Sarmatism was the dominant lifestyle, culture and ideology of szlachta (nobility social class) in the Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth from 16th century to 19th century. Together with Golden Liberty it formed the unique aspects of the Commonwealth culture. Culture (from the Latin cultura stemming from colere, meaning to cultivate), generally refers to patterns of human activity and the symbolic structures that give such activity significance. ... An ideology is an organized collection of ideas. ... Polish szlachcic. ... // Nobility is a traditional hereditary status (see hereditary titles) that exists today in many countries (mainly present or former monarchies). ... Social class refers to the hierarchical distinctions between individuals or groups in societies or cultures. ... Wikipedia does not have an article with this exact name. ... (15th century - 16th century - 17th century - more centuries) As a means of recording the passage of time, the 16th century was that century which lasted from 1501 to 1600. ... Alternative meaning: Nineteenth Century (periodical) (18th century — 19th century — 20th century — more centuries) As a means of recording the passage of time, the 19th century was that century which lasted from 1801-1900 in the sense of the Gregorian calendar. ... Golden Liberty (latin: Aurea Libertas, Polish: Złota Wolność, sometimes used in plural form; this phenomena can be also reffered to as Golden Freedoms, Nobles Democracy or Nobles Commonwealth, Polish: Rzeczpospolita Szlachecka) refers to a unique democratic political system in the Kingdom of Poland and later, after...

History

The 15th century Polish historian Jan Długosz was the first to wrote about Sarmatism in Poland, and it was confirmed by other historians and chroniclers such as Marcin Bielski, Marcin Kromer and Maciej Miechowita. Other Europeans quote it up from Miechowita's Tractatus de Duabus Sarmatiis, a work which in western Europe was considered to be a substantial source of information about the territories and peoples of the Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth. The name came from alleged ancestors of the szlachta, the Sarmatians, a confederacy of mostly Iranian tribes north of the Black Sea, displaced by the Goths in the 2nd century AD, described by Herodotus in the 5th century BC as descendants of Scythians and Amazons.^[1] After many permutations, this produced the legend that Poles were the descendants of the ancient Sarmates, a warlike tribe originating in Asia who later resettled in northeastern Europe. ^[1] Recently undisputable light on ancestry provide yDNA research. (see R1a1) Jan DÅ‚ugosz Jan DÅ‚ugosz, also known as Joannes Longinus or Joannes Dlugossius (1415-1480) was a Polish historian (a chronicler) and a secretary of Bishop Zbigniew OleÅ›nicki of Kraków. ... Portrait Marcin Kromer (1512-1589) was a 16th century bishop of Warmia, cartographer, diplomat, and historian in Poland and later in the Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth. ... Maciej Miechowita Maciej Miechowita (also known as Maciej z Miechowa, Maciej of Miechów, Maciej Karpiga, Matthias de Miechow) (1457 - 8 September 1523) was a Polish renaissance scholar, professor of Jagiellonian University, historian, chronicler, geographer, medical doctor (royal physician of king Zygmunt I the Old of Poland), alchemist[1], astrologist... A common understanding of Western Europe in modern times. ... Wikipedia does not have an article with this exact name. ... Sarmatia and Scythia in 100 BC, also shown is the extent of the Parthian Empire. ... Map of the Black Sea. ... Invasion of the Goths: a late 19th century painting by O. Fritsche, is a highly romanticized portrait of the Goths as cavalrymen. ... Bust of Herodotus Herodotus of Halicarnassus (in Greek, , Herodotos Halikarnasseus) was a Dorian Greek historian who lived in the 5th century BC (484 BC–ca. ... (2nd millennium BC - 1st millennium BC - 1st millennium) The 5th century BC started on January 1, 500 BC and ended on December 31, 401 BC. // The Parthenon of Athens seen from the hill of the Pnyx to the west. ... Scythian warriors, drawn after figures on an electrum cup from the KulOba kurgan burial near Kerch. ... The Amazons are members of a legendary nation of female warriors . ... Kinship and descent is one of the major concepts of cultural anthropology. ... In human genetics, Haplogroup R1a1 (M17) is a Y-chromosome haplogroup that is spread across Eurasia. ...

