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The paper aims to determine the quality of information and the quality of IT tools used for operational budgeting in Polish and Lithuanian companies. The questionnaires were distributed by e-mail and traditionally among controllers/management accountants. Due to the fact that the sample was non-random, the findings of the research cannot be statistically referred to all the companies. The authors opted for this method of data collection because of the difficulty with survey returnability (extremely low return rate due to the use of sensitive data). However, the authors have taken a number of steps to increase the reliability of the study conducted. The research was preceded by extensive literature studies, the respondents had knowledge of the analyzed phenomenon and the results of the conducted research were compared to the results received by other authors. IT tools supporting operational budgeting with the highest quality assessment were Excel/Access and a ready and parameterized budgeting modules in the Integrated Systems. The analysis shows that low-quality IT systems result in low information quality. The system that is flexible can be modified easily, thus meeting changed user information needs quickly and efficiently, which leads to relevant and up-to-date information outputs to users, implying high information quality. The research shows that the maintenance of high quality of the operational budgeting system is a determinant of the quality of information generated by this system, in its absence - there is no way to ensure the quality of information in the decision-making process. This study allows to interpret the results of prior studies and create directions for future research that will refer to system quality and information quality, but also to a more extensive analysis. The results allow for prioritization in the context of dissemination, but most of all for the evaluation of individual tools supporting operational budgeting. Consequently, it extends the scope of information regarding the choice or change of the tool used, and provides the basis for a deeper analysis of the assessment of the distinguished features characterizing a given tool. The study offers the possibility of continuing it, which would allow comparison of the results, both in other countries, as well as repeating the study in the future and the possibility of observing changes in the tools used and assessing their quality. The survey could serve as a prelude to in-depth qualitative research, which would enable analysis of the factors determining the quality of the system used and the information generated. Keywords: Management Accounting Information; Information Quality; Excel; ERP.

Šiuo straipsniu siekiama pristatyti Lietuvos Didžiosios Kunigaikštytės skolinimosi statistiką ankstyvuoju Livonijos karo (1555–1569) laikotarpiu iki Liublino unijos ir apibūdinti asmenis bei jų grupes, kurie tapo svarbiausiais valstybės kreditoriais. Aptariamas skolinimas buvo vykdomas įkeitimo būdu, taigi įkeičiant skolintojui suvereno teisę valdyti savo valdas ir gaunamas pajamas. Ankstyviausias skolinimas įkeičiant valdas, apibrėžiantis periodo pradžią, užfiksuotas 1555 m. Tiriamo periodo metu buvo užregistruota 160 įkeitimo aktų, kurių bendra suma buvo 515 677 kapų lietuviškų grašių, iš jų 149 – įkeitimo aktai, kurių bendra suma 496 709 kapos buvo užregistruota Lietuvos Didžiojoje Kunigaikštystėje prieš Livonijos prisijungimą. Palyginti su ankstesniu tirtu periodu (1502–1522), kurio metu vyravo panaši skolinimosi praktika, įplaukos iš įkeitimų padidėjo devynis kartus, o įplaukų pikas užfiksuotas 1567 m. Atlikus išsamius skaičiavimus buvo nustatyta, kad šiuo kredito instrumentu pasiskolinta suma buvo tris kartus didesnė nei vienerių karo meto iždo pajamos. Aktyviausi skolintojai buvo Lietuvos Didžiosios Kunigaikštystės politinio elito atstovai. Aštuonių diduomenės giminių atstovai (Chodkevičių, Tiškevičių, Polubinskių, Olelkaičių, Davainų, Krošinskių, Valavičių ir Zbaražskių) paskolino 32,4 proc. visos valstybei paskolintos sumos naudojant įkeitimą kaip kredito instrumentą. Ryškiausias skirtumas, palyginti su ankstesniu skolinimo periodu, buvo miestiečių luomo asmenų, kuriems buvo suteikti įkeitimai, atsiradimas. Daugiausia tai buvo Vilniaus, Livonijos miestų ir Gdansko miestiečiai. Tai rodo sąlyginį ekonominės galios pasikeitimą ir politinės erdvės atsivėrimą bent jau Vilniaus miestiečiams dalyvauti skolinime. Anksčiau praktikuotos kreditavimo formos ir toliau buvo naudojamos – sutarčių, kurios suteikdavo kreditoriui visas pajamas, buvo daugiau nei pusė visų sutarčių. Tačiau pamažu gausėjo ir sutarčių, kuriose visų įkaito pajamų kontrolė buvo keičiama metinėmis kredito sumos 10–20 procentų palūkanomis. Formaliai visos sutartys buvo terminuotos, tačiau jų tekste įrašoma nuostata automatiškai pratęsti įkeitimą neribotam laikui, jei iki nustatyto termino nebus grąžinta paskola, suteikia pagrindą jas įvardinti kaip neterminuotas. Vėlesni šaltiniai rodo, kad dauguma šių įkeitimų niekada nebuvo išpirkti ir įkaitų savininkai priešinosi iždo bandymams išpirkti šias valdas. Todėl šį procesą galima traktuoti ir kaip žemėvaldos perskirstymą iš didžiojo kunigaikščio domeno ir valstybės diduomenei, ir bajorijai. 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. Keywords: Grand Duchy of Lithuania, Livonian war pledge lordships, financial capacity, treasury.

The current economic crisis has been caused by the constraints of the COVID-19 pandemic, which has weakened the state of the economy. This study aims to identify and describe the status and development of COVID-19 in the Baltic Sea Region and to identify the economic consequences and changes in the economy caused by the pandemic. The situation is exacerbated by the extreme uncertainty of the actions taken by the public administration in the border regions. These include, above all, the lack of concrete and transparent measures to impose quarantine in specific sectors, the forced restriction of the population’s economic and commercial activities, the limitation of access to recreational areas for the entire population, the displacement to remote work and education, the closure of childcare and preschool institutions. The scale and nature of the consequences of all these restrictions in different sectors and industries need to be clarified. All this adds to the complexity of developing specific measures to respond to the crisis in the prevailing conditions. There is an urgent need to recognise crises and new challenges in border regions, which rapidly change in pandemic conditions and affect people on both sides of the border. The well-established principle of a "Europe without borders" has been shaken, and countries that have abruptly closed their national borders have done so unilaterally. A multiple regression study of selected macroeconomic indicators of the COVID-19 pandemic is conducted. The scale and nature of the consequences of sudden border closures on population movement in the Baltic Sea Regions are shown. All these restrictions peaked in 2020; unfortunately, the COVID-19 spread has yet to improve. Government measures applied to overcome the crisis must therefore identify the most effective way to restore lost positions and outline the future development of the border regions. Keywords: cross-border cooperation; cross-border region; COVID-19 pandemic; Baltic Sea Region; economic crisis.

