Famous People

Francisc Scaryna

In keeping with the UNESCO's decision, the year 1990 was marked the world over as the 500th anniversary of "Doctor Francisk Scarina of Polatsk", the great enlightener, humanita­rian and scholar of the Renaissance period. The son of a Polatsk merchant (born about 1490, died about 1550), Scarina entered the University of Krakov when he was 14. In 1560 F. Scarina obtained a bachelor's degree. After that the tireless Belaru-sian made his way to Italy and there, at the Paduan University, had the degree of "doctor in the science of healing" conferred upon him.

In 1517 Scarina was in Pra­gue. There he started his printing activities. That year he printed the first Belarusian book and is today by right called the first East Slav and Belarusian prin­ter. Within three years he pub­lished 22 volumes of the Bible, translated by him into the Bela­rusian language. This was the first translation of the Bible into the common language of the nation.

From 1525 onwards F. Scarina printed books in Vilnya, which over many centuries was the cultural capital of Belarus and Lithuania. Here his book "The Acts of the Apostles" and "The Minor Itinerary" were published. All these books were a means of spreading the written language, public education and culture. All publications by F. Scarina existing today are notable for high artistic value. In the prefaces and comments to his books, which were of religious character, he brought forth his ideas and views that influenced social, political and cultural life of Slav people and stimulated the progress of the Belarussian literature and writing. This is why F. Scarina's name stands next to the names of M. Lomonosov, A. Pushkin, T. Shevchenko and other outstanding men in Slavic culture.

  
  Stefan Batory
(1533-1586)

Duke of Transylvania since 1571, became king of Poland in 1576 when he married princess Anna Jagiellonka. Scyapan Batory was always conducting politics against the enemies of Transylvania - Austro-Hungarian Habsburgs and Turkey. Batory has led wars against Muscovy of Ivan IV in 1578-1582, which had 3 successful battles: Polacak (1579), Velikie Luki (1580) and Pskov (1581). Scyapan Batory stayed in Hrodna Castle and has built a giant Farny Cathedral there with a place near altar where he wanted to be buried. But he died in Hrodna before the cathedral was completed and was buried in Krakau (Krakow).

Batory has performed many reforms in the army. He had instituted electable infantry (1 soldier was supported by 20 peasants in King's serfdom ), he had established the institution of Cossacks (including famous Cossacks of Zaporojie), who were recognizing power of Commonwealth of Poland and Lithuania (Rzeczypospolita) and were obliged to go to battles with in it's army. He had divided cavalry into three functions: heavy-armed hussars, Cossacks and light cavalry.

Vitaut the Great  

 (1350-1430)

 

the Great Prince of the Grand Duchy of Lithuania he had stopped the invasion to Europe of Timur (Tamerlan) from Asia heading a big Army of Belarusians, Lithuanians and knights from all of Christian Europe in 1399 in the battle at Vorskla-river (in modern Ukraine). Later together with Polish King Yahajla (his brother) he had led the united army of 100, 000 warriors, which included representatives of all the East European peoples, to the victory in the famous Battle of Grunwald. The battle which took place on July, 15, 1410, near Grunwald (Prussia at the time, now in Northern Poland) was hard and severe and the crusaders were utterly defeated by the united troops. After this battle, the Great Lithuanian Principality - Belarusian state at the time - expanded its borders to the Baltic Sea and became the most powerful state in Eastern Europe. It occupied large territories from the Baltic to the Black Sea, having many neighboring states as vassals. The Moscow prince Wassily was Vitaut's grandson, and the princes of Tver and Ryazan called him their master. In addition, the Czechs wanted to grant him their crown; in response to which Vitaut sent his nephew to be a regent in Prague. Vitaut's reign and several decades after it are considered to be the period of the highest flourishing of Belarus and Belarusian culture. The Belarusian language was the state language of the Great Lithuanian Principality; all documents, laws, charts, and other official documents were issued in Old Belarusian; it was used also as an official language in some neighboring states like Moldavia. The statehood in Lithuania was also one of the most liberal in Eastern Europe. The Principality had a parliament consisting of two chambers - Soym and Rada, which replaced the vecha. Vitaut has established Belarusian National symbol "Pahonia" as the symbol of the Grand Duche of Lithuania.