In his 1970 publication "The Sarmatians (Ancient peoples and places)" the renowned Tadeusz Sulimirski (1898–1983), a Polish/British historian, archaeologist, and researcher on the ancient tribes of Sarmatians, listed a number of ethnological traits that szlachta (pronounced "shlyakhta") shared with Sarmatians, including traditions, weaponry and military practices, tamgas, and relict burial customs, giving an archaeological credence to their legendary origins, and furthering the evidence that Sarmatian aristocracy was assimilated and remained a ruling class integrated with sedentary indigens. Tadeusz Sulimirski (1898–1983) was a Polish-born historian and archaeologist, who emigrated to the United Kingdom in 1939. ... Oghuz Tamghas A tamgha is a design identifying property or cattle to belong to a specific Turkish clan, usually as a cattle brand or stamp. ...

Specifics

This belief became an important part of szlachta's culture, penetrated all aspects of life and served to differentiate Polish szlachta from Western nobility (which szlachta called pludracy) and their customs. Sarmatian concept enshrined equality among all szlachta, traditions, horseback riding, provincial village life, peace and pacifism, popularised eastern (almost oriental) clothing and looks (żupan, kontusz, sukmana, pas kontuszowy, delia, szabla), served to integrate the multiethnic nobility by creating an almost nationalist sense of unity and pride of the szlachta's political Golden Freedoms. The term the Orient - literally meaning sunrise, east - is traditionally used to refer to Near, Middle, and Far Eastern countries. ... Jan Zamoyski in crimson kontusz and blue silk żupan tied with pas kontuszowy. ... Stefan Czarniecki in crimson kontusz. ... WacÅ‚aw Rzewuski wearing a golden-finished kontusz belt Pas kontuszowy sÅ‚ucki. Pas kontuszowy (kontusz belt) was a cloth belt used for compassing a kontusz (a robe-like garment). ... Hetman Jan Zamoyski in a crimson delia and blue silk żupan. ... Szabla in general is the Polish generic term for a sabre. ... Eugène Delacroixs Liberty Leading the People, symbolising French nationalism during the July Revolution. ... Golden Liberty (latin: Aurea Libertas, Polish: ZÅ‚ota Wolność, sometimes used in plural form; this phenomena can be also reffered to as Golden Freedoms, Nobles Democracy or Nobles Commonwealth, Polish: Rzeczpospolita Szlachecka) refers to a unique democratic political system in the Kingdom of Poland and later, after the Union of...

In its early, ideal form sarmatism looked like a good cultural movement: it supported religious belief, honesty, national pride, courage, equality and freedom. However as any doctrine that put some social class above others it became perverted in time. Late sarmatism transformed belief into intolerance and devotion, honesty into political naivity, pride into arrogance, courage into stubbornness, quality and freedom of szlachta into nihilism. Social class refers to the hierarchical distinctions between individuals or groups in societies or cultures. ... Nihilism (From the Latin nihil, nothing) is a philosophical position which argues that the world, especially past and current human existence, is without objective meaning, purpose, comprehensible truth, or essential value. ...

