All The Grand Duke’s Lenders: Creditors of the Grand Duchy of Lithuania from 1555 to 1569

Abstract

This article gives an analysis of the borrowing statistics of the Grand Duchy of Lithuania for the early part of the Livonian War (1555–1569), until the Union of Lublin, and the social characteristics of the people and groups of people who became the most prominent lenders. The borrowing in question was conducted via pledge lordships. For the examined period, we have registered 160 pledge-lordship contracts with a stated pledge amount totalling 515,667 sexagenas of Lithuanian groats. Of these, 149 pledge-lordship contracts totalling 496,709 sexagenas were from the Grand Duchy of Lithuania proper. In comparison with the earlier period, between 1502 and 1522, revenue from pledges with a known face value increased ninefold. The total amount borrowed for this period was equal to approximately three times the yearly wartime treasury revenue. The most prolific lenders were members of the established elite. Altogether, members of eight noble houses provided 32.4% of the entire amount lent to the state using pledges. Compared to the earlier period in terms of lenders was the first appearance of burghers (Vilnius, Gdansk, Livonian) as lenders, as they were granted pledge-lordship contracts.