterburgą ir jo apsilankymas Vilniuje 1797 m.
The Trip of King Stanislaw August Poniatowski to St. Petersburg and His Visit to Vilnius in 1797

Summary/Abstract: The last king of the Republic of two nations, Stanislaw August Poniatowski, having given up the throne, was kept as an honorary prisoner in Grodno, in the palace of Governor-general Nikolaj Repnin. The monarch could entertain guests, travel freely in the surrounding territories; however, he was under surveillance; his own and his courtiers’ correspondence was checked. Catherine II, Russian Empress, promised to grant him permission to go abroad, but this issue was postponed. Only after the Empress’ death Pavel I, who ascended the Russian throne in 1796, changed the state’s policy towards the occupied territories of the Grand Duchy of Lithuania and invited Stanislaw Augustus to St. Petersburg. The king accepted this invitation, and the journey from Grodno to the capital of the Russian Empire was organized by the officials of the Russian administration. Travel expenses were mainly covered by the Russian Treasury, but the King had the right to choose travel route and schedule. The king and his escort traveled through Lyda, Šalčininkai, Vilnius, Žiežmariai, Kaunas, Šiauliai, Mintauja (now Jelgava), Narva. The most important stop took place in Vilnius, where the ruler was met enthusiastically and solemnly. There he spent six days: February 19–24, 1797. He was greeted by the representatives of the administration of the Russian Empire, members of Vilnius academic community, clergy, and ordinary citizens. Stanislaw August got acquainted with Vilnius and its surroundings, went to Verkiai and was impressed by what he saw. This trip also revealed some characteristic features of the policy of Pavlas I towards the occupied territories of both countries. Though the authorities of the Russian Empire were ready to make some concession to the local community on some minor and touchy issues, the main question, i. e. restoration of the country’s independence, was not raised. Thus it becomes evident that the authorities did not fully trust the king and had fears about possible patriotic actions during the monarch’s visit.

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