Sarmatism, which evolved during Polish Renaissance and entrenched itself during Polish baroque, found itself opposed to the ideology of the Polish Enlightenment. When in the second half of the 18th century the word 'Sarmatism' made its reappearance, its meaning was decidedly negative. 'Sarmatism' functioned as a synonym of a backward and unenlightened mind, and as a contemptuous label for the political opponents of Stanisław August Poniatowski, the refomer-king's: the provincial and traditionalist petty szlachta. Such meanings were ascribed to it first in journalism and then in literary works. The Enlightenment writers treated the political and cultural implications of Sarmatism as a convenient target for criticism and mockery. Monitor, a militantly reformist periodical sponsored by King Poniatowski, used the term in a derogatory fashion, and so did Franciszek Zabłocki in his comedies, like his play Sarmatism (Sarmatyzm, 1785). ^[1] The Polish Renaissance, whose influence originated in Italy, started spreading in Poland in the 15th and 16th century. ... Polish baroque flourished from the late 16th century to the middle of the 18th century and as with the baroque style elsewhere in Europe, was designed to show off splendor of the art. ... The ideas of the Age of Enlightenment in Poland were developed later then in the Western Europe, as Polish bourgeoisie was weaker, and szlachta (nobility) culture (Sarmatism) together with the Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth political system (Golden Freedoms) were in deep crisis. ... For other persons named StanisÅ‚aw Poniatowski, see StanisÅ‚aw Poniatowski. ... Monitor was the first newspaper in Poland, printed from 1765 to 1785, during the times of the Polish Enlightenment. ... Franciszek ZabÅ‚ocki (1754 - 1821), is considered the most distinguished Polish comic dramatist and satirist of the Enlightenment period. ...

A rehabilitation of the Sarmatism and old Polish szlachta began during Polish Romanticism, a time of military uprisings and memories associated with them, which this helped in the rehabilitation of Sarmatism, with its cult of courage and military prowesse. This became quite prominent especially during and after the November Uprising. The genre of gawęda szlachecka (a nobleman's tale) created by Henryk Rzewuski is closely associated with reverence for the Sarmatian spirit. Visible in Polish messianism and in works of great Polish poets like Adam Mickiewicz (Pan Tadeusz), Juliusz Słowacki and Zygmunt Krasiński, as well as writers (Henryk Sienkiewicz and his Trylogia), by and large, Polish Romanticism is indebted to Polish history in ways not observable in other Eupopean countries, where the contrast between past glory and present misery was not that pronounced, or did not exist at all. ^[1] Romanticism in Poland was a period in the evolution of Polish arts and culture that began with the publication of Adam Mickiewiczs first poems in 1822 and ended with the suppression of the January 1863 Uprising in 1864. ... This article needs to be cleaned up to conform to a higher standard of quality. ... The history of philosophy in Poland parallels the evolution of philosophy in Europe generally. ... Adam Mickiewicz. ... Picking mushrooms. ... Wikipedia does not have an article with this exact name. ... Noble Family KrasiÅ„ski Coat of Arms Åšlepowron Parents Wincenty KrasiÅ„ski Maria Urszula RadziwiÅ‚Å‚. Consorts Eliza Branicka Children with Eliza Branicka Wladyslaw KrasiÅ„ski Zygmunt Jerzy Krasinski Maria Beatrix Krasinska Eliza Krasinska Date of Birth February 19, 1812 Place of Birth Paris Date of Death February 23, 1859 Place... Henryk Sienkiewicz. ... For the general use of the term trilogy, see Trilogy. ...

Sarmatian art and writings

The name and the culture were reflected in contemporary Polish literature.

Sarmatian culture was portrayed by many contemporary writers, especially:

• Wacław Potocki
• Jan Chryzostom Pasek
• Wespazjan Kochowski
• Andrzej Zbylitowski
• Hieronim Morsztyn
• Jan Andrzej Morsztyn
• Daniel Naborowski

Latin was very popular and often mixed with the Polish language (in writings and in speech), resulting in Macaronic. Knowing at least some Latin was an obligation of any szlachcic. image goes here Noble Family Potocki Coat of Arms Szreniwa Parents  ? Consorts unknown Children unknown Date of Birth 1621 Place of Birth Wola ŁużaÅ„ska Date of Death 9 August1 1696 Place of Death Łużna WacÅ‚aw Potocki (1621-1696) was a nobleman (szlachcic), moralist, poet and writer... image goes here Noble Family Pasek Coat of Arms Doliwa Parents  ? Consorts unknown Children  ? Date of Birth 1636 Place of Birth Węgrzynowice Date of Death 1 August 1701 Place of Death Niedzieliszki Jan Chryzostom Pasek (1636-1701) was a nobleman (szlachcic) and writer in the Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth. ... Hieronim Morsztyn (1581 - 1623) was a Polish poet. ... Jan Andrzej Morsztyn Jan Andrzej Morsztyn (1621-1693) was a noble (szlachcic), poet and official in the Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth. ... Daniel Naborowski (1573-1640) was a Polish Baroque poet. ... Latin is an ancient Indo-European language originally spoken in Latium, the region immediately surrounding Rome. ... Polish (jÄ™zyk polski, polszczyzna) is the official language of Poland. ... Macaronic refers to text spoken or written using a mixture of languages. ...

