The twists and turns of the life of the nobility in the capital of the Grand Duchy of Lithuania of the mid-18th century according to personal correspondence of the canon of Vilnius Jan Dominik Łopaciński

Straipsnis skirtas ankstyvajam būsimojo Žemaičių vyskupo Jono Dominyko Lopacinskio gyvenimo ir karjeros etapui – tarnybos Vilniaus katedros kapituloje laikams. Tuometis Vilniaus kanauninkas susirašinėjo su daugeliu galingiausių giminių atstovų. Jo gausiai išlikusiuose korespondencijos rinkiniuose išsamiai pristatoma XVIII amžiaus vidurio Vilniaus panorama, parodomi bajorų (visų pirma didikų) interesai Lietuvos Didžiosios Kunigaikštystės sostinėje, jų buitis, kasdienybė, aspiracijos, konfliktai, laisvalaikis. Laiškuose atsiskleidžia būsimojo hierarcho charakterio bruožai, bendravimo būdas, požiūris į daugelį to meto problemųThe future bishop of Samogitia and the canon of Vilnius Jan Dominik Łopaciński left abundant correspondence on the life of the nobility in the capital city of the Grand Duchy of Lithuania in the mid-18th century (1730–1762). Most of his addressees were lords or the noblemen of the higher-than-average rank. The letters refer to political problems – mostly the news on the dietines (sejmiks) of Vilnius, Smolensk, Starodub taking place in the capital. The Supreme Tribunal of Lithuania is arguably the most common judicial institution mentioned in the letters; courts of other types are less commonly mentioned. The canon’s letters often addressed economic transactions: purchase and sale of estates, debts and payments, matters of real estate and constructions in Vilnius. They contain most information on the economic transactions of other families, primarily the Sapieha family. The issue of temporary accommodation of the nobility in Vilnius was also relevant; according to the letters, the canon tried to be helpful and to assist the arriving noblemen with the rent of housing. It was one of the means to maintain influence on the elite of the Grand Duchy of Lithuania as well as to seek the career for oneself and for one’s family and supporters. The panorama-type letters elaborating on the situation in Vilnius often discussed the most varied mundane topics – conversations, feasts, carnivals, fireworks and the daily life of the nobilityVytauto Didžiojo universitetasŠvietimo akademij