The article looks into the participation of the bishop ordinary of the diocese of Vilnius, Kazimierz Konstanty Brzostowski, and his suffragan, Maciej Józef Ancuta, in Lithuanian politics of the period between 1709 and 1717. The study has been based on the letters written by the bishops to the Lithuanian chancellor. It examines the bishops’ attitude towards Russian contributions, the taxation of Church estates, the arbitrary contributions raised by the Lithuanian army, the introduction of Saxon troops in 1713, the reaction to the king’s policies, and the attitude towards the nationwide uprising against the Saxon troops known as the confederations of Tarnogród and Vilnius. Finally, the bishops’ opinion on Russian mediation and the notorious Silent Sejm, where it was agreed that the liberum veto would be invalid. The bishops of the diocese of Vilnius were rather indifferent to the internal problems of Lithuania. They defended the immunity of the Church estates and disapproved of the introduction of Saxon troops. However, when the confederations were formed, they tried to manoeuvre between the noble and royal camps, not wanting to ruin their reputation on either side. The bishops often spoke on behalf of the diocesan clergy. Therefore, their adopted posture was often the expression of the opinion of the whole diocese’s clergy.

Po Antrojo pasaulinio karo nustačius naujas Lenkijos valstybės sienas, prieškario Antrosios Lenkijos Respublikos ('II Rzeczpospolita') piliečiai, gyvenantys vadinamuosiuose Rytų 'Kresuose' buvo masiškai perkeliami iš naujai įkurtų Sovietų Sąjungos Lietuvos, Baltarusijos ir Ukrainos respublikų į naują Lenkijos Liaudies Respubliką ('Polska Rzeczpospolita Ludowa'). 240 tūkst. lenkų, po karo išvykusių iš Lietuvos Sovietų Socialistinės Respublikos, buvo tik dalis iš daugiau kaip 1,4 mln. žmonių, perkeltų į naująją Lenkiją. Jie su nepaprasta jėga atgaivino XIX a. Lenkijos 'Kresų' mitą – vieną svarbiausių Lenkijos nacionalinių mitų, kuris netrukus tapo neatsiejama Lenkijos nacionalinio diskurso dalimi ir pagrindiniu tapatybės politikos elementu lenkų, likusių 'Kresuose', atžvilgiu. Šiame straipsnyje bandoma atsakyti į klausimą: kokia yra 'Kresų' mito / diskurso reikšmė ir vaidmuo konstruojant šiuolaikinių lenkų, gyvenančių Pietryčių Lietuvoje – šių mitinių (lenkiškų) 'Kresų' teritorijoje – identitetą? Straipsnis parengtas remiantis serija interviu su Lietuvos lenkais bei vyriausybinių ir nevyriausybinių 'Kresų' labui veikiančių organizacijų atstovais, taip pat šių organizacijų interneto svetainėse skelbiamų kvietimų teikti paraiškas projektams, skirtiems lenkams Lietuvoje, turinio analize. Raktažodžiai: 'Kresai' ('Kresy'), 'Kresų' mitas, 'Kresų' diskursas, tautinė tapatybė, lenkai Lietuvoje, lenkiškumas. The consequence of establishing new Polish state borders after the Second World War was the mass resettlement of citizens of the pre-war Second Polish Republic (II Rzeczpospolita) from the so-called 'Kresy' – now newly established Lithuanian, Belarusian and Ukrainian republics of the Soviet Union – to the Polish People’s Republic (Polska Rzeczpospolita Ludowa). The 240,000 Poles, who left the Lithuanian Soviet Socialist Republic as part of the post-war resettlement, were only part of a group of over 1.4 million people resettled to ‘new Poland’. With extraordinary strength, they revived the 19th century myth of the 'Polish Kresy' – one of the most important Polish national myths – which soon became an inseparable part of the Polish national discourse and the main element of Polish identity policy towards Poles who stayed in 'Kresy'. This article is an attempt to answer the following question: What is the meaning of and role played by 'Kresy' myth/discourse in constructing the identity of contemporary Poles living in South-eastern Lithuania – on the territory of these mythical 'Polish Kresy'? The article is based on a series of interviews with Poles from Lithuania and representatives of governmental and non-governmental organisations operating for the 'Kresy', as well as an analysis of the content of these organisations websites with a project offer addressed to Poles in Lithuania. Keywords: 'Kresy', 'Kresy' myth, 'Kresy' discourse, national identity, Poles in Lithuania, Polishness.

Franciszek Bieliński’s Attitude towards Tithes. A Contribution to the History of the Dispute over Tithes in Masovia in the 1750’s The present article describes Franciszek Bieliński’s attitude towards tithes. He was the Grand Marshal of the Polish Crown and initiated a conflict about tithes between the Masovian nobility and the Catholic clergy, that began in the early 1750’s. In the article I analyse the manifesto that was published under Bieliński’s auspices, along with his correspondence with other dignitaries of the Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth, as well as their speeches during the Sejm of 1752 in Grodno. It was no secret that Bieliński initiated this conflict mainly for personal reasons. However, his activity perpetuated the evolution of the practice that courts for nobility were competent to examine cases concerning tithes.

“Supplication for the quickest possible conclusion.” Analysis of source materials regarding magnate pre-wedding negotiations (example of the marriage of Teresa Barbara Radziwiłł with Józef Scipion del Campo) The presented research is based on source materials regarding magnate pre-wedding negotiations. The handwritten notes were made on the occasion of the second marriage of Józef Scipion del Campo (died 1743), the Lithuanian court marshal, with Teresa Barbara née Radziwiłł (died 1780). The subject of the analysis are preserved documents revealing a number of legal and property-related problems that determined the process of the pre-wedding negotiations. Scipion del Campo sought to tie the knot with the wealthy daughter of Mikołaj Faustyn Radziwiłł, counting on tangible benefits that could be brought to him by the affinity with the influential family. The analysis of the unique source materials has made it possible to trace the negotiation process preceding the marriage, along with the identification of the most important problem points. The preserved documents prove that it was possible to change the final arrangements (dowry, annuity, some economical aspects). The analysis significantly enriches knowledge about the matrimonial policy implemented in the noble circles of the Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth.

The paper investigated the patterns of changes in spatial price transmission between pigmeat prices of two post-communist Member States, namely Lithuania and Poland, and five main producing countries in the EU-15, namely Germany, Denmark, France, Spain, and the Netherlands. This study employed vector autoregression modelling, as well as the Granger causality concept, and focused on changes in price behavior from May 2004 to May 2021. The findings suggest fundamental differences in the short-term price behavior of two post-communist countries. Over the investigated period, Poland strengthened the position in the EU pigmeat market and could be classified as a price leading country for the certain markets. The case of Lithuania demonstrated that countries with lower productivity and the dominant share of pig population on small-scale farms as well as high price level became vulnerable and evolved towards a viable national pig farming structures. Hence, a movement of new Member States towards greater market integration must be linked to the spread of innovations in pig farming or exit of uncompetitive farms. In the case of Lithuania, a promising direction of policy implications is support for the establishment of modern and competitive medium-sized farms, as well as the spread of relevant knowledge and innovations. Keywords: spatial price transmission, pigmeat market, vector autoregression model, granger causality.

