Monika Agopsowicz

Lwowscy zastawnicy w niewoli tureckiej, 1672-1679

Introduction

Lwowscy zastawnicy w niewoli tureckiej, 1672-1679. Poznaj historię lwowskich zastawników w niewoli tureckiej (1672-1679). Artykuł porządkuje rozproszone źródła o ich losach i imionach po oblężeniu Lwowa.

Abstract

LVIV HOSTAGES IN OTTOMAN CAPTIVITY, 1672-1679 After capturing Kamieniec Podolski [Kamianets-Podilskyi] in late August 1672, Ottoman army moved towards Lwów [Lviv] and started its siege in September. The condition for withdrawing from the siege was a ransom of eighty thousandtalers. Only five thousand was collected, and the missing amount was compensated by agreeing to hand over eleven hostages, including two Armenians. Later efforts resulted in the release of the Armenian hostages in 1676, while the remaining ones were released only in 1679. The author attempts to organize the topic of Lwów hostages, frequently mentioned in source materials but scattered and containing many contradictions, especially regarding their names and fate.

Review

The paper, "Lwowscy zastawnicy w niewoli tureckiej, 1672-1679" (Lviv hostages in Ottoman captivity, 1672-1679), addresses a fascinating and often overlooked aspect of 17th-century Polish-Ottoman relations. Focusing on the aftermath of the 1672 Ottoman siege of Lviv, the author delves into the complex fate of the eleven Lviv citizens who were handed over as collateral for a ransom payment. This specific lens offers a valuable human-centric perspective on a period typically dominated by military and political narratives, concentrating on a defined period from their capture in 1672 to their eventual release in 1679. The most significant contribution promised by this work lies in its explicit aim to systematically organize and clarify a historical topic frequently referenced in primary sources but plagued by fragmentation and internal contradictions. By undertaking the challenging task of sifting through disparate materials, the author intends to establish a more coherent and accurate account of the Lviv hostages, particularly concerning their identities and individual experiences during captivity. This meticulous approach to reconciling inconsistencies regarding names and precise fates is crucial, as it provides a much-needed foundation for understanding this specific episode and could potentially shed new light on broader themes of captivity, ransom, and inter-cultural relations in the Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth and the Ottoman Empire. Overall, this paper appears to be a highly valuable and necessary contribution to the historiography of the Polish-Ottoman frontier. By meticulously addressing a specific, yet poorly delineated, aspect of this tumultuous period, the author not only promises to fill a significant gap in our understanding of the 1672 siege of Lviv but also to offer insights into the mechanics of hostage-taking and release in early modern diplomacy. Specialists in Central European and Ottoman history, as well as those interested in the social history of warfare and captivity, will undoubtedly find this rigorous re-evaluation of source materials to be an indispensable resource, providing a definitive account of these specific individuals and their collective ordeal.

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