Tradycje genealogiczne i legendy rodowe Tatarów litewskich

ENThorough genealogical knowledge, reaching to the times of Witold, surely was not an exception in sixteenth century, but in the following generations it generally vanished or was distorted. It was quite often that in seventeenth, eighteenth century and later, genealogies, even based on authentic family documents, were handed down in more or less distorted form. However, all Tatar population had an awareness of belonging to the common group, united by the common tradition, including its most important elements as moving to Lithuania and military service for its rulers, which granted privileges of nobility. Such awareness expressed itself in post-partition lineages of nobility, which contain repeatedly common statements. Lineages of nobility prove that most Tatar families could rebuild their genealogy only to the end of seventeenth century or beginning of eighteenth century. Unfortunately, genealogical effort taken (successfully) by Lithuanian Tatars, from the eminent to the poorest people, in the beginning of nineteenth century in province deputations, did not contribute to retain a custom of conducting family genealogy.Landowning sphere, Lithuanian and Tatar aristocracy, was an exception. That better educated class, understood the need of genealogy, retaining traditional stories especially in their group. Popularization of lineage heraldry, publication of genealogical lineage of certain Lithuanian and Tatar families, new armorials and biographical writings discussing them, all this contributes to retaining of authen tic family traditions, connected to membership of Tatars in Lithuanian, Polish and Russian nobility. In circumstances of rather minor group, divided today by borders, family and genealogical traditions are still an important factor, even in case oflosing one's religious membership and constant union with Tatar community, and they encourage and entitle the descendants of Tatar nobility to identify themselves with such historical ethnic, or ethnographic group. [From the publication]