O. Yashchuk,

PhD Stud.,

Taras Shevchenko National University of Kyiv, Kyiv, Ukraine

ORCID: 0000-0002-6818-7268

DOI: https://doi.org/10.17721/1728-2640.2022.152-153.10


"THE GRAND DUKE HIMSELF WITH ALL THE LORDS": THE TITLES OF MONARCHS IN THE BOOKS OF THE LITHUANIAN METRICA IN THE PERIOD OF CASIMIR JAGIELLON’S REIGN (1440–1492)


The article analyzes the titulature used in the documents of the Lithuanian Metrica in the period of Casimir Jagiellon’s reign (1440–1492). The study of documents clearly indicates 544 ruler’s titles of the Grand Duchy of Lithuania, which are classified into 45 different variants, 41 of which are titles of Casimir Jagiellon.

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" and "grand duke".

The obtained results demonstrate that the title of the ruler is used in both extended and abridged versions. It was determined that the structure of the title has 5 parts: indicative, subject, theological, title itself and expanding. The majority of titles are two-component (56.8%) and one-component (36.9%).

The article shows that the titling system of Casimir Jagiellon undergoes changes after his coronation as the Polish king. But in the period when Casimir was only the Grand Duke of Lithuania, his title still appeals to the connection with a more prestigious royal title through the title "prince".

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.

The article shows that the supreme power through the title demonstrate the sacredness of the origin of its prerogatives by using the epithet part "By the grace of God".

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. In particular, Vytautas has only the title "grand duke" in several versions

In documents originating from the subjects, the ruler is often referred by a title without a name. In the period before the coronation, the title "grand duke" is most often used in various forms. After Casimir's coronation, the ruler's title system was changed. During this period, the titles "king" without the ruler's name (45.83%), "the king himself" without the ruler's name (25%) and "the king his grace" without the ruler's name (11.67%) are most often used in the documents.

On the basis of the complex of material that was studied, certain system of ruler titles was revealed. This system involves the use of specific titles form in the different situations.

Keywords: titulature, title, supreme power, Grand Duchy of Lithuania, Lithuanian Metrica, chancellery of the Grand Duchy of Lithuania, Casimir Jagiellon.



Submitted: 25.06.2022

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