„Rycerz mężny Ostoja, który roty wodzieł”. Cnoty herbowe rodu Ostojczyków w literaturze panegirycznej XVI–XVIII wieku
“Rycerz mężny Ostoja, który roty wodzieł”. Heraldic Virtues of the Clan of Ostoja in the Panegyric Literature of the 16th‒18th Centuries

Author(s): Bartłomiej Michał Wołyniec
Subject(s): History, Language and Literature Studies, Literary Texts, Studies of Literature, Philology
Published by: Wydawnictwo Uniwersytetu Śląskiego
Keywords: Ostoja coat of arms; panegyric; funeral sermon; heraldic legend; stemma
Summary/Abstract: The genealogical‑heraldical discourse and interest of the Polish nobility in exploring the origins of coats of arms and history of heraldic clans resonated in the panegyric literature nad compilations published at the end of the 16th century.Heraldic legends and theatrical performances inspired by heraldic motifs, stemmas, figurative poems and funeral sermons were only a part of the eventful lives of the Polish nobility. The coats of arms nevertheless, were the fundamental of their existence, their social characteristic and an identifying symbol. Therefefore, they became a focus of interest for panaegyric writers. The treasure trove of works they left behind demonstrates the richness of modern Polish culture.In the following study, the author conducts an analysis and interpretation of varioustexts of Old Polish literature whose central theme was the Ostoja coat of arms featuringa sword with a crescent on each side. These works convey, to a large extent, the ideal of manthe Ostojas were confronted with by the heraldic legend created by Bartłomiej Paprocki. Onthe one hand, it is a theatrical performance eulogizing the glory of the Piestrzecki family,on the other hand, various poems concern the members of the Szyszkowskis, Gajewskis,Błociszewskis and other Ostoja families. They are supplemented by the funeral sermon delivered during a memorial service for Dadzibóg Władysław Słuszek.

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