Lithuanian Nobleman Augustin Konstantynowicz: a Pseudo-Descendent of a Courter of Grand Princess Elena Ivanovna

Abstract

The article is devoted to analysis of the case, when in 1683 the Ambassadorial Chancellery granted to Lithuanian nobleman Augustin Pohoży-Konstantynowicz the tsar’s diploma, confirming a departure of his antecessor to Lithuania as a courter of grand princess Elena Ivanovna. The emergence of the legend about the origin of Pohoży-Konstantynowicz was linked with fashion on Muscowy-related genealogies, which had spread among new Lithuanian establishment at the middle of 17th century, especially among Oginski, who were patrons of Pohoży-Konstantynowicz. The interest of Konstantynowicz in grand princess Elena Ivanovna’s court was linked to his close contacts with Moscowite diplomats. The role of Konstantynowicz in the organization of contacts between prince Vasiliy V. Golitsyn and prince Marcian A. Oginski in the beginning of 1680s and his service as the Russian agent predetermined the satisfaction of his request by the Ambassadorial Chancellery, despite the absence in the Chancellery any documentary evidence of Pohoży-Konstantynowicz genealogical myth.