O. Yashchuk, PhD Student
Taras Shevchenko National University of Kyiv, Kyiv, Ukraine
DOI: https://doi.org/10.17721/1728-2640.2020.147.11
GRAND DUKE, KING, HOSPODAR: TITULATURE OF A RULER IN THE DOCUMENTS OF THE BOOK OF INSCRIPTIONS NO. 8 OF THE LITHANIAN METRICA
The article analyzes the titulature used in the documents of the Book of Inscriptions No. 8 of the Lithuanian Metrica. The study of documents clearly indicates 1713 ruler’s titles of the Grand Duchy of Lithuania, which are classified into 47 different variants. The author characterized the system of presentation of the supreme power through the title of a ruler and its reception by the subjects. The article provides specific features of the modern and previous rulers systems of titulature. It reveals the use of titles "king", "grand duke" and "hospodar".
The obtained results demonstrate that the title of the ruler is used in both extended and abridged versions. Most often, the abridged version contains the title of "king", which is a consequence of its greater prestige compared to the title of "grand duke".
The author examines the system of using titles of rulers within one document. It is established that the first use of the title is often the most complete. In the case of documents drawn up on behalf of the ruler, the first title denotes the prerogatives of the ruler. "King by the grace of God", "King and Grand Duke by the grace of God", "King of Poland by the grace of God", "By the grace of God" with the addition of a name in all cases are most often used as the first titles in the documents created during the reign of the ruler Sigismund I the Old. The supreme power emphasizes the sacred origin of their prerogatives by adding "by the grace of God" to the title of a modern ruler. In the same case, there is no deliberate emphasis on the sacralization of power of previous rulers.
The article provides an analysis of combinations of titles of rulers. In documents drawn up on behalf of the ruler, the title of "king" is often combined with the title of "grand duke", which is characteristic of the Grand Duchy of Lithuania. On the other hand, it is typical to frequently use the title of "hospodar" for documents originating from subjects of rulers.
The study has confirmed that the remoteness of the reign of the Grand Duke from the time of the creation of the document reduces the variability of the titulature. Vytautas and Sigismund Kęstutaitis are titled exclusively as "grand duke". The titulature of Casimir IV Jagiellon and Alexander Jagiellon has more variations.
In documents originating from the subjects, the ruler is often referred to as "his mercy", "hospodar", "his mercy king" and "his mercy hospodar".
Keywords: titulature, title, supreme power, Grand Duchy of Lithuania, quantitative history, Lithuanian Metrica, chancellery of the Grand Duchy of Lithuania, semiotics of power.
Received by the editorial board: 19.10.20
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