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Second redaction

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{{Short description|Chronicles of the Grand Duchy of Lithuania}}
The '''Lithuanian Chronicles''' ({{langx|lt|Lietuvos metraščiai}}; also called the '''Belarusian-Lithuanian Chronicles'''){{efn|{{langx|be|Беларуска-літоўскія летапісы}}; {{langx|ru|Белорусско-литовские летописи, западнорусские летописи}}; {{langx|uk|Білорусько-литовські літописи}}.}}<ref>{{cite book |last1=Ioffe |first1=Grigory |last2=Jr |first2=Vitali Silitski |title=Historical Dictionary of Belarus |date=15 August 2018 |publisher=Rowman & Littlefield |isbn=978-1-5381-1706-4 |page=64 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=X51iDwAAQBAJ |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{cite book |last1=Maiorov |first1=Alexander V. |last2=Hautala |first2=Roman |title=The Routledge Handbook of the Mongols and Central-Eastern Europe |date=25 August 2021 |publisher=Routledge |isbn=978-1-000-41745-6 |page=341 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=pmBCEAAAQBAJ |language=en}}</ref> are three [[redaction]]s of chronicles compiled in the [[Grand Duchy of Lithuania]]. All redactions were written in the [[Ruthenian language]] and served the needs of Lithuanian patriotism.<ref name=tar/> The first edition, compiled in the 1420s, glorified [[Vytautas the Great]] and supported his side in power struggles. The second redaction, prepared in the first half of the 16th century, started the myth of Lithuanian Roman origin: it gave a fanciful [[genealogy]] of [[Palemon]], a noble from the [[Roman Empire]] who founded the Grand Duchy. This noble origin of Lithuanians was important in cultural rivalry with the [[Kingdom of Poland (1385–1569)|Kingdom of Poland]]. The third redaction, known as the ''[[Bychowiec Chronicle]]'', elaborated even further on the legend, but also provided some useful information about the second half of the 15th century. The three redactions, the first known historical accounts produced within the Grand Duchy, gave rise to the [[historiography]] of [[Lithuania]].<ref name=zi/> All medieval historians used these accounts, that survived in over 30 known manuscripts,<ref name=garsk/> as basis for their publications and some of the myths created in the chronicles persisted even to the beginning of the 20th century.

==First or short redaction==
{{Wikisourcelang|la|Origo regis Jagyelo et Wytholdi ducum Lithuanie}}
The first or the short redaction (also known as ''Chronicle of the Grand Dukes of Lithuania'' or ''Letopisec Litovskii'') was compiled sometime in the 1420s in [[Smolensk]], when [[Vytautas the Great]] hoped to be crowned as [[King of Lithuania]].<ref name=zi/> This redaction included the earliest known historical account produced in the Grand Duchy of Lithuania: ''Dis ist Witoldes sache wedir Jagalan und Skargalan'', a complaint and memorial written by Vytautas in 1390 during the [[Lithuanian Civil War (1389–1392)]].<ref name=el/> It detailed his power struggles against cousins [[Jogaila]] and [[Skirgaila]] in 1379–1390 and supported his claims to his patrimony in [[Trakai]] and title of Grand Duke of Lithuania. Two translations of this document survive: Latin ''Origo regis Jagyelo et Witholdi ducum Lithuanie'' from the 15th century and Ruthenian ''Litovskomu rodu pochinok'' from the 14th century.<ref name=tar/> Later this document was expanded to include events up to 1396.<ref name=tar2/> It formed the backbone of the first chronicle.

