Martynas Mažvydas
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Martynas Mažvydas (1510 - May 21, 1563) was the author and the editor of the first printed book in the Lithuanian language.
Different forms of the name include Martinus Masvidius, Martinus Maszwidas, M. Mossuids Waytkūnas, Mastwidas, Mažvydas, Mosvidius, Maswidsche, Mossvid Vaitkuna.
[edit] Biography
Martynas Mažvydas is a most prolific Lithuanian author of the 16th century, whose name associates with the beginning of the Lithuanian literature. He was of Samogitian origin. Supposedly, his parents were indigent townspeople. Mažvydas spent his youth in Vilnius, where he worked together with other authors of the first Lithuanian writs from the Grand Duchy of Lithuania, such as Abraomas Kulvietis, Jurgis Zablockis and, possibly, Stanislovas Rapolionis. Later Mažvydas published some of their works in the first Lithuanian printed books. In Lithuania Mažvydas was persecuted for his Reformation ideas, thus he accepted an invitation from the Duke of Prussia Albrecht and departed to Königsberg, where he entered the Albertina University in 1546. In the year of 1548 he had graduated from the university with bachelor's degree. The fact that Mažvydas graduated in one and a half year proves that he studied elsewhere before - supposedly in Kraków or at the school established by Abraomas Kulvietis in Vilnius. It is also supposed that he was teaching at the same school.
During his studies in Königsberg in the year 1547 Mažvydas compiled and published the first printed Lithuanian book "Catechismusa Prasty Szadei" ("The Simple Words of Catechism"), thus launching literature and book printing in Lithuanian.
In 1549 Mažvydas was appointed as a priest in Ragainė, present day Neman. In the same year he wrote and published "The Song of St. Ambrosy" with a dedication in Lithuanian. In 1554 Mažvydas became the Archdeacon of Ragainė. He took care of education of his parishioners, regulated agricultural matters and continued his literary work in Lithuanian. He translated "The Form of Baptism" from German and published it in Königsberg in 1559. In 1558-1562 he translated from "The Prussian Agenda" a prayer "Paraphrasis" that was published in Königsberg in 1589, already after the death of the translator. His major work is "The Christian Songs" (Part I, in 1566; Part II, in 1570) that were printed by his cousin Baltramiejus Vilentas. This book served as a basis for other Protestant books of songs later published in Lithuania Minor.
Mažvydas had initiated the patterns of practically all kinds of established works of the ancient Lithuanian literature: an ABC book; a Catechism; a book of songs with notes; a prayer book; a Holy Writ translation; original prefaces and dedications.
[edit] Works
In the year 1547 Martynas Mažvydas had compiled and published the first printed Lithuanian book - the Catechism (The Simple Words of Catechism), that was the beginning of literature and print in Lithuanian. Book was printed in a printing house in Königsberg.
The book consists of: the dedication in Latin To the Grand Duchy of Lithuania, two prefaces: in Latin (in prose), and in Lithuanian (in verse), a primer, the catechism, and the book of songs. The rhymed preface in Lithuanian, The Appeal of The Small Book Itself Unto Lithuanians and Samogitians, is the first authentic verse in Lithuanian. An acrostic, the initial letters of its lines from 3 to 19 downwards, form the name of the author, Martinus Masvidius, thus confirming his authorship.
The preface the views and aims of the author, namely, to educate and people and spread culture, to fight the remains of heathen beliefs, and to consolidate the Protestant religion. The style of the preface is notably rhetorical; it is the most prominent example of syntactical-intonational prosody in Lithuanian literature.
All works:
- Catechismvsa prasty szadei, makslas skaitima raschta yr giesmes… - Königsberg: H. Weinreich, 1547. - 79p.
- Giesme s. Ambraseijaus bey s. Augustina… - Königsberg. H. Weinreich, 1549. - 16p.
- Forma chrikštima… - Königsberg: J. Daubman, 1559. - [42]p.
- Gesmes chriksczoniskas, gedomas bažniczosu per adventa ir kaledas ik gramniču / [išleido B.Vilentas]. - Königsberg: J. Daubman, 1566. - [94]p.
- Gesmes chrikščoniškas, gedomas bažniczosu per velikas ir sekminias ik adventa / [parengė ir išleido B.Vilentas]. - Königsberg: J. Daubman, 1570. - [350]p.
- Lietuviškos maldos. - Karaliaučius, 1574].
- Trumpas klausimas ir prieprovimas… // M.Liuteris Enchiridion: Katechismas mažas… - Königsberg: G.Osterberger, 1579, p.[67-72].
- Parafrasis permanitina poteraus malda… - Königsberg, G. Osterberger, 1589. - 14 p.
