Teodor Narbutt

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The late Teodor Narbutt.
The late Teodor Narbutt.

Teodor Narbutt (also known by his modern Lithuanian name of Teodoras Narbutas; 1784 – 1864) was a Polish-Lithuanian writer, Romanticist historian and military engineer. He is notable as one of the first authors of a consice history of Lithuania from early Middle Ages to the times of the Union of Lublin. Although his works are of little historical value, mostly due to forging sources and documents he used, his works were a milestone in formation of modern Lithuanian national identity in 19th century.

Teodor Narbutt was born November 8, 1784 in the village of Szawry near Grodno (modern Hrodna Province, Belarus) in the Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth, to a notable szlachta family of Trąby Coat of Arms. Early in his youth his fatherland was partitioned between Russia, Austria and Prussia. After graduating from a famous Piarist College of Lubieszów, Narbutt joined the Vilna Academy, where he graduated from Engineering Faculty in 1803. Then he moved to St. Petersburg, where he joined the cadet corps. He served in the Imperial Russian Army, where he became a captain of field engineering corps. He took part in the Russian campaigns against Napoleon Bonaparte during the Napoleonic Wars in 1807 and 1812. In 1809 he also constructed the fortress of Bobruysk (modern Babruysk, Belarus), for which he was awarded with the Order of Saint Anna.

At the same time, since 1813 he became interested in archaeology and started to organize numerous excavations across the former Grand Duchy of Lithuania. His passion for history, culture and folklore of the lands of former Grand Duchy was first shown after 1817, at which date he started to write historical articles for various Vilna-based newspapers. He also started to collect copies of documents related to the ancient history of Lithuania, which were published in 1846 in an anthology Pomniki do dziejów litewskich (Monuments of Lithuanian History). Among the most notable primary sources he published was the 16th century (?) Latopis of the Grand Dukes of Lithuania, also known as the Bychowiec Chronicle, after its founder Aleksander Bychowiec.

Fortress of Bobruysk
Fortress of Bobruysk

Between 1835 and 1841 he published a monumental, 9 volumes long history of Lithuania, covering roughly the period between prehistoric times and the Union of Lublin. Although largely based on folk tales, dubious and often simply falsified sources, the book had a tremendous impact on both historiography of Lithuania, and later on Lithuanian national revival. Its Lithuanian translation became the first history of Lithuania written entirely from Lithuanian perspective. Paradoxially, the book underlined the Ruthenian past of Lithuania, and as such was highly acclaimed by Russian historians and authorities alike. For it, Narbutt was awarded with a golden ring with a ruby, Order of Saint Anne and Order of Saint Vladimir by tsar Nicholas I of Russia. In 1856 Narbutt published yet another collection of texts, both original primary sources and his falsificates. Among the most popular of the latter type was the so-called von Kyburg's Diary, a fabricated account of Lithuania in 13th century.

Throughout his life, Narbutt remained an active member of the Archaeological Commission of Vilna, as well as a notable engineer. Between 1847 and 1852 he constructed a paroch church in Ejszyszki (modern Eišiškės, Lithuania). Although loyal to Imperial Russia, the anti-Russian January Uprising brought an end to his family. His wife, Krystyna Narbutt née Sadowska was sentenced to forced resettlement to Siberia and was not allowed to return until 1871. His older son, Ludwik, became a notable commander of the Polish forces in the area of Lida and was killed in a skirmish against the Russians. The younger son Bolesław was sentenced to death by the Russian authorities, but his sentence was later changed to life imprisonment because of his young age. Narbutt's only daughter Teodora had to flee the country and was sentenced to forced labour in absentia. Teodor Narbutt himself died November 27, 1864 in Vilna (Vilnius, Lithuania).

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