This study relies on a calculable and essential analysis of a statistically oriented regression model. Ninety-five variables taken into consideration in this research were grouped into four categories. The first category covers the general macroeconomic situation, the second is devoted to crime, the third is formed by characteristics of income and living conditions, and the fourth one applies to the taxation system. The Multiple Indicators Multiple Causes (MIMIC) model was employed to measure the level of shadow economy in Poland and in Lithuania during 2000-2019. The MIMIC model depends on Structural Equation Models. The MIMIC approach allows one to assess shadow economy as a latent variable. The observed factors are government employment/labor force, tax burden, subsides/GDP, social benefits paid by government/GDP, self-employment/GDP, and unemployment rate. The Pearson correlation index was used to size up the correlation between independent variables, and Kolmogorov–Smirnov (KS) test for normality of residuals was applied. In both countries, factors affecting the shadow economy performance show great similarity. The shadow economy development in Poland and in Lithuania is fostered by many different factors, related to, but not limited to, the general macroeconomic situation. In fact, the economic situation is associated with the standard of living, income as well as the crime rate. Important factors are associated with the taxation system. The results demonstrate that the regression model can be used to predict the shadow economy development and performance in Poland and in Lithuania. Such information facilitates taking adequate steps in order to minimize the shadow economy level in both countries. Such implications are very useful for decision makers in shaping the legal and economic progress in both countries.

In the context of climate change, ecological boundaries, increasing environmental pressures and biodiversity loss, scientific community together with policy makers is searching for sources of change towards sustainable bioeconomy. Therefore, there is a clear scientific interest in connection of innovation and sustainable development as well as competitiveness. As RDI is proved by empirical research to be a driver of sustainability and competitiveness of bioeconomy, it is relevant to look at the innovation performance of different countries for comparison. This article aims to make a comparative overview of the bioeconomy related research and innovation performance between BIOEAST countries (Bulgaria, Czech Republic, Estonia, Croatia, Latvia, Lithuania, Hungary, Poland, Romania, Slovenia and Slovakia). Comparison to EU-27 (from 2020) and the EU Innovation Leaders is also made. The methodology is based on methods of analysis, interpretation and relevant comparisons of selected indicators. The research results point out that BIOEAST countries show very different innovation performance results. There is a wide innovation performance gap between most BIOEAST countries and the EU Innovation Leaders in terms of citable publications and especially patenting activity. Leading BIOEAST countries are in some cases similar to the EU Innovation Leaders. The research may be interesting for both researchers and policy makers and offers opportunities for future studies on the subject.

This article aims to analyse the concept of a sustainable dairy farm and review sustainable dairy farming experience in EU countries. Theoretical aspects of sustainable farming are analysed during the research; namely, the analysis of EU legal, strategic, and other documents is performed; an overview of research, EU reports, and other documents on sustainable farming is conducted as well as an analysis of international experience in assessing sustainable farming systems in the dairy farm is carried out. The most targeted countries leading the dairy industry and their experience are dealt with. Experience of the USA, New Zealand, China, and EU countries (the Netherlands, Finland, Poland) in implementing sustainability principles in dairy farms is viewed. The study revealed that the leading dairy countries pay a lot of attention to implementing sustainability principles in introducing the planned EU strategies and recommendations and being willing to operate competitively in the global market. At the same time, agriculture is aimed to be viewed as an attractive sector for work and to be adjusted to the development of common sustainability strategies of the countries. EU countries are also focusing on research, modernization, and sustainability of the dairy sector.

Varšuvoje 1800–1832 veikusi mokslo bičiulių draugija, kėlusi tikslą per mokslo žinių sklaidą ugdyti visuomenę, telkė šiam darbui įvairių sričių mokslininkus ir to meto šviesuomenę. Į jos veiklą buvo įtraukti ar savo iniciatyva įsitraukė ir buvusios Lietuvos Didžiosios Kunigaikštystės piliečiai – Vilniaus universiteto profesoriai, dvasinio luomo atstovai. Straipsnyje, remiantis temos istoriografija ir pirminiais šaltiniais, pasirinktais aspektais išnagrinėtas šios Draugijos vaidmuo Vilniaus vyskupijos katalikų dvasininko jėzuito Pranciškaus Ksavero Mykolo Bohušo (1746–1820) biografijoje. P. K. M. Bohušo narystė Draugijoje apima 1804–1820 m. laikotarpį. Tai metai, kuriuos jis praleido gyvendamas Varšuvoje. Nustatyta, kad P. K. M. Bohušas buvo vienas iš aktyviausių ir produktyviausių Draugijos narių pirmaisiais jos veiklos dešimtmečiais. Dosnus Draugijos veiklų finansavimas P. K. M. Bohušui pelnė mecenato vardą ir prisidėjo prie jam rodytos išskirtinės kolegų pagarbos. Atliktas tyrimas leidžia teigti, kad Draugija P. K. M. Bohušo kūrybinėje biografijoje suvaidino inspiruojančio veiksnio vaidmenį. XIX a. pirmaisiais dešimtmečiais P. K. M. Bohušo parengti ir publikuoti darbai (iš viso 15 publikacijų, tarp kurių 3 – kartotas leidimas) yra inspiruoti Draugijos intelektualinės aplinkos. The Warsaw Society of Friends of Science (Pol. Warszawskie Towarzystwo Warszawskie Przyjaciół Nauk), which operated in Warsaw from 1800 to 1832,was one of the earliest scientific societies in the territory of the former Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth in the early of 19th century. It brought together scientists from various fields as well as the public, and aimed to educate society through spreading scientific knowledge. Citizens of the former Grand Duchy of Lithuania, such as professors of Vilnius University and representatives of the Roman Catholic Church clergy, were drawn into the Society’s activities or participated at their own initiative. Based on archival sources and the available literature on this subject, the article presents an analysis of certain aspects of the role this Society played on the biography of the Roman Catholic Church clergyman from the Vilnius Diocese, the Jesuit Franciszek Ksawery Michał Bohusz (Lit. Pranciškus Ksaveras Mykolas Bohušas, 1746–1820). F. K. M. Bohusz’s membership in this Society covers the last years of his life, namely, the period 1804–1820, which he spent in Warszaw. It was found, that F. K. M. Bohusz was one of the most active and productive members of the Society during the first decades of its existence. F. K. M. Bohusz’s generous funding of the Society’s activities earned him the title of patron and contributed to the exceptional respect shown to him by his colleagues. The study suggests that the Society played an inspiring role in F. K. M. Bohusz’s creative biography. The works he prepared and published in the first decades of the 19th century (15 publications, three of which are reprints) are inspired by the intellectual environment nurtured at the Society.

Straipsnio (1) tikslas – remiantis išlikusiomis 1632 m. gruodžio 2 d. – 1633 m. lapkričio 19 d. virtuvės sąskaitomis ir kitais papildomais šaltiniais, atskleisti Lenkijos karaliaus ir Lietuvos didžiojo kunigaikščio Vladislovo Vazos virtuvei tiektų maisto produktų ir gėrimų asortimentą, taip pat kokie patiekalai buvo gaminami valdovui ir jo dvarui. Straipsnyje analizuojama tiektos mėsos įvairovė ir mėsos patiekalai, žuvies asortimentas ir jos paruošimas, taip pat duonos ir kruopų, daržovių, vaisių, uogų ir riešutų, saldumynų, prieskonių ir gėrimų vartojimas valdovo virtuvėje. Raktažodžiai: Vladislovas Vaza, Lietuvos Didžioji Kunigaikštystė, Lenkijos Karalystė, virtuvė, kasdienybės istorija. Based on the data of the kitchen accounts of 1632–1633 and other relevant sources, the article aims to shed light on the assortment of the food products and beverages supplied to the kitchen of Władysław IV Vasa, King of Poland and Grand Duke of Lithuania, and the dishes that used to be cooked for the ruler. The analysis shows that beef, mutton, piglets, meat of domestic birds, wild animals (hares, deer), and wild birds (most often black grouse, hazel grouse, partridges, thrushes, pigeons) were delivered to the court kitchen of the ruler. Interestingly, turkeys were supplied to the kitchen of Władysław IV Vasa very often, not only during feasts. During fasts, different types of fish were consumed, but the salmon was purchased only on special occasions. The analysis also reveals the assortment of dairy products, bread, cereals, sweets, local vegetables, local and imported fruit, spices, and beverages. The sources even reveal ingredients of some dishes and pastries cooked for the ruler’s table: meat jelly, pâté, stews of various meats and vegetables (olla pulreda), rice pudding (bianka), Easter cake, and others. The cuisine of Władysław IV Vasa shared some features with Western European Renaissance cuisine: it followed the fashion of eating wild birds and sweets and consuming imported spices. The influence of French cuisine was more pronounced, although the French elite began to abandon the abundant consumption of imported spices during that period. Keywords: Władysław IV Vasa, Grand Duchy of Lithuania, Kingdom of Poland, cuisine, history of everyday life.

This study examines the productivity and efficiency spillovers in the presence of trade linkages in 27 European Union countries from 1990 to 2019. The European Union is one of the largest trading blocs in the world and has implemented costly policies and reforms to improve productivity growth. Meanwhile, trade induced productivity and efficiency spillovers have often been overlooked in the literature, and examining them could provide further clarity to the productivity puzzle. Using a spatial Durbin model and a bilateral trade matrix, this study estimates a spatial stochastic production frontier model using data from the Penn World Table and the World Integrated Trade Solution. We decompose production frontier estimates to obtain the spillover effects of total factor productivity growth and technical efficiency from a network of bilateral trading partners. Our results provide evidence of productivity and efficiency spillovers; however, the gains are uneven. Policy implications are discussed. Keywords: European union (EU); Eurozone; spillovers; total factor productivity (TFP); spatial Durbin model.

Straipsnio tikslas – išryškinti pasirinktos temos mokslinių tyrimų eigos etapus ir specifiką; kritiškai įvertinus istoriniuose šaltiniuose ir naujausiose publikacijose bei kontekstualioje kultūros ir istorijos tyrimų medžiagoje pateiktus duomenis, patikslinti Lietuvos didžiojo kunigaikščio ir Lenkijos karaliaus Žygimanto Augusto (1544/1548–1572) gobelenų kolekcijos ištakas, užsakymų aplinkybes, kolekcijai priklausiusių meninių audinių sąsajas su Vilniaus Žemutinės pilies rūmais, minint ir kitas valdovo rezidencijas Lietuvos Didžiojoje Kunigaikštystėje. Raktažodžiai: gobelenai, Jogailaičiai, Žygimantas Augustas, Vilniaus Žemutinės pilies rūmai, meninė tekstilė, Vilnius. This article presents an analysis of the stages and specifics encountered during scholarly research on the chosen theme, stating that separate stages in the research were determined according to different aims, research methods, and approaches. The research was conducted under circumstances characterised by a lack of sources and the fragmented nature of the information, which meant that as the research went on for 150 years, scholars generally relied on a solitary known source: the panegyric by Stanisław Orzechowski written on the occasion of the wedding of Sigismund Augustus, Grand Duke of Lithuania and King of Poland, and Catherine Habsburg at Wawel Royal Castle in 1553, in which he described the tapestries used to decorate the palace for the event. As a subsequence of this, for the rest of the mentioned period, no reference was made in scientific publications to the connection between Sigismund Augustus’ tapestries and Vilnius or to the Vilnius Lower Castle, which had been the ruler’s most important residence for a long time. In this article, based on sources and the most recently discovered artefacts, evidence is provided that Sigismund Augustus began collecting tapestries whilst he was still only the grand duke of Lithuania and that his earliest commissions were made in Vilnius. This is irrefutably evident from a document dated 14 January 1547 in Sigismund Augustus’ accounts for the period of 1546–1548, recorded by the young ruler’s treasurer Jan Lutomirski at the Vilnius palace. There is no doubt that the ‘pictures’ – Creation of the World and The Story of Noah – mentioned among the expenses were the first sketches for the upcoming series of biblical textiles created by Michiel Coxcie. Nonetheless, the most important evidence is the heraldic tapestry acquired by the National Museum – Palace of the Grand Dukes of Lithuania in 2009. Woven before 1548, it features the combined coat of arms of Sigismund Augustus, the Grand Duke of Lithuania, with the great crown of the Lithuanian grand duke above it. The same combined coat of arms of Sigismund Augustus was minted on Lithuanian coins during his reign and was also used on the great seal of the state of the Grand Duchy of Lithuania. In summary, it can be stated that Sigismund Augustus owned tapestry series in Vilnius from as early as 1543. This was where the famous series The Story of the First Fathers and The Story of Noah were commissioned. The Lithuanian court treasury accounts attest that between 1545 and 1561, tapestries were often displayed at the Vilnius palace, the main residence in the Grand Duchy of Lithuania, and were taken with the ruler when he travelled to his other residences in Trakai, Rūdninkai, Skierniewice, or Rawa. Keywords: tapestries, Jagiellons, Sigismund Augustus, Vilnius Lower Castle palace, artistic textile.

