The Earliest States of Eastern Europe

Mogilev State A. Kuleshov University

For citation: Ryier, Yanina A. Pagan Rituals of Power of the First Rulers of Lithuania (Middle of the 13^th – Middle of the 14^th Century) // Drevneishie gosudarstva Vostochnoi Evropy (The Earliest States of Eastern Europe). 2022: The Role of Religion in the Formation of Socio-Cultural Practices and Ideas / Editors of the volume Е.V. Litovskikh, Е.А. Melnikova. Мoscow: GAUGN-Press, 2022. S. 187–201.

DOI: 10.32608/1560-1382-2022-43-187-201

Abstract: The article deals with the main categories of rituals used by pagan rulers of Lithuania in the middle of the 13^th – the middle of the 14^th century (from the reign of Mindaugas to the death of Gedimin) in order to legitimize, sacralize their power, as well as during the routine events related to the exercise of their authority. This chronological period is characterized by predominance of pagan or, depending on circumstances, dualistic (emerged under the influence of Christian culture) ritual traditions among Lithuanian rulers. While studying that issue one can point out particular features of institutionalization of power of pagan rulers in the context of state development. The most important rituals included oath, sacrifice, and exchange of gifts. Symbolic actions carried out by the rulers during the military campaigns were of great importance at that time. A separate category is formed by rituals associated with the enthronement and burial of a ruler, as well as the oath of allegiance, reflecting the level of recognition of the ruler's legitimacy and sacrality by his subjects. The role of the appeal to pagan gods in order to obtain their protection as well as a strong need to express gratitude for their help is analyzed. It is pointed out that in the process of state formation in Lithuania in addition to the rituals of the pagan origin, symbolic actions of rulers having dualistic (that can be found among both pagans and Christians) or completely Christian character appear. It can be explained by the phenomenon of the political development of the future Grand Duchy of Lithuania, characterized by a significant part of the Christian population in the annexed lands of Rus` with a predominantly pagan Baltic nobility as well as growing contacts of Lithuanian rulers with neighboring Christian states. Continuation of worship of pagan idols while learning the norms of Christian doctrine and its rituals as well as using the religion for political purpose is considered to be the main sign of religious syncretism of the first Lithuanian rulers.

Keywords:

ritual, ruler, power, sacrality, paganism, Lithuania, oath, sacrifice

References

Беспальчикова Я. Дары в дипломатической практике Теодориха Великого // Vox medii aevi. 2018. № 1, Vol. 2. С. 29–45. [Bespal’chikova Ya. Dary v diplomaticheskoy praktike Teodorikha Velikogo (Gifts in the Diplomatic Practice of Theodoric the Grat) // Vox medii aevi. 2018. nr 1, vol. 2. S. 29–45.]

Воскобойников О.С. «Мудрость короля рождается на небесах» // Королевский двор в политической культуре средневековой Европы / Под ред. Н.А. Хачатурян. М., 2004. С. 411–454. [Voskoboynikov O.S. «Mudrost’ korolya rozhdayetsya na nebesakh» („The wisdom of the king is born in heaven”) // Korolevskij dvor v politicheskoj culture srednevekovoj Yevropy / Ed. by N.A. Khachaturyan, Moscow, 2004. S. 411–454.]

Генрих Латвийский. Хроника Ливонии // Славянские хроники. Походы, битвы, знать Древней Руси до 1240 года. СПб., 1996. С. 196–321. [Genrikh Latviyskiy. Khronika Livonii (Chronicle of Livonia) // Slavic Chronicles. Campaigns, Battles, Nobility of Ancient Rus` before 1240. St-Petersburg, 1996. S. 196–321.]

Гудавичус Э. «Литва Миндовга» // Проблемы этногенеза и этническая история балтов: сб. ст. / Под ред. Р. Ваулкайте. Вильнюс, 1985. С. 219–227. [Gudavichus E. «Litva Mindovga» („Mindaugas` Lithuania”) // Problems of Ethnogenesis and Ethnic History of the Balts: Collection of articles / Ed. By R. Vaulkaite. Vilnius, 1985. S. 219–227.]

