Alexander Guagnini

Alexander Guagnini (originally Alessandro Guagnini, * 1538 in Verona, † 1614 in Kraków ) was an Italian chronicler. He served in the military of the Grand Duchy of Lithuania in Vitebsk, which belonged at that time to Lithuania.

Guagnini is known for publishing a book, Sarmatiae Europeae descriptio, quae Regnum Poloniae, Lituaniam, Samogitiam, Russiam, Masoviam, Prussiam, Pomeraniam ... complectitur ', which was printed in 1578 in Krakow and commonly referred to as "Description of the Sarmatian Europe " quoted will. It contains descriptions of the Latin countries of Eastern Europe, its history, geography, religion, traditions, etc.

It is claimed that Guagnini was the true author of the book did not, but the manuscript of a "Chronicle of Poland, Lithuania, and quite Schemaitien Ruthenia " of his subordinates Maciej Stryjkowski have stolen. Stryjkowski complained to the king and his claims were recognized in 1580. The book was, however, continue to be published under the name Guagnini and even translated into Polish. An expanded edition was published in 1611.

The Chronicle first time involved portraits of the Lithuanian princes. Although the images were fictitious slip? and had nothing to do with the princes, although they also showed anachronistic clothing and weapons and some of the images were used repeatedly to represent different persons, they have significantly influenced the future pictures of the Lithuanian Grand Duke. To this day they remain the portraits are mostly used in history books.

Copies of the work are obtained, among others, in the library of the University of Vilnius and in Francysk Skaryna Belarusian Library and Museum in London.

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