Many of the szlachta residences were wooden.

In 19th century the Sarmatian culture of the Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth was portrayed and popularised by Polish writer, Henryk Sienkiewicz in his trilogy (Ogniem i Mieczem, Potop, Pan Wolodyjowski). In the 20th century, Sienkiewicz's trilogy was filmed, and Sarmatian culture became the subject of many modern books (by Jacek Komuda and others), songs (like that of Jacek Kaczmarski) and even role-playing games like Dzikie Pola. Alternative meaning: Nineteenth Century (periodical) (18th century — 19th century — 20th century — more centuries) As a means of recording the passage of time, the 19th century was that century which lasted from 1801-1900 in the sense of the Gregorian calendar. ... Henryk Sienkiewicz. ... A trilogy is a set of three works of art, usually literature or film, that are connected and can generally be seen as a single work as well as three individual ones. ... With Fire and Sword (Polish Ogniem i mieczem) is a historical novel by the Polish author Henryk Sienkiewicz, published in 1884, and made into a movie in 1999. ... Potop (English: The Deluge) is a classic historical movie created by the film director Jerzy Hoffman based on a novel by Henryk Sienkiewicz. ... Pan Wołodyjowski (English: Colonel Wolodyjowski) is a classic historical movie created by the film director Jerzy Hoffman based on a novel by Henryk Sienkiewicz. ... Jacek Lech Komuda (23 June 1972-present) is a Polish writer and historian. ... Jacek Kaczmarski, 1994 Jacek Kaczmarski (March 22, 1957, Warsaw - April 10, 2004, GdaÅ„sk) was a Polish singer, songwriter, poet and author. ... This article is about traditional role-playing games. ... Zaporizhia (Ukrainian: Запоріжжя, Zaporizhzhia; Polish: Zaporoże or Dzikie Pola (Wild Field), Russian: Запоро́жье, Zaporozhye) is a historical region of Ukraine. ...

Sarmatia

Sarmatia (Polish: Sarmacja) was also the unofficial, semi-legendary and poetic name of the Commonwealth, which became fashionable in the 17th century, designating qualities associated with the literate citizenry of the vast Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth. (16th century - 17th century - 18th century - more centuries) As a means of recording the passage of time, the 17th century was that century which lasted from 1601-1700. ...

Modern usage

In contemporary Poland, the word Sarmatian (Polish: sarmacki) is a form of ironic self-identification, and is sometimes used as a synonym for the Polish character.

See also

• Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth#Culture
• Szlachta#Szlachta culture

Wikipedia does not have an article with this exact name. ... Polish szlachcic. ...

Literature

• Tadeusz Sulimirski, "The Sarmatians (Ancient peoples and places)", Thames and Hudson, 1970, ISBN 0-500-02071-X

References

1. ^ ^{a b c d} Andrzej Wasko, Sarmatism or the Enlightenment:The Dilemma of Polish Culture, Sarmatian Review XVII.2, online

Sarmatian Review is an English language peer reviewed academic journal on the culture, history, and society of Central and Eastern Europe, published by Polish Institute of Houston at Rice University three times a year in January, April, and September. ...

External links

• The Sarmatian Review
• Sarmatism or the Enlightenment - The Dilemma of Polish Culture by Andrzej Wasko, Sarmatian Review, April 1997
• Martin Pollack. Sarmatische Landschaften: Nachrichten aus Litauen, Belarus, der Ukraine, Polen und Deutschland (a book of short stories with modern views on Sarmatia, published in 2006 in German language)