Litwa i Litwini jako integralna część Rzeczypospolitej w polskiej świadomości epoki nowożytnej (XVI–XVII w.)

ENIn the 16th and 17th centuries Lithuania and the Lithuanians played an important role in the Old Polish awareness. This is evidenced by the opinions of the intellectuals of that time. They mainly expressed their opnion at the theoretical level. These opinions were in line with the opinions of the nobility, although they were more practical and laconic. Each of them confi rmed the thesis about the subjective image of the Grand Duchy of Lithuania and its inhabitants. The shape of this image was of ethnogenic, dynastic, political, patriotic, religious and cultural character. All of them, in spite of slight differences, basicly remained coherent, and positively evaluated the presence of Lithuania and its inhabitants in the structure of the state. It was remembered thow, that the symbiosis of the Crown and Lithuania was a condition of the supreme nature – namely the power of the Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth.