Suchergebnisse

The strategy of research into the dissertation object is based on four criteria. First, it is a study of a phenomenon and its development. Second, the study is not confined to the present territory of the Republic of Lithuania. Third, the research problem and questions raised are interpreted in a broader light of examples from the European historiography, which enable to contextualise past features of the local social reality and search for similarities and/or differences as well as common points in the development of the phenomena which existed in different regions. Fourth, the object under analysis is perceived as a phenomenon with a multifaceted structure. Therefore, an attempt is made to look for new theoretical approaches rather than limit oneself to a traditional historical narrative. Historiography has seen attempts to disclose the development of society, uneven social structure, its specific features, etc. through the analysis of one phenomenon. However, this is only possible by looking at that phenomenon from different perspectives and analysing it as a product of different spheres of social reality, because focusing on a single aspect of the phenomenon limits the possibilities for interpretation which would reveal the multifunctional nature of the phenomenon and uneven trajectories of its development. The phenomenon of the castle is one of those problems which has not been analysed systematically and consistently. The existing historiography has mostly perceived the castle as unrelated to the social environment or political circumstances and, therefore, it was frequently presented as a military or architectural object. The castle is defined as a structure comprising three aspects: territory (a), society (b), power-authority (c). The castle is perceived as a nucleus which is uniting and forming a territory; this territory was eventually transformed into a legally, administratively and economically subordinate territory with clearly defined boundaries. It consisted of various social categories defined by different subordination-dependency, including individuals of peasant and non-peasant origin, in such a way forming the castle society, its social organisation. In these territorial and social planes of the castle as a local structure unfolded the power-authority hierarchy with its subjects. The castle was that element of medieval society which concentrated power and helped separate powerful subjects establish their authority over a certain territory and its population. Therefore, from the sociological point of view, the castle performed the roles of symbolic (ideological) and real (direct) authority and a representative of justice in the society of its time. The castle is interpreted as a power-authority structure which was unfolding and creating a specific territory with a subordinate social environment. The dissertation consists of an introduction, four parts, conclusions, a list of sources and literature, and appendices. All sections and their subsections express the structuralist approach toward the problem under analysis which is perceived and interpreted in the comparative perspective of the whole study. The first part attempts to formulate a definition of the castle phenomenon as manifold and changing in time and describe the concept in the European context. The second part constructs the model of the castle territory. It presents the conception of different constituents of the external territory of the castle. This model is based on the examples of European historiography devoted to the problem of the castle. The relationship of the castle with other territorial structures (e.g., village, manor) is analysed in this part as well. The third part investigates the office-bound character of the castle, its (local) society, social groups which belonged to the castle (e.g., unfree peasants, peasant performing military service such as barčiai, keliuočiai, etc.). The social characteristics of the castle (e.g., administration, economy) is analysed from the perspective of the GDL regionalism and in relation to the castle territory. The fourth part analyses the subordination-dependency problem of the castle. Different forms of subordination-dependency are identified (nominal, real, fief, office-bound, mortgage) depending on the socio-political circumstances and their changes are explained. Besides, the typology of castle subordination-dependency is provided by distinguishing the sovereign (state) (a), dynasty (b), church (c), dukes (d), nobility (e), gentry (f).

The strategy of research into the dissertation object is based on four criteria. First, it is a study of a phenomenon and its development. Second, the study is not confined to the present territory of the Republic of Lithuania. Third, the research problem and questions raised are interpreted in a broader light of examples from the European historiography, which enable to contextualise past features of the local social reality and search for similarities and/or differences as well as common points in the development of the phenomena which existed in different regions. Fourth, the object under analysis is perceived as a phenomenon with a multifaceted structure. Therefore, an attempt is made to look for new theoretical approaches rather than limit oneself to a traditional historical narrative. Historiography has seen attempts to disclose the development of society, uneven social structure, its specific features, etc. through the analysis of one phenomenon. However, this is only possible by looking at that phenomenon from different perspectives and analysing it as a product of different spheres of social reality, because focusing on a single aspect of the phenomenon limits the possibilities for interpretation which would reveal the multifunctional nature of the phenomenon and uneven trajectories of its development. The phenomenon of the castle is one of those problems which has not been analysed systematically and consistently. The existing historiography has mostly perceived the castle as unrelated to the social environment or political circumstances and, therefore, it was frequently presented as a military or architectural object. The castle is defined as a structure comprising three aspects: territory (a), society (b), power-authority (c). The castle is perceived as a nucleus which is uniting and forming a territory; this territory was eventually transformed into a legally, administratively and economically subordinate territory with clearly defined boundaries. It consisted of various social categories defined by different subordination-dependency, including individuals of peasant and non-peasant origin, in such a way forming the castle society, its social organisation. In these territorial and social planes of the castle as a local structure unfolded the power-authority hierarchy with its subjects. The castle was that element of medieval society which concentrated power and helped separate powerful subjects establish their authority over a certain territory and its population. Therefore, from the sociological point of view, the castle performed the roles of symbolic (ideological) and real (direct) authority and a representative of justice in the society of its time. The castle is interpreted as a power-authority structure which was unfolding and creating a specific territory with a subordinate social environment. The dissertation consists of an introduction, four parts, conclusions, a list of sources and literature, and appendices. All sections and their subsections express the structuralist approach toward the problem under analysis which is perceived and interpreted in the comparative perspective of the whole study. The first part attempts to formulate a definition of the castle phenomenon as manifold and changing in time and describe the concept in the European context. The second part constructs the model of the castle territory. It presents the conception of different constituents of the external territory of the castle. This model is based on the examples of European historiography devoted to the problem of the castle. The relationship of the castle with other territorial structures (e.g., village, manor) is analysed in this part as well. The third part investigates the office-bound character of the castle, its (local) society, social groups which belonged to the castle (e.g., unfree peasants, peasant performing military service such as barčiai, keliuočiai, etc.). The social characteristics of the castle (e.g., administration, economy) is analysed from the perspective of the GDL regionalism and in relation to the castle territory. The fourth part analyses the subordination-dependency problem of the castle. Different forms of subordination-dependency are identified (nominal, real, fief, office-bound, mortgage) depending on the socio-political circumstances and their changes are explained. Besides, the typology of castle subordination-dependency is provided by distinguishing the sovereign (state) (a), dynasty (b), church (c), dukes (d), nobility (e), gentry (f).

The castle is often seen as one of the key, next to the church and the city, the medieval society of that time and spatial structure of representative. First of all, the castle must begin to understand not as a static object, but the constantly changing dynamic phenomenon in a broad socioeconomical and sociopolitical context. It is the context of realizing often allows to see some hard-identified fractures of the same phenomenon within it self. On the other hand, the social transformation, formed a political conjuncture state often leads to the castle changes of it self. On the other hand, the internal imbalances of GDL structure, which could be interpreted as the spatial-regional-administrative state heterogeneous concepts, and the correlation of social forms, the genesis and formation, the interpretation of the different historical experiences, as well as a review of several heterogeneous civilization ways. Thus, the heterogeneity of the GDL raises new questions and problems, trying to explain the structural features of the castle as a phenomenon of the Grand Duchy of Lithuania. All this allows us to formulate the castle as a structural variable, often related by various socioeconomic sociopolitical changes, a phenomenon of the concept, content and form of a difference between European and regional context in its development path, and in certain social forms, which often reflects the same state, in our case, GDL, architecture features. At the same time, the identification of different regions of castles similarities enable the search for common points of a European castle in structured source and process of change. Consequently, the castle phenomenon can be interpreted and understood as a certain socio-economic transformation of the structures and sociopolitical outcome and reflection. Transformations of the castle was directly determinated of the specific space and time sociopolitical circumstances. Thus, the obvious is the castle as a phenomenon of multifunctionality; changing the established juncture, changed castle purpose and function. Constant transformation took place in the castle in social and in spatial-infrastructural level. The results of this process were qualitatively new sociopolitical and state formation.

The castle is often seen as one of the key, next to the church and the city, the medieval society of that time and spatial structure of representative. First of all, the castle must begin to understand not as a static object, but the constantly changing dynamic phenomenon in a broad socioeconomical and sociopolitical context. It is the context of realizing often allows to see some hard-identified fractures of the same phenomenon within it self. On the other hand, the social transformation, formed a political conjuncture state often leads to the castle changes of it self. On the other hand, the internal imbalances of GDL structure, which could be interpreted as the spatial-regional-administrative state heterogeneous concepts, and the correlation of social forms, the genesis and formation, the interpretation of the different historical experiences, as well as a review of several heterogeneous civilization ways. Thus, the heterogeneity of the GDL raises new questions and problems, trying to explain the structural features of the castle as a phenomenon of the Grand Duchy of Lithuania. All this allows us to formulate the castle as a structural variable, often related by various socioeconomic sociopolitical changes, a phenomenon of the concept, content and form of a difference between European and regional context in its development path, and in certain social forms, which often reflects the same state, in our case, GDL, architecture features. At the same time, the identification of different regions of castles similarities enable the search for common points of a European castle in structured source and process of change. Consequently, the castle phenomenon can be interpreted and understood as a certain socio-economic transformation of the structures and sociopolitical outcome and reflection. Transformations of the castle was directly determinated of the specific space and time sociopolitical circumstances. Thus, the obvious is the castle as a phenomenon of multifunctionality; changing the established juncture, changed castle purpose and function. Constant transformation took place in the castle in social and in spatial-infrastructural level. The results of this process were qualitatively new sociopolitical and state formation.