Гудавичус Э. История Литвы. Т. 1: История Литвы с древнейших времен до 1569 года. M., 2005. [Gudavichus E. Istoriya Litvy (History of Lithuania. Vol. 1: History of Lithuania from ancient times to 1569). Moscow, 2005.]

Гуревич А.Я. Категории средневековой культуры. М., 1972. [Gurevich A.Ya. Kategorii srednevekovoy kul’tury (Categories of Medieval Culture). Moscow, 1972.]

Гуревич А.Я. Проблемы генезиса феодализма в Западной Европе. М., 1970. [Gurevich A.Ya. Problemy genezisa feodalizma v Zapadnoy Evrope (Problems of the Genesis of Feudalism in Western Europe). Moscow, 1970.]

Данилевский И.Н. Русские земли глазами современников и потомков (XII–XIV вв.). М., 2001. [Danilevskiy I.N. Russkiye zemli glazami sovremennikov i potomkov (XII–XIV vv.) (Russian Lands through the Eyes of Contemporaries and Descendants (12th–14th centuries)). Moscow, 2001.]

Жлутка А. Каранацыя Міндоўга і заснаванне першага біскупства ў дакументах XIII ст. // Наша Вера. 2003. № 2 (24). С. 36–44. [Zhlutka A. Karanatsyya Mіndoўga і zasnavanne pershaga bіskupstva ў dakumentakh XIII st. (Coronation of Mindaugas and Foundation of the first Bishopric in the Documents of the 13th c.) // Our Faith. 2003. nr. 2 (24). S. 36–44.]

Кирюхина Е. Средневековые ритуaлы власти как источник вдохновения в культуре Англии второй половины XIX – начал XX века // Vox medii aevi. 2018. № 1, Vol. 2. С. 105–134. [Kiryukhina E. Srednevekovyye ritualy vlasti kak istochnik vdokhnoveniya v kul’ture Anglii vtoroy poloviny XIX – nachal XX veka (Medieval Rituals of Power as a Source of Inspiration in the Culture of England in the second half of the 19th – early 20th century) // Vox medii aevi. 2018. nr. 1, vol. 2. S. 105–134.]

Ковалев В. Игра на престоле: ритуалы власти в Средние века и современная культура // Vox medii aevi. 2018. № 1, т. 2. С. 14–28. [Kovalev V. Igra na prestole: ritualy vlasti v Sredniye veka i sovremennaya kul’tura (Game on the Throne: Rituals of Power in the Middle Ages and Modern Culture) // Vox medii aevi. 2018. nr. 1, vol. 2. S. 14–28.]

Коротаев А.В. О сакрализации власти // Сакрализация власти в истории цивилизаций / Под ред. Д.М. Бондаренко. М., 2005. С. 5–32. [Korotayev A.V. O sakralizatsii vlasti (About sacralization of power) // Sacralization of power in history of civilizations / Ed. by D.M. Bondarenko. Moscow, 2005. S. 5–32.]

Косман М. З гiсторыi i культуры ВКЛ. Мінск, 2010. [Kosman M. Z gistoryi i kul’tury VKL (From the History and Culture of the GDL). Minsk, 2010.]

Кром М.М. Политическая антропология: новые подходы к изучению феномена власти в истории России. М., 2001. [Krom M.M. Politicheskaya antropologiya: novyye podkhody k izucheniyu fenomena vlasti v istorii Rossii (Political Anthropology: New Approaches to the Study of the Phenomenon of Power in the History of Russia). Moscow, 2001.]

Петраускас Р. Правящий род и знать: к вопросу о предпосылках формирования литовского государства // Studia Slavica et Balcanica Petropolitana. 2012. № 1 (11). С. 95–116. [Petrauskas R. Pravyashchiy rod i znat’: k voprosu o predposylkakh formirovaniya litovskogo gosudarstva (Ruling Family and Nobility: on the Prerequisites for the Formation of the Lithuanian State) // Studia Slavica et Balcanica Petropolitana. 2012. № 1 (11). S. 95–116.]

Риер Я.А. Правитель и общество на белорусских землях в XIII – первой трети XV в.: основные механизмы политогенеза, легитимизации и сакрализации власти. Могилев, 2020. [Ryier Ya.A. Pravitel’ i obshchestvo na belorusskikh zemlyakh v XIII – pervoy treti XV v.: osnovnyye mekhanizmy politogeneza, legitimizatsii i sakralizatsii vlasti (A Ruler and Society in Belorusian Lands in the 13th – the first third of the 15th c.: the Main Mechanisms of State Formation, Legitimization and Sacralization of Power). Mogilev, 2020.]

