An interest group theory of the Icelandic tithe

Iceland was the first Nordic country which introduced mandatory tithe. According to the medieval authors the swift introduction of the church tax in Iceland was a result of an extraordinary deference Icelanders showed towards the bishop Gissur Ísleifsson. Contemporary scholars, on the other hand, point to the unusual structure of the church tax itself as the reason behind the acceptance of tithe by Icelanders. The Icelandic tithe was divided into four parts, two of which were collected by the wealthy owners of private churches. Therefore, some scholars argue, the tithe law of 1097 favored the most powerful members of society, who could impose their will on others without facing significant resistance. The aim of this article is to analyze the introduction of tithe in Iceland using the basic tools of the Public Choice School of economics – the interest group theory, and the free rider theory. 

Delegates of the Gniezno Archbishops to Prussia in the 15^th century: Contribution to the study of the inner circle of Polish Primates in the late Middle Ages 

This article presents the people who delivered messages to Prussia on behalf of the Gniezno Archbishops in the 15^th century. In this respect, the period of Mikołaj Trąba’s and Wojciech Jastrzębc’s pontificates (i.e., the years 1419–1436) is of most interest, as only two such delegates can be identified in the second half of the 15^th century. This state of affairs was probably influenced by the regulations of the so-called Second Peace of Thorn from 1466, which mandated that Royal Prussia shall become a dominion of the Crown. When individual metropolitans of Gniezno required delegates, they turned to representatives of their own families (Mikołaj from Baruchów and Tłuchów, Maciej from Służew), courtiers (Piotr from Mniszków), lower-rank church and business officials (Kamieński Bernard and Szymon from Staw, non-judicial Poviate Governor of Uniejów [tenutariusz uniejowski] Franciszek from Sąspow) or the clergy of the secular archdiocese of Gniezno (the prelates of the Cathedral Chapter in Gniezno, the canon of Łęczyca Adam from Drzewców, Mikołaj the priest in Pieran). In the light of the presented source material, Szymon Maciejowic from Staw definitely stands out in terms of the number of completed missions, which may indicate his high position in the Archbishop’s inner circle. 

* Praca naukowa finansowana ze środków budżetowych na naukę w latach 2014–2018 jako projekt badawczy w ramach programu pod nazwą „Diamentowy Grant”.

On two Cracovian lawyers who were awarded university degrees in Bologna in the early 16^th century

At the beginning of the 16^th century, among the large group of Polish students in Bologna, there were also two Cracovian townsmen – Jan Albin and Mikołaj Waltek – who obtained a doctorate in canon law there. After returning from Bologna, Jan Albin (doctorate in 1504) first lectured at the Faculty of Law at the University of Cracow, but since he neglected his duties, he was removed from his post. Soon, he became the chancellor of the Vilnius bishop and came into possession of the Vilnius canonry. As a Vilnius canon, he became known as one of the editors of the statutes of the chapter, and he also performed the first visitation of the Vilnius diocese. In addition to the Vilnius canonry, he held other minor beneficiaries. He died in mysterious circumstances in Rome in 1528, from the wounds inflicted on him by German soldiers. Mikołaj Waltek, who obtained his doctorate in Bologna in 1509, after returning to Cracow became the archpriest of St. Mary’s Church in 1512. He held the office of the archpriest until his death (c. 1554). As governor of St. Mary’s Church, he was involved in a dispute with the Cracow councilors over the language of sermons preached in that church. In his will, he bequeathed his book collection (28 books) to the University of Cracow – these books have been preserved until today (in the collection of the Jagiellonian Library).  

Prestige, tradition, power: Trojan origin myth in French pre-Enlightenment historiography (reconnaissance research)

The beginnings of a nation or country occupy a special position in the mentality of every society. As medieval France searched for its roots in mythological and biblical events, the French attempted to prove their Troyan origins, as Troy was one of the most popular motives at the time. This article turns to Jan Assmann’s concept of cultural memory to describe how in the early modern period this myth was changed and adapted to current needs. In France the Trojan myth served as an argument backing the independence of the French nation, and was constructed in opposition to the descent from the Gauls, who were conquered by the Romans. In addition, it was a tool of foreign policy (against England, the papacy and the Holy Roman Empire) and in internal politics. 

* Artykuł powstał w ramach badań przeprowadzonych dzięki dotacji celowej Wydziału Filozoficzno-Historycznego Uniwersytetu Łódzkiego nr B1611400001362.02. Kwerenda została uzupełniona podczas pobytu w Londynie sfinansowanego ze stypendium Fundacji z Brzezia Lanckorońskich.

Greek diaspora in Zamość in the late 16^th and early 17^th centuries

This article considers questions of the formation and activity of the Greek trade diaspora in Zamość at the end of the 16^th and in the first half of the 17^th centuries. The research focuses on the preconditions to this resettlement and on the adaptation process of Greek immigrants. Greek merchants quickly created a compact settlement and gained access to high level city officials. Moreover, the community supported its own Orthodox priest, church and cemetery. The main commodity in their trade was Malvasia, a kind of sweet wine, which was transported to Zamość from Crete. The activity of Greek merchants was dangerous for the economic interests of Lviv and therefore resulted in many conflicts between the traders and Lviv’s deputies. It is vital to understand the reasons behind Jan Zamoyski’s (the Lord of Zamość) decision to invite only those Greek merchants who were previously citizens of the Venetian republic. The Crown Chancellor – a prominent figure in Renaissance European history – discovered the unique qualities of these people during his studies at Padua University, and most probably at that time devised plans to harness their exceptional political and economic vision. 