                             

  

Mikalaj Radzivil Chorny 

  (1515-XXXX)

Mikalaj Radzivil Chorny was born in February 4, 1515. The Radzivills by that time were already quite influential in the state, and it is thanks to Mikalaj Chorny that the Radzivills joined the European political elite, became one of the richest magnate clan of the GDL.

In 1558 the Moscow tsar Ivan IV (Ivan the Terrible) assaulted the Livonian Order of crusaders, the Lithuanian neighbors. The Great Prince Zhyhimont August decided to help the crusaders on the condition of joining it to Lithuania. The 20-year Livonian war started. At first Ivan's army of 280,000 warriors occupied eastern Belarus devastating it all through; it took Polacak in 1563. But in 1564 general Mikalai Radzivill defeated the Moscow army; and other Lithuanian generals also won victories in 1568. Ivan the Terrible had to sign the truce, according to which, however, Polacak and eastern Livonia remained under Moscow's power

Radzivill Chorny headed the delegation of the GDL during negotiations of 1563-1564 concerning the union with the Polish kingdom defending the preservation of   relatively large independence for the GDL. The position of Mikalaj Radzivill influenced to a large extent further political relations between the GDL and Poland in the framework of the federal state - Rzecz Paspalita. 

Mikalaj Radzivill can be rightfully named one of the most prominent figure of the Renaissance epoch of the GDL. It is pity that he did not live long -- Mikalaj Radzivill died in May 29, 1565.

  

Leu Sapeha
1557-1633

Leu Sapeha distinguished himself at 23 by talking to Batory in Latin since Batory was not fluent neither in Polish nor in Old Belarusian. A young man Sapega received a position of secretary of the GDL. At this time the Muscovy tsar Ivan the Terrible has started a war against the GDL. Young Sapega has formed at his own cost a hussar regiment and distinguished himself in the battles at Velikie Luki and during the Pskov siege. In 1548 Leu Sapega is sent as an ambassador to Moscow. Earlier his uncles Mikalaj Sapega (Vayavoda of Vitsebsk) and Andrej (vayavoda of Mensk). Leu Sapega haven't reached tsar Ivan the Terrible. The latter has died. Sapega has signed a 10 year peace treaty. By this treaty Muscovy kept Smalensk, but left Polacak, Vyalizh and Infland. 16 years later Sapega is sent again to Moscow by king Zhygimont. This times he signs a 20 year peace treaty with Boris Godunov.

Leu Sapega is one of the greatest Belarusian political figures, a renown by his wisdom statesman, lawyer and military commander. He stood at the head of the Grand Duchy of Lithuania at the times of G.D.L.'s highest cultural blossoming. He was a main editor and publisher of the last version of the Statut of the GDL - the ancient constitution of Belarusians that still challenges the current state of democracy in Belarus. At all times Leu Sapega was a powerful guardian of Belarusian national interests and a stronghold of our independence.

In 1633 a new king of Rzhech Pospolita Ladyslau IV came to Vil'na Leu Sapega as a Marshal of the Great Duchy of Lithuania was meeting him in front of the senators of GDL with a marshal's mace on a horse. He was 80 years old. He died two weeks later.

Ladyslau Yahajla

(1351?-1434)

Ladyslau Yahajla, grand duke of Lithuania. His role in Belarusian history is quite dubious. Continuing the tradition of early Lithuanian princes (Mindouh , Hedymin), who traded their native pagan Lithuania for Orthodox Christian Slavic Duchy, just to return to their native lands as conquerors and enforcers of the foreign Slavic language and Christian culture,  Grand Duke of Lithuania Ladyslau Yahajla traded the Grand Duchy of Lithuania and his Orthodox Christian religion to Polish Corona and Catholic fate to become king of Poland as Ladislaus II (in 1386) when he married Queen Jadwiga. His catholic wife pursued him into opening the campaign of Catholic conversion in Belarus. We can't state that he started a tradition of betrayal in Belarusian nobility, but he certainly was a bright example of switching sides. Oh well, what else can you expect from Yahajla, who came to power by traitorously killing his uncle Kejstut in 1381 and imprisoning his brother Vitaut. Vitaut (who had never betrayed Belarusians and died as the Grand Duke of Lithuania) escaped and ever since they were in bitter argument and rivalry with each other. Yahajla and Vitaut only made peace once to defeat crusaders in the Battle of Grunwald (1410).