Deductio herbu Pogonia – a forgotten relic of the early 17th century historical writing

The article analyzes Deductio herbu Pogonia – an appendix to the 1617 edition of the works by Łukasz Górnicki "Rozmowa Polaka z Włochem". While Deductio bears no signature, it is the work’s editor, Jędrzej Suski, who most probably was its author. The text presents the previously unknown legend of how Pogonia coat of arms originated. It explains that the heraldic design commemorates the victory of the Greek prince Theodor over a dragon. Whereas the article emphasises the original character of both heraldic and ethnogenetic legend, both seem to have been merely the author’s creation. He makes no reference to the popular by then Sarmatian theory; nor does he mention the common conviction that the Slavic region was ethnically homogenous. Additionally, he rejects the theory of the Roman origin of Lithuanians. The article is enriched with the early modern images of the beginnings of Lithuania and Russia. It also attempts to establish historical sources of some legendary accounts presented in Deductio