The increasingly severe effects of climate change have resulted in a shift in countries’ approach to climate policy. From an initial focus on mitigation efforts, adaptation to climate change is now given equal importance. Adaptation policies in individual countries provide for different sets of instruments owing to different natural conditions and climate change impacts and their resulting problems as well as different approaches related to the sociopolitical characteristics of the country. In the paper, we identify and classify adaptation policy instruments and then look for the differences and similarities in the adaptation instrument mixes included in the national adaptation strategic documents of selected European countries. We focused on Western European (WE) and Central and Eastern European (CEE) countries, as the latter are underrepresented in studies on adaptation policies. Based on text-mining methods, i.e., categorisation of policy instruments using a set of criteria and clustering, we looked for similarities and differences between the adaptation instrument mixes in the chosen European countries. We found similarities between the two CEE countries studied Poland and Lithuania. These countries are also different from WE countries in this regard. The results indicate that CEE countries have a sectoral rather than systemic approach to adaptation policy, and instruments from the management sphere are less prominent. Keywords: climate change adaptation; adaptation policy; adaptation instruments.

Cross-border trade is one of the possible ways to promote sustainable development by facilitating the exchange of knowledge, technology, and resources and fostering transnational cooperation and innovation towards more environmentally and socially responsible practices. Considering this, the aim of this study was to identify the determinants of food purchases in the EU market in the complex context of factors influencing cross-border purchasing behavior. The novelty of this research lies in its focus on analyzing the determinants of food purchases by inhabitants of border regions in the EU market, specifically within the context of cross-border shopping behavior, using face-to-face self-report interviews conducted in 2022 among Lithuanian consumers purchasing food from the Polish border market. Employing multivariate analysis and scoring methods, a model of the market behavior of inhabitants of the border regions inside the European Union was built and statistically verified. The identification of key determinants, i.e., economic factors (p = 0.013), marketing factors (p = 0.003), risk related to economic factors (p = 0.036), material status (p = 0.009), professional activity (p = 0.044), and age of respondents (p = 0.020), offers valuable insights to scholars investigating consumer cross-border shopping behavior and empowers trade organizers and managers in making informed corporate strategy decisions. Keywords: border market; consumer behavior; cross-border trade; food purchases.

In the Middle Ages, the area of the present-day Lublin region, neighbouring with the Ukraine and Belarus, constituted borderlands between the historical Lesser Poland and Red Ruthenia, for which the then rulers of Poland, Hungary and Lithuania competed. Complicated family and dynastic relations were the cause of disputes and wars. The rulers, referring to blood ties and inheritance rights, made claims to the territory of Red Ruthenia. Military expeditions were organized, more important castles were besieged, and alliances were made. The political plotting and conflicts concerned the heirs of the Ruthenian rulers of the Romanowicz family: the Hungarian Arpads and Anjou, the Polish Piasts and the Grand Dukes of Lithuania. After the final annexation of Ruthenia to the Polish Crown by Queen Jadwiga in 1387, intensive colonization and romanization of these lands began. All these events contributed to the fact that a significant number of military finds are nowadays obtained in this area, including pickaxes and battle axes. They are found along former communication and trade routes, river crossings, and in areas affected by armed conflicts. These artefacts represent many types distinguished by the experts in arms. Numerous copies have blacksmith’s marks and decorations stamped. The pickaxes and battle axes described above are kept in the collections of museums in Lublin, Zamość, Hrubieszów, Krasnystaw, Kraśnik and Tomaszów Lubelski. Obszar obecnego regionu lubelskiego był w średniowieczu pograniczem historycznej Małopolski i Rusi Czerwonej, o które rywalizowali ówcześni władcy Polski, Węgier i Litwy powołujący się na więzy krwi i prawa do dziedziczenia. Rościli pretensje do terytorium Rusi Czerwonej. Konflikty polityczne angażowały przedstawicieli dynastii Rurykowiczów, Arpadów, Andegawenów, Piastów i Gedyminowiczów. Po przyłączeniu Rusi do Korony Polskiej w 1387 r. rozpoczęła się intensywna kolonizacja i latynizacja tych ziem. Skutkiem wspomnianych wydarzeń jest duża liczba znalezisk militariów, w tym czekanów i toporów. Liczne egzemplarze posiadają wybite znaki kowalskie oraz zdobienia. Opisane militaria znajdują się w zbiorach muzeów w Lublinie, Zamościu, Hrubieszowie, Krasnymstawie, Kraśniku i Tomaszowie Lubelskim.

Over the last two decades, there has been a significant improvement in the participation of women in education and the labour market in the European Union. Nevertheless, there are still many challenges to improving the situation of women. The excessive burden of household duties is a major barrier to the educational and professional activity of women, especially young women with small children. Apart from the inability to balance work and personal life, other factors limiting women’s professional activity include the mismatch between their education and the challenges of the modern labour market. Although the majority of people with higher education are women, when planning their careers, they tend to choose less attractive courses of study which are not linked to the professions of the future. The text presents the results of an analysis of research on the needs and expectations of young women (mothers) regarding the development of professional competences. The results show in which types of activities raising competences the surveyed women participate; how they evaluate the effectiveness of activities raising their competences in the professional area; what factors influence the decision of women to participate in the selected form of training; what are the attitudes of the external environment of the surveyed women towards their participation in training; what problems the surveyed women encounter in connection with participation in training raising their professional competences. The focus was on similarities and differences in statements of young women (mothers) from Poland, Lithuania, Spain and Cyprus who participating in the international project Mommypreneurs.

Youth policy, understood as youth activity and policy for youth, has been developing in the Baltic Sea region for many years. It takes place on many levels of Baltic cooperation; therefore, this article uses the theory of multi-level governance for the analysis. There are some differences in youth policy between the communities of the Baltic Sea Region countries. This article aims to analyse the participation of young people from the regions of Lithuania, Latvia, Poland, and Estonia in the BSR youth policy, based on the example of the Youth Working Group of the “Baltic Sea States Subregional Co-operation”. The main part of the article is an analysis of interviews with youth coordinators of “Baltic Sea States Subregional Co-operation” from selected countries. During the study, 5 interviews were conducted, and, thanks to these interviews, the author has made interesting observations on the differences in involvement of young people from Lithuania, Latvia, Estonia, and Poland. They indicated, inter alia, disproportional access to participation in the work of the Youth Working Group “Baltic Sea States Subregional Co-operation” between Estonia and Poland, and Lithuania and Latvia. The results clearly show that young people from Polish regions have the greatest opportunities to shape youth policy in the Baltic Sea Region.