The first redaction survived only from later manuscripts and compilations. The earliest known compilation was prepared in Smolensk around 1446 by bishop Gerasim and his clerk Timofei.<ref name=el/> The compilation also included a praise to Vytautas, written by Gerasim, a story about [[Podolia]], written in 1431–1435 to support the Lithuanian claims against Poland in the [[Lithuanian Civil War (1431–1435)|Lithuanian Civil War]],<ref name=tar2/> a description of power struggles between [[Švitrigaila]] and [[Sigismund Kęstutaitis]], a short summary of Moscow's chronicles (854–1428),<ref name=tar/> and latest events in Smolensk (1431–1445).<ref name=el/> The compilation also did not survive in its original state. It is known from several manuscripts:<ref name=el/><ref name=jucas/>
* Supraśl Manuscript, written in the middle of the 15th century and preserved in a 1519 copy found in the [[Supraśl Orthodox Monastery]]
* Avraamka or [[Vilnius]] Manuscript, written by a Smolensk monk named Avraamka in 1495 and found in a Vilnius library
* [[Aleksey Uvarov|Uvarov]] or [[Slutsk]] Manuscript, written at the court of [[Olelkovich]], prince of Slutsk and descendant of [[Gediminas]], in the 15th century
* Academic Manuscript, written in the first half of the 16th century, found in [[Vologda]], and published in 1903, is incomplete
* Nikiforov Manuscript, belonged to the [[Holy Spirit Cathedral (Minsk)|Holy Spirit Cathedral]] in Minsk and was published by {{illm|Sergey Belokurov|ru|Белокуров, Сергей Алексеевич}} in 1898, is incomplete

==Second redaction==
{{Main|Chronicle of the Grand Duchy of Lithuania, Ruthenia and Samogitia}}
The second, more extensive, redaction (also known as ''Chronicle of the Grand Duchy of Lithuania and Samogitia'') was compiled in the second half of the 15th and the beginning of the 16th century<ref name=tar/> (the final version probably came into existence around the 1520s at the court of [[Albertas Goštautas]]).<ref name='Gudmantas'/> The redaction traced back the foundations of the Lithuanian state to the 1st century, when legendary [[Palemon]] escaped from [[Roman Empire]] and settled at the mouth of [[Dubysa]]. He founded the [[Palemonids]] dynasty and became the first ruler of Lithuania.<ref name=el/> This legendary part was then followed by the revised first redaction, detailing the lineage of the [[Gediminids]]. [[Mindaugas]], the [[Kingdom of Lithuania|first King]] of Lithuania crowned in 1253, and other earlier historically attested dukes were skipped entirely.<ref name=zi/> The elaborate story that Lithuanians were of noble Roman origins had no historical basis and was discarded by modern historians as nothing more than a myth.<ref name=rowell/>

While many modern historians discount the text as useless, it can still provide useful bits and pieces of Lithuanian history as it incorporates many garbled fragments of earlier, now lost, documents and chronicles.<ref name=rowell/> Also, the mythical Palemon is a good evidence of political tensions and cultural ideology of the [[Lithuanian nobles]] in the 16th century. This myth served Lithuanian interests in conflicts with Poland and Muscovy. Poland, then in [[Polish–Lithuanian union|personal union with Lithuania]], claimed that it brought civilization to this barbaric pagan land. By creating fanciful genealogies, linking Lithuanians with noble Romans, the Lithuanian nobility could counter these claims and demand political independence.<ref name=el/>

This redaction rarely included dates and contained several independent stories that were cherished by 19th century nationalists: legends how [[Gediminas]] founded [[Vilnius]] because of his dreams of [[Iron Wolf (character)|Iron Wolf]], how [[Kęstutis]] took pagan priestess [[Birutė]] for his wife, how [[Vytautas]] lavishly treated his guests at the [[Conference of Lutsk]] in 1429, etc.<ref name=el/> Among them were some factual stories, including [[Algirdas]]' [[Lithuanian–Muscovite War (1368–72)|three sieges of Moscow]].<ref name=tar2/> This format differed significantly from other [[slavs|Slavic]] chronicles that tended to list inter-related events year-by-year.<ref name=tar/> The second redaction also considerably trimmed and fragmented parts about [[Ruthenia]] and the [[Principality of Moscow]]; thus the text became primarily about Lithuania. The chronicle was popular and often copied.<ref name=zi/> It shaped the political mentality of the Lithuanian nobility, formed the basis for the Lithuanian [[historiography]] until the dawn of the 20th century, and inspired many literary works.