Толочко П.П. Власть в Древней Руси. Х–ХІІІ вв. СПб., 2011. [Tolochko P.P. Vlast’ v Drevney Rusi. X–XІІІ vv. (Power in Ancient Rus`. 10th–13th cc. St-Petersburg, 2011.]

Успенский Б.А. Царь и патриарх: харизма власти в России (Византийская модель и ее русское переосмысление). М., 1998. [Uspenskiy B.A. Tsar’ i patriarkh: kharizma vlasti v Rossii (Vizantiyskaya model’ i eye russkoye pereosmysleniye) (Tsar and Patriarch: Charisma of Power in Russia (Byzantine Model and Its Russian Rethinking). Moscow, 1998.]

Хачатурян Н.А. «Король – император в своем королевстве»… Политический универсализм и централизованные монархии // Империи и этнонациональные государства в Западной Европе в Средние века и раннее Новое время. М., 2011. С. 66–88. [Khachaturyan N.A. «Korol’ – imperator v svoyem korolevstve»… Politicheskiy universalizm i tsentralizovannyye monarkhii ("The king is the emperor in his kingdom" ... Political Universalism and Centralized Monarchies) // Empires and ethno-national states in Western Europe in the Middle Ages and early Modern times. Moscow, 2011. S. 66–88.]

Baronas D. Good Faith and Realpolitik. Approaching the Art of Politics of Lithuanian Rulers in the Fourteenth Century // Studia historica Brunensia. 2019. № 2 (66). P. 31–44.

Bartlett R. From Paganism to Christianity in medieval Europe // Christianization and the Rise of Christian Monarchy: Scandinavia, Central Europe and Rus` c. 900–1200 / Ed. by N. Berend. Cambridge, 2007. P. 47–73.

Bell C. Ritual: perspectives and dimentions. Oxford, 2009.

Carneiro R.L. Multiple Trajectories in Political Development: From Leaders to Rulers // Social Evolution and History. 2004. Vol. 3. № 1. Р. 162–175.

Chronicon terrae Prussiae von Peter von Dusburg / Hrsg. M. Toeppen (SRP; 1). Leipzig, 1861. S. 1–219.

Claessen H.J.M. On Early States – Structure, Development and Fall // Social Evolution and History. 2010. Vol. 9. № 1. P. 3–51.

Duggan A.J. Kings and kingship in medieval Europe. L., 1993.

Earle T. How Chiefs come to power. The political economy in prehistory. Stanford, 1997.

Giedroyć M. The Arrival of Christianity in Lithuania. Early Contacts (13th century) // Oxford Slavonic Papers. 1985. Т. 18. P. 1–30.

Gudavicius E. Mindaugas. Vilnius, 1998.

Jaritz G. Rituals, images and daily life: the medieval perspective. B., 2012.

Klaniczay G. The uses of supernatural power: the transformation of popular religion in medieval and early-modern Europe. Princeton, 1990.

Kosman M. Od chrztu do chrystianizacji. Warszawa, 1992.

Liv-, Esth- und Curländisches Urkundenbuch nebst Regesten / Еd. F.G. von Bunge. B. 1: 1093–1300. Reval, 1853.

Livländische Reimchronik / Hrsg. F. Pfeiffer. Stuttgart, 1844.

Rasanen M. Relicts, identity and memory in medieval Europe. Brepols, 2016.

Rowell S.C. A Pagan’s Word. Lithuanian Diplomatic Procedure 1200–1385 // Journal of Medieval History. 1992. Vol. 18. P. 145–160.

Rowell S.C. Lithuania Ascending: a Pagan Empire within East-Central Europe, 1295–1345. Cambridge, 1994.

Stryjkowski Maciej Kronika Polska, Litewska, Żmódzka i Wszystkiej Rusi / Red. M. Malinowskiego. T. I, II. Warszawa, 1846.

Wigand von Marburd. Nowa kronika pruska / Oprac. S. Zonenberg, K. Kwiatkowski. Toruń, 2017.