Who are the Belarusians?

When traveling, I enjoy reading about the countries, places, and landmarks I visit. During my journey across Belarus, I read about the country's historical periods, the rise and fall of the Grand Duchy of Lithuania, the Polish–Lithuanian Commonwealth, and the Russian Empire. I reflected on the architectural heritage in the form of Catholic churches, castle ruins, and manor houses.

While walking around yet another Svyatopolk-Chetvertinsky estate in Zheludok, I read: although the manor in Zheludok was impressive, the Czetwertyński family rarely stayed here, preferring to live in Warsaw.

Here I started asking myself again: what connection do all these remnants of the past actually have to Belarusians?

This post is a brief outline of my thoughts. A way to organize the information for myself and try to answer a question.

So, let's begin:

The churches are Catholic. On their grounds are the graves of parish priests. All the names are Polish. The architectural and cultural heritage of these churches comes from Poland. Perhaps it’s not entirely accurate to say specifically from Poland, but rather from the Western West. And they came to us through Poland.

The owners of the Svyatopolk-Chetvertinsky estate were not Belarusians. This was their estate, where they lived from time to time. In this case, Belarusian peasants were a resource from which they derived income. The architecture of the estate was also external, not born here, and not even adapted to local traditions. In essence, it was the possession of an outside vassal.

Not far from Mogilev, there are, for example, the Tolstoy estates. Those lands were granted to the Tolstoy family by a Russian emperor. This, too, is an estate of vassals.

Then I started thinking about who owned the castles we visited during the trip. These thoughts inevitably led me to the Grand Duchy of Lithuania.

Halshany Castle. One of the estates of the Sapieha family. Who were the Sapiehas? They lived in Poland and Lithuania, while owning Belarusian lands. Ethnically, the Sapiehas were not Belarusians. Their descendants now live in Poland. They have no connection to modern Belarus.

The Grand Duchy of Lithuania itself was founded by Baltic princes. At that time, the Belarusian lands were fragmented into feudal principalities. The Balts conquered and incorporated the territories of present-day Belarus. The founder of the first dynasty was Mindaugas. He was not Belarusian. His name was Baltic, and so was his culture. It was the Balts who defeated the local Rurikids who ruled in Polotsk.

By the 13th century, the Western Rus' lands (including the Belarusian lands) had been converted to Orthodox Christianity. However, the Lithuanian elite remained pagan and did not accept Christianity. In other words, the Baltic nobility saw itself as being in control and did not adopt the traditions of the lands it ruled. When the time came to be baptized, the Lithuanian elite chose Catholicism.

An opposition emerged within the Belarusian nobility of the Grand Duchy of Lithuania. According to the Union of Horodło of 1413, only Catholic feudal lords were allowed to hold key state offices. If the statehood of the Grand Duchy of Lithuania had been “Belarusian,” something like this could not have happened.

At the end of the 14th century, a struggle began between the Western Rus' nobility and the Lithuanians. It resulted in two major wars — Jogaila against Andrei of Polotsk, and later Sigismund Kęstutaitis against Švitrigaila. The defeat of the Orthodox faction sharply worsened the position of the Western Rus' population.

After that, and until the end of the Grand Duchy of Lithuania, the Belarusian nobility remained in a discriminatory position. They were barred from holding the highest governing offices. The Grand Duchy of Lithuania grew closer to Polish culture, while the Belarusian part gravitated toward Russia. This ultimately contributed to the breakup of the Grand Duchy.

I have come to the view that the Grand Duchy of Lithuania is part of our history. But it is not our heritage.

Then came the periods of the Polish–Lithuanian Commonwealth, the Russian Empire, and the USSR, during which the Belarusian lands were part of larger states and were not independent.

Belarusians are a very young nation. It is still in the process of formation. Belarusian statehood is also still taking shape. Throughout our history, we have been ruled by one power or another. That makes it all the more remarkable that Belarusians have somehow managed to preserve their national identity.

All the architectural landmarks that have survived from the distant past are the heritage of vassals. How to relate to this is something everyone must decide for themselves. Yes, it is Belarusian history, but not Belarusian heritage.

If you disagree with any of my reflections, write to me — I’m open to dialogue.

4 August 2023