Several manuscripts are known:<ref name=jucas/>
*Krasiński Manuscript, written in the early 16th century, found in a collection of the [[Krasiński family]] in Warsaw
*Archaeological Society Manuscript, written in the early 16th century
*Alševa Manuscript, written in 1550 by a likely native Lithuanian speaker, found in a Chomiński library in {{illm|Alševa|pl|Olszew (Białoruś)}}
*Raczyński or Poznań Manuscript, written around 1580, gifted by [[Edward Raczyński (1786–1845)|Edward Raczyński]] to [[Raczyński Library|Poznań Library]]
*Evreinov Manuscript, written in mid-16th century
*Rumyantsev Manuscript, written in the 17th century, first published by the [[Rumyantsev Museum]] in 1902

==Third or broad redaction==
{{main|Bychowiec Chronicle}}

The third and most extensive redaction is known as the ''[[Bychowiec Chronicle]]''. It is based on the second redaction. It is believed that this redaction was prepared around the same time as the second redaction with support from [[Albertas Goštautas]].<ref name=bychovo/> The only known version was discovered in a manor owned by [[Aleksander Bychowiec]] and was published in full by [[Teodor Narbutt]] in 1846. This chronicle was updated to include events up to 1574.<ref name=rowell/> Initially there were doubts if the chronicle is authentic and some suggested that Narbutt falsified it. The doubts were inspired by its sudden discovery and its peculiar similarity with the chronicles of [[Maciej Stryjkowski]]; also Narbutt is suspected to have falsified several other historical documents.<ref name=zi/> However, new evidence came to light that portions of the chronicle were published in 1830. Historians now suggest that similarity with Stryjkowski's works resulted from using the same document, maybe even the original third redaction, as the source.<ref name=el/> Further, in 2011, Lithuanian historians discovered a fragment (about one-fifth of the original) of the third redaction at the {{illm|National Archives in Kraków|pl|Archiwum Narodowe w Krakowie}} and published it in 2018.<ref name=gudma/>

The patriotic themes were even more prevalent than in the second redaction. It continued to elaborate on the Palemon legend: to improve chronology Palemon was moved to the 5th century Rome, devastated by [[Attila the Hun]], and Mindaugas and other historical dukes were incorporated into the legend.<ref name=zi/> It also concentrated more on the [[Catholic Church]] than earlier revisions, which paid closer attention to [[Eastern Orthodoxy]].<ref name=rowell/> It is an important source for the late 15th century events, especially years of [[Alexander Jagiellon]].<ref name=tar/>

==Publication==
The popularity of the ''Chronicle of Poland, Lithuania, Samogitia and all of Ruthenia'', published by [[Maciej Stryjkowski]] in 1582, pushed the old handwritten Lithuanian chronicles into obscurity.<ref name=garsk/> They were rediscovered with the advent of professional [[historiography]] in the late 18th and early 19th centuries when historians began to critically analyze [[primary sources]] to verify various claims. That necessitated the publication of primary sources. The first Lithuanian Chronicle, the ''Supraśl Manuscript'', was published in 1823 by {{illm|Ignacy Daniłowicz|pl}}.<ref name=jucas/> In 1846, [[Teodor Narbutt]] published the ''[[Bychowiec Chronicle]]''. Other historians published other manuscripts that they had found. In 1860s, the [[Archaeographic Commission]] became interested in collecting and publishing all known manuscripts of the ''Lithuanian Chronicles''. Twelve manuscripts were published in 1907 as volume 17 of the ''[[Complete Collection of Russian Chronicles]]'' as ''West Russian Chronicles'' ({{langx|ru|Западнорусские летописи}}), which became the standard reference. The collection, newly compiled and edited by [[Mikałaj Ułaščyk]], was published as volumes 32 (1975) and 35 (1980) of the ''Complete Collection''.<ref name=jucas/> However, despite the discovery of several other manuscripts since 1907, the new volumes did not include them.<ref name=tumel/>

