Alexander Guagnini

Alessandro Guagnini

Portrait of Gediminas . The same image was used to depict Casimir III. of Poland .

Alexander Guagnini (originally: Alessandro Guagnini , * 1538 in Verona , † 1614 in Krakow ) was an Italian chronicler . He served in the military of the Grand Duchy of Lithuania in Vitebsk , which was part of Lithuania at the time.

Life

Guagnini is known for the publication of a book, Sarmatiae Europeae descriptio, quae Regnum Poloniae , Lituaniam , Samogitiam , Russiam , Masoviam , Prussiam , Pomeraniam ... complectitur , which was printed in Cracow in 1578 and is commonly cited as "Description of Sarmatic Europe". It contains Latin descriptions of the countries of Eastern Europe , their history, geography, religion, lore, etc.

It is claimed that Guagnini was not the true author of the book, but rather stole the manuscript of a "Chronicle of Poland, Lithuania, Schemeitia and all of Ruthenia" from his subordinate Maciej Stryjkowski . Stryjkowski complained to the king and his claims were recognized in 1580. The book, however, continued to be published under Guagnini's name and was even translated into Polish . An expanded edition appeared in 1611.

The chronicle first included portraits of the Lithuanian princes. Although the images were fictitious and had nothing to do with the princes, although they also showed anachronistic clothing and weapons, and some of the images were used several times to represent different people, they had a major impact on the future depictions of the Lithuanian grand dukes. To this day, they remain the most widely used portraits in history books.

Copies of the work are preserved in the library of Vilnius University and in the Francysk Skaryna Belarusian Library and Museum in London .

Web links

Commons : Alessandro Guagnini - Collection of images, videos and audio files

Gwagnin: Scan of the original (Polish)
Guagnini: Description of Moscow, Part 1 (Russian)
Guagnini: Description of Moscow, Part 2 (Russian)

Individual evidence

↑ Saulius Žukas: Istorinis pasakojimas
↑ Annus Albaruthenicus 2004 ( Memento of July 14, 2004 in the Internet Archive ) (PDF)
↑ for example: Gimtoji istorija. Nuo 7 iki 12 klasės
^ Francysk Skaryna Museum in London ( Memento of February 8, 2001 in the Internet Archive )

personal data
SURNAME	Guagnini, Alexander
ALTERNATIVE NAMES	Guagnini, Alessandro
BRIEF DESCRIPTION	Italian chronicler
DATE OF BIRTH	1538
PLACE OF BIRTH	Verona
DATE OF DEATH	1614
Place of death	Krakow

[1] Saulius Žukas: Istorinis pasakojimas

[2] Annus Albaruthenicus 2004 ( Memento of July 14, 2004 in the Internet Archive ) (PDF)

[3] r example: Gimtoji istorija. Nuo 7 iki 12 klasės

[4] Francysk Skaryna Museum in London ( Memento of February 8, 2001 in the Internet Archive )