‘The Famous Misters Mayors’ of the Šiauliai Economy in the 17th Century: the Cultural Elites of Peasants and Townspeople?

Abstract

Most of the mayors (Pol. wójt) were wealthy individuals who, however, originated from peasant or urban backgrounds. Some also had noble ancestry, such as the mayor from Joniškis, Renald K. Łukoski, and the mayors of Šilėnai and Ramulėnai, Gregorz Juchniewich, etc.). For their service, they received a volok of land exempt from taxes. Thus, the mayors belonged to the socio-economic elite of villages and towns. Kinship ties, friendship, and neighborly relations allowed the office of 'mayor of rural commune' or town to be maintained for a long time (even for several generations). Close relations with the administration of Šiauliai economy enabled them to influence not only the peasants but also certain administrative decisions. Mayors and benchers acted as intermediaries between the village and the manor. The duties of the mayor according to the law from 1649 (reiterated almost in the same wording in 1657) were as follows: to ensure that the subjects lived in the holy Catholic faith and piety, to protect royal properties and estates, to grant vacant plots of land to peasants who were to pay rent, and to oversee the vacant plots. The village heads were also required to participate in court proceedings at the manor. Sources indicate, however, that the influence of the mayors was conditioned by one more factor – their education or ability to read and write. This phenomenon can be observed from the first half to the end of the 17th century (they could even write in Cyrillic, although they usually wrote in the Latin alphabet). The mayors consistently signed their names 'in their own hand' on various documents, tax registers, etc. It can be assumed that the ability to read and write enabled the village heads to actively participate in court matters (which was their obligation according to the manor law), to collect and establish taxes, to represent the interests of the subjects of Šiauliai economy in disputes and conflicts with the administration, with the tenants of the economy, and even with the king, in higher courts (e.g., the Treasury Tribunal of the Grand Duchy of Lithuania), as well as to draft petitions.