Milku šeimos vieta XVIII amžiaus Mažosios Lietuvos raštijoje
The place of the Milkus family in the eighteenth century literature of Lithuania minor

Summary/Abstract: This article is based on the material gathered in the Secret Archive of the Prussian Cultural Heritage (Geheimes Staatsarchiv Preußischer Kulturbesitz) and in the Central Evangelical Archive (Evangelisches Zentralarchiv), both in Berlin, Germany. Three members of the Milkus (Mielcke) family played an important role in the history of Lithuanian culture, especially as men of letters and linguists. The father was Petras Gotlybas Milkus (Peter Gottlieb Mielcke, 1693-1753) and his two sons were Danielius Frydrichas (Daniel Friedrich, 1739-1818) and Kristijonas Gotlybas (Christian Gottlieb, 1733- 1807) Milkus. The work done by any one of them was always supported by other members of the family, not to mention the fact that often they simply worked together. Today it is difficult to trace to what extent and in what manner members of the Milkus family supported each other in the widely known polemic on Lithuanian versification and language usage. Although the son Kristijonas Gotlybas has gained the greatest respect of all three family members among contemporary scholars, I would argue that his father Petras Gotlybas also made significant contributions to the field and, in addition, inspired his sons. The son Danielius Frydrichas seems to have contributed less. One more brother, Teodoras Gabrielius (Theodor Gabriel), the oldest one, did not participate in literary activity and it is difficult to determine the reasons for this.

• Details
• Contents