Kazimierz Michał Pusłowski (d. 1696), a member of the family originating from the district of Upita, who bore the variation of Szeliga coat of arms, was the youngest of three sons of Jakub (d. 1638) and Barbara, née Syruć. In the 1650s, he chose a military career, joining the Lithuanian army. In 1660–1675, he served in the Crown Hussars, first in the royal unit of King John Casimir’s troop, then of Jerzy Sebastian Lubomirski and, from 1667 on, of Jan Sobieski. At that time (or, more precisely, between 1667 and 1670), Pusłowski was granted his only land office, that of a deputy pantler (Polish: podstoli) of Rzeczyca. In 1668–1675, he was the first in the company’s hierarchy of the hetman’s and then King Sobieski’s troops, which means that he was one of its top commanders. In 1675, he returned to the Lithuanian army as the hussar standard-bearer (Polish: chorąży) in the detachment of Lithuanian Field Hetman Michał Kazimierz Radziwiłł. From 1681 on, he was a standard-bearer of the next Field Hetman, Kazimierz Jan Sapieha, and in 1683, he became a lieutenant of the hussar unit of Jan Karol Dolski, where he served almost until his death. As a standard-bearer and lieutenant in the Lithuanian hussars, he had a high military position. As a regimentary, he commanded larger units of the Lithuanian army in 1675, 1684, and 1688. From 1686 on, he called himself a colonel. Thanks to his military service and the relationships he developed with leading figures on the political scene in the Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth, such as Jan Sobieski, Michał Kazimierz Radziwiłł, Kazimierz Jan and Benedykt Paweł Sapiehas, and Jan Karol Dolski, he laid strong foundations for the family’s financial position. Thanks to them, his descendants could further raise their social status.

In the middle and second half of the 14th century, significant territorial changes took place in Central, Eastern, and Southeastern Europe. The old political structures, which by that time had outlived their usefulness, were replaced by new ones: the revived Kingdom of Poland, the Grand Duchy of Lithuania, and the Moldavian principality. These changes took place in a fierce struggle, with confrontations on the battlefield giving way to confrontations on the diplomatic front. In addition to the above-mentioned political formations, the Hungarian king also had an important place in this struggle. Louis the Great of Anjou at one time united the Hungarian and Polish crown into his own hands, after the death of Casimir the Great Polish king who had no male offspring. The Moldovan rulers took advantage of the international political conjuncture in this space, who skillfully conducted their foreign policy based on the principle of the balance of power. First, the problem of heredity in Poland and then in the Hungarian kingdom itself undoubtedly contributed to the strengthening of a still very young state that appeared in the middle of the 14th century, first as a Hungarian march, and which was tasked with moving eastward, and then as an independent state. However, at that time, every political entity had a suzerain, which gave him the right to exist. Vasal addiction varied from case to case. In turn, when such an opportunity arose, the Moldovan rulers could change their overlords based on political interest. In this, they used the strength and power of the Lithuanian princes. At first, being in allied relations with the Koriatovichs, the Moldovan rulers strengthened their state, and then, by the will of fate, they developed friendly relations with Vitovt / Alexander and tried not to spoil relations with him, participating in those planned through the Grand Duke of Lithuania. A special test for the Kingdom of Poland and the Grand Duchy of Lithuania was the war with the Teutonic Order, which broke out in 1409. The Moldavian soldiers again took part in the Battle of Grunwald in 1410. However, the problem was that the Teutons were supported by the Hungarian king, Sigismund of Luxembourg, who wanted to return the Hungarian influence in Moldova. Thus, the Moldavian principality was drawn into the tangle of international relations in this area where the Grand Duchy of Lithuania was of great importance.

One of the significant events of Ukraine's struggle for independence during the first period of the National Revolution (1648 – June 1652) was Loev campaign of its troops, which despite the defeat and hetman S.M. Krychevsky’s death nevertheless prevented the Lithuanians invasion. Though for the first time in historiography V. Lypynskyі proved convincingly in his monographic study the falsity of neglecting its role in the Ukrainian-Polish military-political confrontation in the summer of 1649, as well as the works of subsequent scholars (including modern ones) did. But up to now Lithuanian theater of hostilities has been considered traditionally as an event with a minor effect. However this is far from the case! For example although it was not decisive in 1649 and 1651, it is by no means possible to interpret as something insignificant. It is firstly. Secondly, except for confessions ("confession") of captured Ukrainian soldiers and rebels, the lack of Ukrainian origin sources (no one letter, universal, report, diary, message or the story of the battle participant have been saved) is still a major obstacle for the reconstruction by the researchers of more or less a complete picture of the Ukrainian army’s Loev campaign. They only managed to reproduce the most important events in very general / contour features and even then through the prism of information material from Lithuanian and Polish sources. Instead, its course with the Lithuanian units’ participation is depicted scrupulously thanks to the efforts of Polish authors. However in general due to the schematic presentation of the Ukrainian command strategic plan, the steps taken for its implementation, the factors that significantly changed the course of the battle and determined its results, the overall panorama of the event looks somewhat simplified, devoid of internal dynamics and drama and in some ways with the spraying of popularity while imaging the infallibility of the Lithuanian polny hetman J. Radziwill decisions and actions. In order to outline the ways to correct shortcomings and fill scientific gaps the author’s research focus is on identifying a number of actual problems of the Ukrainian army’s Loev campaign. Having analyzed heritage and discovered source base, the author considers those actual problems need rethinking, finding new ways to solve them, further discussions or even starting their study. They included the following ones: to clarify the essence of B. Khmelnytsky's strategic plan, developed in May-June, regarding the place and role of the Grand Duchy of Lithuania (GDL) in the forthcoming campaign against the Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth; to find out the time and place of the Acting Hetman S. Krychevsky departure to the Lithuanian theater of hostilities and the route of its promotion; to specify the number of soldiers who took part in the battle on both sides; to find out the essence of S. Krychevsky’s activity since his appearance in Chernobyl (about July, 8) till the capture of Kholmech (July, 29); to determine the nature of his relations with colonel S. Pobodailo, who defended the crossing of the Dnieper opposite Loev; to coverage the action plan of the latter, the reasons for their passivity and inconsistency with the attack of the Acting Hetman on the Lithuanian camp in the morning of July, 31, etc. The author is aware that hoping for their full clarification will be a fiction until the sources which had been created by Ukrainians, the participants of the campaign are found. Nevertheless, the painstaking work of researchers in archives and manuscripts departments of scientific libraries in Ukraine, Poland, Belarus, Lithuania and other countries will undoubtedly enrich the existing source base as a whole and contribute, albeit slightly, to enrich knowledge in the study of this problem.

The current paper analyses the background of the relationship of the Baltic States and Poland with Belarus. The Baltic states together with Poland were advocating a decided foreign policy towards the political system of Alyaksandr Lukashenka in the last fifteen years, which applied through the financial support of political opposition, the support of NGO-s and media outlets, attraction of Belarusian students and qualified workforce and firm political actions. This policy culminated during the latest political crisis, following the presidential elections of August 2020. This paper analyses the historic roots behind the respected countries’ relationship, important domestic factors influencing the decision making, dynamics of migration in the recent years, the geopolitical ambitions of Poland and the strategic factors, perceiving Belarus a security threat for the region.