The dual impact of British India’s North-West Frontier on the British imperial idea at the turn of the 20^th century

The article presents the dual impact of British India’s North-West Frontier on the British idea of empire. The Frontier was an imperial myth – the special interpretation of the past – which provided a pattern of behavior that should be followed by British imperial soldiers and officials. The myth itself was propagated by war correspondents and writers, such as Rudyard Kipling, but the Frontier also served as an “imperial laboratory” for a new generation of military technocrats (e.g. Charles Callwell) who could develop and describe their outlook on asymmetric warfare. The new approach to so-called small wars was a local variant of the general changes in military organization that occurred in the second half of the 19^th century.

This study describes and analyzes Czech polonophile Edvard Jelínek’s relationship with the city of Cracow as reflected in his books and articles. Jelínek had extensive contacts in Cracow with leading representatives of Polish literature and culture (such as Władysław Anczyc, Adam Asnyk, Michał Bałucki and Adam Honory Kirkor), through whom he gained access to important city institutions and landmarks. After Warsaw, Cracow was Jelínek’s favorite Polish city, and he mentioned it in many of his writings. Jelínek also published several articles in the local press and, as a capable organizer of Czech–Polish cultural and scientific events, he contributed greatly to an 1884 pilgrimage to Cracow, under the auspices of Kolín’s Sokol, that was undertaken by more than 1,300 Czechs. 

The landowners’ crisis in Eastern Galicia at the turn of the 19^th and 20^th century

At the turn of the 20^th century, a large number of landowners in Eastern Galicia experienced a deep crisis, which resulted from economic problems as well as from social and political conflicts inspired by civilizational changes occurring at the time. In addition to the economic crisis and the peasant and socialist movement, the growing Ukrainian national movement was a prominent source of landowners’ problems. The fear of losing political and material advantage in Eastern Galicia determined the attitude of local Polish landowners towards Ukrainians. The article discusses both social and political circumstances that have influenced the crisis, as well as the condition the landowners have found themselves in and their attempts to overcome growing difficulties. 

Exploring Karaim songs: Karaim Literature Wednesday in Vilnius, 1932

This article details the history of Karaim Literature Wednesday, an event which took place on November 9, 1932 in the “Room of Konrad” of the Basilian monastery on Ostrobramska street in Vilnius. It was one of 371 popular and authoritative weekly events organized during the interwar period by the Vilnius Branch of the Polish Writers Labour Union. During this event, Hachan Seraja Szapszał – the leader of Polish Karaims – gave a lecture on the history and culture of his nation, after which several Karaim songs were sung by Walentyna and Halina Łobanosówny, accompanied by Lidia Szole on the piano. The songs were broadcast by the Vilnius Radio, and aroused great interest among the listeners. Using source material from the private archive of Józef Sulimowicz in Warsaw, I have attempted to recreate Karaim Literature Wednesday, in particular the diversity, origin and richness of Karaim songs. The annex to this article contains the original lyrics to 19 Karaim songs written in the Karaim language, most of which were sung at the event. 

*Rozszerzony tekst referatu pt. „Karaimska Środa Literacka w Wilnie w 1932 roku” wygłoszonego na międzynarodowej konferencji naukowej „Karei Europae Orientalis” w Poznaniu 13 I 2017 r. Dziękuję serdecznie dr Annie Sulimowicz-Keruth i Marioli Abkowicz za cenne uwagi do niniejszego tekstu. 

Antoni Dydyński’s record of February 2, 1808 – contributing to the research on the Scholarship Foundation of Antoni Dydyński from Godowa

This article is dedicated to the Antoni Dydyński Foundation in Godowa, one of the oldest and most prosperous scholarship foundations of the 19th and the first half of the 20th century. The Foundation’s historical outline is presented by comparing the original idea expressed by the founder in the Foundation Act (from February 2, 1808) with the actual state after the foundation was established more than fifty years after its founder’s death. The history of scholarships (up to a dozen each year), awarded without interruption by the foundation until 1939, is retraced on the basis of available sources. Finally, the foundation’s scholars themselves are mentioned, as many of them, after receiving education in various centers from Cracow to Lviv, became prominent representatives of culture and science in Poland. 

About German plans for the offensive in the Near and Middle East, 1941–1942

Relatively little attention is devoted to Berlin’s intentions relating to the period after a possible victory on the Eastern Front (in contrast to the knowledge about the assumptions of the general German plan of operations against the Soviet Union). The draft of Directive 32 “Preparations for the period after Barbarossa” – a culmination of inter-staff exchange of opinions – was elaborated on June 11, 1941, and then sent to the commands of the three branches of armed forces. It assumed “intercepting British fortresses in the Middle East and the Mediterranean by means of concentric attacks carried out from Libya to Egypt, from Bulgaria through Turkey, and perhaps from the Caucasus through Iran.” However, ultimately the planning never went beyond the sphere of staff analysis. A significant documentation of these considerations is preserved in the Bundes-Militärarchiv in Freiburg im Breisgau in the OKW / OKH files.

* Przedstawiony materiał ma charakter krytycznej edycji źródłowej dwóch dokumentów ze zbiorów Bundes- ilitärarchiv Freiburg im Breisgau. Dokumenty znajdują się tam w formie oryginalnego (pozbawionego paginacji) maszynopisu w języku niemieckim. Należy zaznaczyć, że wedle wiedzy autora przekładu i opracowania nie zostały one dotąd ani opublikowane w pełnym wymiarze, ani bezpośrednio wykorzystywane w innych publikacjach.

* Tekst powstał w ramach projektu OPUS 13, finansowanego przez Narodowe Centrum Nauki w Krakowie, pt. „Pomiędzy dwoma zjazdami w Pradze. Związki między Słowianami w Europie Środkowej i Południowo-Wschodniej w latach 1848–1908” (2017/25/B/HS3/00240).