Vitsyebsk in the eighteenth century: history and "historians" (old cartularies of the city, Pantsyrn’ and Averka’s Chronicle).

The article is an attempt to explain in what way the eighteenth-century city of Vitsyebsk got interested in its history which led to the emergence of a number of local texts of historical nature: "The Book of Vitsyebsk Privileges", and "Pantsyrn and Averka’s Chronicle". The main factor of the awakened interest in historical sources and history was the struggle for power. In 1729-1730 and 1748-1750 the city was shaken by two consecutive confl icts over the city's mayoralty which sparked interest in documents of Vitsyebsk registry. This led to decisive steps in order to preserve municipal records. The first "Book of Vitsyebsk Privileges" was compiled between September of 1733 and November of 1735. Its emergence was related to the struggle for power in 1729-1730 and to the drive of the local government to prevent such a situation from happening again in the future. The second edition of "The Book of Vitsyebsk Privileges", by Michał Stawski, appeared in 1758. It was made for the municipal council as an argument in their struggle with the Jewish community. Ten years later its several copies appeared, prepared by Stephen Averka, who wanted to gain money from selling information needed by the local community. While copying "The Book of Privileges", Averka came up with an idea to compile the history of his native city. The first draft of his future chronicle he included in one of the copies of "The Book of Privileges" (May 1768). A manuscript, known as the "Pantsyrn' and Averka's Chronicle" was created by Averka in July 1768. Despite all its imperfections and flaws, the text can be regarded as the first written history of Vitsyebsk