BOGUSLAVO RADVILOS ĮVAIZDIS PAGAL JO PRIVATŲ DIENORAŠTĮ – POMĖGIAI, PRAMOGOS, SVEIKATA / BOGUSLAVAS RADVILA’S IMAGE BASED ON HIS PRIVATE DIARY –
HOBBIES, ENTERTAINMENT, HEALTH
Authors: BAGIŃSKA ELŻBIETA 
Published: May 2020

BOGUSLAVAS RADVILA’S IMAGE BASED ON HIS PRIVATE DIARY – HOBBIES, ENTERTAINMENT, HEALTH

ELŻBIETA B A G I Ń S K A

The article offers a glance at the personality of Boguslavas Radvila (Bogusław Radziwiłł) (1620–1669), the last male representative of the Radvila Biržai branch, the Master of the Stables of the Grand Duchy of Lithuania and the Governor of the Duchy of Prussia (as of 14 October 1657), through the records in his personal diary (1661–1666). The diary
ontains information on B. Radvila’s private life which is discussed in the article. When speaking about B. Radvila’s image, which becomes obvious from the related to his ealth and character is analysed. Moreover, the uniqueness and importance of B. Radvila’s private diary as an historical source in the analysis of his personality and every-day life is revealed. The preserved part of Boguslavas Radvila’s private diary covers the period from 1 October 1661 to 31 August 1666, thus determining the chronological framework of this article. The material presented in the private diary is much more extensive than the information pertaining to the same period (1661–1666) contained in the published autobiography of the Duke. Most of the private diary records were made in Konigsberg. Boguslavas Radvila kept his diary consistently, tried not to let a single day pass without a record, at times a very brief one. The private diary is an initial source, more authentic than the autobiography. It is free from propaganda- and eulogy-related features, contains very few chronological “gaps”. Arguably, the diary has additional value as a source of the later compiled Boguslavas Radvila’s autobiography. Despite the abovementioned virtues, Boguslavas Radvila’s private diary has hitherto been little used in historical research. The article analyses Boguslavas Radvila’s records pertaining to
his library, archives, and kunstkamera, which at that time were located in Konigsberg, and discusses the Duke’s taste for accumulating valuable items. The analysed information on Boguslavas Radvila’s entertainment preferences and spare-time activities includes the attended theatre performances, the viewed firework displays, and his passion for gambling, particularly card games. Information as to his alcohol consumption habits has also been discussed. Other entertainments worth mentioning include horse riding, target shooting, and fishing. The diary suggests that Boguslavas Radvila’s true passion was hunting. He was so meticulous about registering the hunting trips, his trophies, and misadventures that an assumption can be made that this is the most consistent information in the diary. The total of huntingrelated records throughout the diary (01/10/1661–31/08/1666) was estimated at 120. In addition, the information pertaining to Boguslavas Radvila’s health was analysed. Although the diary supports the
facts detectable in historiography about the Duke’s serious health issues, it also lets us qualify or doubt certain propositions, e.g., that suggesting that on 14 October 1664, while in Minsk, Boguslavas Radvila suffered a heart attack. The article closes with the analysis of Boguslavas Radvila’s emotional state which he himself would define as “melancholy” and very personal records describing his dreams. The conclusions drawn by the author of the article allow a better understanding of Boguslavas Radvila’s
personality, the contrariety between the Duke’s public image and his private self,
eflective of his inner world.