==Notes==
{{notelist}}

==References==
{{reflist|2|refs=
<ref name=bychovo>{{cite encyclopedia | editor-first=Jonas|editor-last=Zinkus | encyclopedia=Tarybų Lietuvos enciklopedija | title=Bychovco kronika | year=1985 | publisher=Vyriausioji enciklopedijų redakcija | volume=1 | location=Vilnius | page=244 |language=lt |oclc=20017802|display-editors=etal}}</ref>
<ref name=garsk>{{cite web |first=Rosita |last=Garškaitė |title=Lietuvos metraščiai – seniausia mūsų istorija |url=https://www.lzinios.lt/lzinios/istorija/lietuvos-metrasciai-seniausia-musu-istorija/189735 |publisher= Lietuvos žinios |language=lt |date=2014-10-27 |access-date=31 March 2018 }}</ref>
<ref name=Gudmantas>{{cite journal|title= Vėlyvųjų Lietuvos metraščių veikėjai ir jų prototipai: "Romėnai" (The personages of the Lithuanian chronicles and their prototypes: The "Romans") |journal=Senoji Lietuvos literatūra |year=2004|first= Kęstutis |last=Gudmantas |volume=XVII|pages=113–139 |issn=1822-3656 |url=http://www.llti.lt/failai/e-zurnalai/SLL18/XVIIIstr113-138.pdf |access-date=2007-11-30 |language=lt}}</ref>
<ref name=gudma>{{cite journal|first= Kęstutis |last=Gudmantas |title=Lietuvos metraščio Vavelio nuorašas (fragmentas) |journal=Senoji Lietuvos literatūra |year=2012 |volume=34 |pages=122, 126 |issn=1822-3656 |language=lt |url=http://www.llti.lt/failai/SLL34_internetui_6.pdf}}</ref>
<ref name=el>{{cite encyclopedia | editor-first=Simas |editor-last=Sužiedėlis | encyclopedia=[[Encyclopedia Lituanica]] | title=Chronicles, Lithuanian | year=1970–1978 | publisher=Juozas Kapočius | volume=I | location=Boston, Massachusetts | oclc=95559 | pages=519–521}}</ref>
<ref name=jucas>{{cite book |first=Mečislovas |last=Jučas |title=Lietuvos metraščiai ir kronikos |publisher=Aidai |year=2002 |language=lt |isbn=9955-445-40-8
|pages=11–17}}</ref>
<ref name=rowell>{{cite book | title=Lithuania Ascending: A Pagan Empire Within East-Central Europe, 1295–1345 | first=S. C. | last=Rowell | pages=41–43 | year=1994 | publisher=Cambridge University Press | series=Cambridge Studies in Medieval Life and Thought: Fourth Series| isbn=978-0-521-45011-9 }}</ref>
<ref name=tar>{{cite encyclopedia | editor-first=Jonas|editor-last=Zinkus | encyclopedia=Tarybų Lietuvos enciklopedija | title=Lietuvos metraščiai | year=1986 | publisher=Vyriausioji enciklopedijų redakcija | volume=2 | location=Vilnius | pages=584–585 |language=lt |oclc=20017802|display-editors=etal}}</ref>
<ref name=tar2>{{cite encyclopedia | editor-first=Jonas|editor-last=Zinkus | encyclopedia=Tarybų Lietuvos enciklopedija | title=Lietuvos ir žemaičių didžiosios kunigaikštytės kronika | year=1986 | publisher=Vyriausioji enciklopedijų redakcija | volume=2 | location=Vilnius | pages=569 |oclc=20017802|language=lt|display-editors=etal}}</ref>
<ref name=tumel>{{cite journal |first=Juozas |last=Tumelis |script-title=ru:Полное собрание русских летописей. T. 35: Летописи белорусско-литовские |year=1981 |pages=120–123 |journal=Lietuvos istorijos metraštis |language=lt |issn=0202-3342 |url=http://talpykla.istorija.lt/bitstream/handle/99999/3300/LIM%201981%2010%20Recenzijos%2C%20apžvalgos%2C%20anotacijos%2C%20p.%20120-123.pdfa }}</ref>
<ref name=zi>{{cite encyclopedia | encyclopedia=Lietuvių enciklopedija | title=Metraščiai |first=Zenonas |last=Ivinskis | location=Boston, Massachusetts | publisher=Lietuvių enciklopedijos leidykla |year=1953–1966 |volume=18 |pages=307–310 |oclc=14547758 |language=lt}}</ref>

}}

[[Category:Chronicles about Lithuania]]
[[Category:Church Slavonic literature]]
[[Category:Ruthenian-language literature]]

Lithuanian Chronicles - Revision history

imported>Nederlandse Leeuw: /* Second redaction */