Bajorai Vilniaus mieste XVIII amžiuje: statusas, sudėtis, santykiai su kitomis bendruomenėmis

ENThe nobility retained their strong influence in Vilnius during the greater part of the 18th century (1717-1775); property was intensively purchased; the number of court cases that reflected the interests of this social class was on the increase; a fair amount of correspondence referring to the affairs of both aristocrats and minor nobility in the capital city survived to this day. Vilnius used to witness the flow of the nobility during the sittings of the Supreme Tribunal of Lithuania, dietines, other district- or state-level courts. Vilnius was arguably the most popular venue for the meetings discussing important affairs and political negotiations. Secular noblemen used to establish a close cooperation with the Catholic clergy, who would usually represent the interests of their family or political group. They used to be equal partners. Conflicts over trade, property, debts or violence used to emerge but the clashes were mostly personal rather than systemic. Most conflicts between the nobility and the townspeople in the space of Vilnius were also more personal by type. The causes of conflicts were usually identical to the case of the clergy. Little evidence of cooperation could be traced. Nevertheless, the antagonism between the two social classes could be detected; nobles used to exert pressure on the townspeople. The surviving documents show that the Jews would often seek the support and protection from nobles in the conflicts with other noblemen, townspeople, or even other Jews.