The article analyzes selected activities of the Foreign Affairs Committee of the Sejm of the Republic of Poland in connection with the main directions of Polish foreign policy. For the purpose of consideration of the thesis, it was assumed that the Foreign Affairs Committee has a complementary/supplementary role in the control of the directions of Polish foreign policy, and in Poland there was a balance between executive and legislative power in this area. The research problem was to determine the scale of the Committee’s interest in world events through a specific response and to define the specific geographic area that would result from this activity. The method of quantitative analysis was used, PS Imago Pro 7.0 program was used for the research. The result of the research allowed to draw conclusions that the Committee’s interest of opinion-forming and intervention through the publication of statements, as well as formulating recommendations in the vast majority is manifested in relation to the most important issues in the immediate environment of Poland: Belarus, the situation of Poles in Lithuania, the events in the Caucasus, which is consistent with the basic directions of Polish foreign policy.

The subject of this article thesis is Polish-Russian diplomatic relations in the early years of the reign of Wladislaw IV Vasa (1632–1635). The thesis focuses on the diplomatic activities conducted between the two countries during the Smolensk war in the years 1632–1634 and immediately after the end of the war. A particularly important issue is the Polish and Russian envoys exchanged in order to ratify peace of Polyanovka. Tematem artykułu są polsko-rosyjskie stosunki dyplomatyczne w pierwszych latach panowania Władysława IV Wazy (1632–1635). Praca koncentruje się na aktywności dyplomatycznej prowadzonej między obu krajami podczas wojny smoleńskiej w latach 1632–1634 i tuż po jej zakończeniu. Szczególnie ważny wątek stanowią wzajemne poselstwa odbywane w celu ratyfikacji pokoju polanowskiego.

Although the improvement of work environment is often associated with greater operational efficiency, we propose looking at it from a different angle. The improvement of working conditions creates a “side effect” that provides significant support for the implementation of CSR goals. That is, organizations have the opportunity not only to improve accountability to this stakeholder group, but also to stimulate its socially responsible behaviour. The purpose of this paper is to identify independent variables affecting employee behaviour in socially responsible organisations. To conduct the research, a questionnaire survey method was chosen. The research sample includes 823 respondents from Lithuania and Poland. The research hypotheses were tested by performing the linear regression analysis with independent variables. Our findings show that when such features as employee intentions to leave the job, the extremity of work content, biased work management, environment that does not correspond to ergonomic requirements, and poor working conditions were decreasing while other variables in Lithuanian organisations remained unchanged, the socially responsible behaviour of the organisations was strengthening. In Poland’s case, as negative intentions and attitudes of employees were weakening, the nature of tasks and working conditions were becoming more acceptable, while other social variables remained unchanged, the employee’s socially responsible behaviour was also strengthening.

There is a copy of Meletius Smotrytsky Grammar, published in 1619 in Yev’ye (Vievis), which is kept in the Library of Vilnius university (the shelf number – Rk 337) nowadays. Despite the fact that the main information about this copy was published in 1908, some of its features were overlooked. The aim of the research is to reveal, by using methods of bibliographical analysis, all the material features of the copy of Smotrytsky Grammar before its release (the structure of the book, types, ornaments) and after it was published (bookbinding, damages and restorations, provenances and annotations). During the research several owners of this copy were identified – three clergymen (priest Grzegorz Sanocki, student of Vilnius Pontifical Seminary Procopius Hucewicz, and Basilian Samuel Nowicki) and several institutions. Procopius Hucewicz and Samuel Nowicki belonged to the Greek Catholic Church of the Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth. The newly established facts related to the use of Smotrytsky‘s Grammar by monks offer a basis for further research on the reception and impact of Smotrytsky’s scholarly legacy among the Basilians of the Grand Duchy of Lithuania and the Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth. The findings of the study may be valuable for several historical directions; among those of note are studies of the book culture of the 17th and 18th centuries, as well as the textual scholarship of the liturgical texts of the Greek Catholic Church.

This article deals with the important issue concerning that small towns and villages play an important role in the development of many European regions, not only from the point of view of agricultural function, but also due to the preservation of identity and heritage as well as social relations and management of spatial structures. On the other hand, in small towns and villages, there are growing problems related to the migration of people to big cities, leaving farms and villages. Progressive unemployment is observed, especially in peripheral areas. The research question is: what are the similarities and differences of social and spatial relations between small towns and surrounding villages in the selected countries? The article aims to present the interface between social and spatial relationships in small towns and surrounding villages in the context of analyzing the potential of rural areas and models for their development. Authors compared the specificity of small towns and villages of selected regions of Poland, Lithuania, and Slovakia. The following methods were used in the research: analysis and synthesis of literature and documents (legal and strategic), descriptive method, secondary data analysis, comparative method, visual data representation, case study.

Care for nature is becoming one of the most popular topics in the scientific discourse, not only from an environmental perspective, but also in terms of strengthening people’s environmental awareness and implementing sustainable development goals. The knowledge and understanding of rural inhabitants’ attitude towards nature and their pro-environmental behaviors based on socioeconomic characteristics have been less studied compared to those of urban inhabitants. The research aim is to determine the rural inhabitants’ socio-economic characteristics that influence their care for nature in Poland and Lithuania. The European Social Survey (ESS) Round 4 (2008) and Round 9 (2018) data were used in the present study. The relationships between the rural residents’ attitudes towards nature and the socio-economic variables were assessed using the chi-square test and Cramer’s V measure. The findings have suggested that the importance of nature as a value in Poland is greater than in Lithuania. Different sets of statistically significant socio-economic variables were identified in the studied countries. The research has confirmed that gender and education play an important role in the attitude towards nature, as women and more educated people tend to care more for the environment. Keywords: nature; rural areas; rural inhabitants; socio-economic characteristics; Poland; Lithuania.

Poland’s eastern policy focused on three interrelated issues: Polish-German reconciliation; the recognition of the first declaration of independence of the Ukraine, Belarus, and Lithuania and their new borders, with emphasis on the strategic importance of these declarations for Polish sovereignty; and the attempts to establish strong relations with these countries. One of the goals of Poland’s eastern policy was to establish a free and democratic Poland in a democratic and peaceful Europe, and these efforts paved the way to reconciliation with Germany and Poland’s admission to the NATO and the European Union. Poland’s eastern policy before and after Poland’s accession to the EU was shaped by several factors. Firstly, Poland had to fulfil the requirements for EU membership, whereas the EU had to meet Poland’s demands. Secondly, Poland had made several attempts to initiate institutional changesin the EU before it became an EU Member State. Thirdly, Poland’s eastern policy was influenced by the Ukrainian political crisis of 2004 and its outcome, in particular Polish involvement in the Orange Revolution (2004) in the Ukraine. According to most Polish observers, the EU’s involvement in the Ukrainian crisis testified to the absence of a cohesive eastern policy in the EU.

