Michalon Lituanus

Michalon Lituanus (also known as "Michalon Litwin", "Michalon the Lithuanian", "Michael the Lithuanian") was a 16th century writer and author of Latin language treatise "De moribus tartarorum, lituanorum et moscorum" ("On the Customs of Tatars, Lithuanians and Muscovites"), dedicated to Sigismund II Augustus. The work survived only in fragments first published in 1615 by Johann Grasser in Basel, Switzerland.cite encyclopedia | editor=Simas Sužiedėlis | encyclopedia=Encyclopedia Lituanica | title=Michalo Lituanus | year=1970–1978 | publisher=Juozas Kapočius | volume=III | location=Boston, Massachusetts | id=LCC|74-114275 | pages=516–517]

The real identity of the author is not definitely known (by the then traditions, the author's name was given in genitive: "Michalonis Lithuani De moribus tartarorum..."). Lithuanian historian Ignas Jonynas and Russian M. Lubavsky determined that he could be Mikhail Tyszkiewicz, Lithuanian envoy to the Crimean Tatars (1537–1539). Polish historian Jerzy Ochmański proposed Vaclovas Mikalojaitis (ca. 1490 – ca. 1560), who served a secretary in Grand Dukes chancellery for about 30 years.lt icon cite encyclopedia | editor=Jonas Zinkus, et. al | encyclopedia=Tarybų Lietuvos enciklopedija | title=Mykolas Lietuvis | year=1985–1988 | publisher=Vyriausioji enciklopedijų redakcija | volume=III | location=Vilnius, Lithuania |id=LCC|86232954 | pages=83] The original date of the treatise is also not known, but estimated to be around 1550. Author's ideas and writing style clearly show influence of humanism.

While the treatise contains historical information, it should be taken "cum grano salis": it is neither a chronicle nor a travel book, but rather a political essay which criticizes the Motherland of the author (Grand Duchy of Lithuania) and overly praises both Muscovy and the Crimean Khanate for their centralized governments and united subjects. [http://www.vostlit.info/Texts/rus/Litvin/framepred.htm Introduction] to the Russian translation: Михалон Литвин. О нравах татар, литовцев и москвитян. Moscow 1994] The author analyzed reasons behind decreasing Lithuanian power and influence, criticized nobility and high Catholic officials, and advocated for strong centralized government. He further idealized times of Vytautas the Great when the ruling class did not pursue self-interests and served the state.

Michalon supported the theory that Lithuanian nation was founded by the Palemonids, a legendary dynasty from the Roman Empire, and proposed to implement Latin as the official language in the Grand Duchy thus returning to forgotten traditions of the ancestors. As proof of similarity between Lithuanian and Latin, Michalon included a list of 74 words similar in both languages. He also compared ancient Roman traditions with pagan Lithuanian customs.

References