Polski ziemiański ród Meysztowiczów z Kowieńszczyzny: od powstania styczniowego do odrodzenia Polski

ENThe Polish Meysztowicz family of the "Rawicz" coat of arms is historically connected with the Kaunas region. Since the 1850s, it was divided into two lines - the "older" line of Edward, son of Michal Meysztowicz, whose family estate was Pojoście in the Panevėžys district of the Kaunas governorate; and the "younger" line of Szymon, son of Michal Meysztowicz, whose family estate was Mejszty (Mejkszty) in the Novo-Alexandrovsky district of the Kaunas governorate. The text presents the geneology and "family policy" of both lines, thanks to which they entered the upper echelons of the Polish elite in Lithuania in the Russian Empire. The Meysztowiczs turned out to be very good and progressive landowners, thanks to which their estates before World War I were considered exemplary, which also influenced their wealth and social position. Representatives of the Meysztowicz family took an active part in the economic, political, cultural and religious life of the Kovno Governorate. The undisputed leader of the Meysztowicz family was Aleksander, son of Edward Meysztowicz (1864-1943). At the regional level, other representatives of the family also demonstrated their active political and civic stance - Jozef-Szymon, son of Edward, Michal and Edward, sons of Szymon Meysztowicz. At the beginning of the 20th century, the Meysztowiczs were the only Polish family in Lithuania to join the movement of family institutions of mutual aid in the Russian Empire and organized an appropriate institution, which operated from 1902 to 1915. Keywords: Meysztowicz family, genealogy, Meysztowicz Family Mutual Aid Association.