The Regaining of Smolensk in 1611 and Its Defence in 1634 in the Eyes of Contemporary Lithuanian Prints

Abstract

Smolensk had been captured in 1514 by Wasyl III and belonged to the Grand Duchy of Muscovy up to 13th June 1611 when taken back by Zygmund III and incorporated into Lithuania after 21 months of siege. For the Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth it was a historical event. Poets and memoirists began to write passionately. Interested in those events were also fly-sheets which kept citizens of Europe informed about what was happening on the Dniepr in 1611. In this work I shall discuss the prints published in the Grand Duchy only. I shall limit myself only to the fly-sheets and prints published exclusively on the victory in Smolensk.