Research background: High servitisation of manufacturing makes it impossible to separate services from manufactured goods properly, which implies difficulties in the assessment of the position of the country on the smile curve, i.e. in the proper assignment of products or services to one of the industrial process steps: pre-production, pure fabrication or post-production services. Therefore, we propose to use the business functions of industries identified with the aid of labour market data rather than the industrial classification of products in order to create a more appropriate measure of the position of countries in GVCs. Purpose of the article: We aim to identify and analyse the patterns of functional specialisation for eight Central and Eastern European Countries (CEECs) — the Czech Republic, Estonia, Hungary, Latvia, Lithuania, Poland, Slovakia and Slovenia — both at the country and industry level. In addition, we analyse functional specialisation patterns for Germany, which serves as a reference country. Methods: To assess functional specialisation patterns, we employ the methodology proposed by Timmer et al. (2019a). It allows us to obtain functional specialisation indices for four different business functions — management, R&D, marketing, and fabrication. To compute them, we combine two sources of data — domestic value added from decomposed sectoral input-output tables (the World Input Output Database) and the Occupations Database built up by Timmer et al. (2019a). Findings & value added: Our research shows a very heterogeneous pattern in CEEC countries' position in GVCs by taking into account their functional specialisation at the countries and industries levels. Poland and Slovakia focus primarily on low value-added fabrication processes, the Baltic countries and Slovenia specialise in management services, Hungary and Latvia gain in marketing services, and the Czech Republic and Slovenia win in R&D activities. We indicate that some CEE countries (Poland, Slovakia) could be stuck in a functional trap, and our approach could be a valuable tool for assessing the process of coming out of it. Keywords: functional specialisation; gross export decomposition; occupations; economic upgrading; CEE countries

The uncomfortable situation of Poles in Lithuania is, among other things, the effect of Lithuanian historical education. Excerpts from the textbook on the history of Lithuania show diametrical differences in contemporary ideas about the past of both nations. Shared heroes are useful to overcome prejudices of the previous century (which affect the image of 1385-1795). One of them is Michał Kleofas Ogiński, Lithuanian nobleman, a political activist during the last years of the Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth and two decades after its collapse. He has the rank of a great national hero in Lithuania and Belarus but is valued in Poland above all because of his piano compositions. The analysis of fragments of his work Memoirs about Poland and Poles helps us to regard a representative of the noble nation from a different perspective. It makes us aware of the cohesion of Polish and Lithuanian national identity at the turn of the 19th century, helps us to appreciate the heritage of the past and offers a chance to build positive relations between us. Rectifying a distorted vision of history is a prospect for a mature partnership now and in the future.

(1) Background: Professional driving is a stressful occupation that requires high levels of attention and decision-making, often leading to job stress. Impulsiveness, a personality trait characterized by a tendency to act without forethought, has been associated with negative outcomes such as anxiety, stress, and risky behaviors. Mindfulness has been proposed as a potential strategy for reducing job stress in various occupational settings. However, little is known about the relationship between these variables. This study aimed to investigate the mediating role of mindfulness in the relationship between impulsiveness and job stressfulness perception among professional drivers. (2) Methods: A total of 258 professional drivers from Poland, Lithuania, and Slovakia, have completed self-report questionnaires: Impulsiveness-Venturesomeness-Empathy; Subjective Assessment of Work; Five Facet Mindfulness. (3) Results: Results indicated a positive correlation between impulsiveness and job stressfulness perception, and a negative correlation with mindfulness. Mindfulness partially mediated the relationship between impulsiveness and job stressfulness perception. Additionally, variations were identified in the perceived work environment factors and mindfulness among drivers based on their country of origin. (4) Conclusions: The findings suggest that mindfulness could be a useful approach for reducing job stressfulness perception among professional drivers with high levels of impulsiveness. Given the implications of job stressfulness for professional drivers’ health and safety, developing mindfulness interventions tailored to their specific needs could be a promising direction for future research and intervention development. Keywords: mindfulness; impulsiveness; organizational factors; professional drivers; safety; perception; stress.

Refugees from South-Eastern Provinces of the Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth during the first stage of the Chmielnicki Uprising The uprising ignited by Bohdan Chmielnicki had a multidimensional effect on the Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth. One of its consequences was the migration of population forced by Cossaks’ actions. The gentry inhabiting the southeastern parts of the country had to flee inland fearful for their lives. Jews, who were a group prone to being persecuted by Cossacks, acted in a similar way. Refugees from the Ukrainian provinces first fled to the neighbouring city fortresses which, however, capitulated under the siege of the rebels. People who survived the slaughter, usually carried out by the Cossacks, tried to reach the central part of the country hoping to escape the rebels’ sabres and spring guns.

Artykuł stanowi próbę zaprezentowania postaci Jana Karola Chodkiewicza z linii supraskiej (1686–1712), syna starosty błudeńskiego i oboźnego wielkiego litewskiego Jerzego Karola Chodkiewicza oraz Marianny Tekli z Naruszewiczów, który do tej pory nie doczekał się żadnego szerszego opracowania naukowego. Podstawę źródłową szkicu biograficznego Chodkiewicza stanowią materiały przechowywane w Archiwum Narodowym w Krakowie, w zespole Archiwum Młynowskie Chodkiewiczów. Różnorodność znajdujących się w nim dokumentów pozwoliła na możliwie jak najdokładniejsze odtworzenie jego życiorysu. Z niego wyłania się postać Jana Karola, który osierocony przez ojca w dzieciństwie zdany był na opiekę swojej matki, kolejnych ojczymów i prawnie przydzielonych opiekunów, mających zaborcze zapędy względem dóbr Chodkiewiczowskich. Mimo to odebrał staranne wykształcenie w szkołach jezuickich w Wilnie i Warszawie w okresie niepokojów polityczno-militarnych targających Rzeczpospolitą podczas wielkiej wojny północnej (1700–1721). Odznaczając się słabym zdrowiem, nie angażował się w sposób aktywny na płaszczyźnie politycznej i militarnej państwa polsko-litewskiego, a całą swoją energię skupiał na zapewnieniu integralności i rozwoju swoich dóbr ojczystych, o co musiał toczyć boje, również na gruncie sądowym, nie tylko z sąsiadami, lecz także z własnymi krewnymi. Chodkiewiczowi udało się też zapewnić ciągłość linii supraskiej, jednak jego pierworodny Adam Tadeusz, tak samo jak on, od wczesnego dzieciństwa wychowywał się bez ojca.