Zarząd dóbr Bogusława Radziwiłła w latach 1636-1669

LTReikšminiai žodžiai: Abiejų Tautų Respublika (ATR; Rzeczpospolita Obojga Narodów; Žečpospolita; Sandrauga; Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth); Administracinė inovacija; Administracinė reforma; Bajorai; Boguslavas Radvila; Ekonomika; Lietuvos Didžioji Kunigaikštystė (LDK; Grand Duchy of Lithuania; GDL); 17 amžius; Paveldėtas turtas; Prūsijos kunigaikštystė; Valdos; Administrative innovation; Administrative reform; Boguslaw Radzwill; Domains; Duke of Prussia; Economy; Inherited estate; Noblemen; The Great Duchy of Lithuania; The Lithuanian XVII c. history.

ENIn 1636 Bogusław Radziwiłł came of age and it was the moment when he began to administrate his fortune. Beetwen 1636 and 1655 the system of administration remained unaltered. Most of this time young Radziwiłł spent abroad. The years 1655-1658 were decisive. The death of his cousin, Janusz Radziwiłł, and total failure of their pro-Swedish policy were the key point of his life. He began to work for the Duke of Prussia, Frederick William, and stayed in Koenigsberg. Bogusław married Anna Maria Radziwiłł, the only daughter of his relative, the late prince Janusz. This couple had only one surviving child, a daughter Ludwika Karolina Radziwiłł. Due to his marriage with Janusz Radziwill’s daughter (1666) and the death of his cousin Janusz Radziwiłł (1655), Вoguslaw Radziwiłł became the sole owner of all properties from the Radziwill’s protestant line. In 1658 the reform of administration began. Bogusław Radziwiłł sent his two officers Władysław Huryn and Kazimierz Klokocki to Slutsk, his new administrative centre. Both had the same rank, i.e. commisioners of Slutsk. They were answerable only to prince Bogusław and their rank was above other officers. Their main responsibility was to rebuild Radziwill’s properties and to secure stable economic growth in Slutsk. It was not an easy task. Prince Bogusław had a long conflict with the confederated army which often invaded and sacked his properties. From 1658 to 1663 his main source of yield was selling the fabrications from forests near Koenigsberg.In 1663 Bogusław Radziwiłł nominated Kazimierz Klokocki the Governor of Slutsk. This new office was above the commisioners of Slutsk and other officers. Kazimierz Klokocki became the most important person in prince Buguslaw’s administration. The same year a post office in Liubech was founded to improve comunication between Vilnius and Slutsk. The new post line enabled sending letters from Koenigsberg to Slutsk in ten to twelve days. This fact helped Radziwiłł constantly exert influence over his administration. Most issues were discussed between prince Bogusław and his officers. Even the main officers like the Governor and the Commisioner of Slutsk rarely took decisions without Radziwill’s opinion. The next step of reforms was establishing the Kamermeister of Slutsk in 1668. The Kamermeister had similar responsibilites to the Treasurer of Slutsk. The most important difference was the range of land under his command. The Kamermeister was the central officer and he supervised Boguslaw’s tax affairs. He reported directly to Bogusław Radziwiłł. That part of the reform divided the administration into the executive branch and the finance branch. The reforms were stopped due to the death of Bogusław Radziwiłł in 1669. Bogusław Radziwiłł used at least two sources to build his own system of administration. The first one was the cameralistic doctrine, which he observed in Prussia. The second was performed by Mikołaj Radziwiłł “The Orphan” and his way of management — Nyasvizh electoral law. It is difficult to tell which of these sources were more important. The only certain fact is that Bogusław Radziwiłł created his own management system.The reform was succesful. In the mid 1660s almost all of Radziwill’s properties were restored. One of the crucial factors which enabled efficient functioning of the administration was the support of the group of trusty officers, among whom were: Kazimierz Klokocki, Władysław Huryn, Jan Mierzeński, Stanislaw Niezabitowski, Jan Pękalski, Krzysztof Winkler. One problem was not solved. The group was not numerous. Lack of well-educated, competent and confident officers was the biggest problem during the last years of Bogusław Radziwill’s life. [From the publication]