The Cultural Heritage of Armenian Traveler Simeon Lehatsi from Poland to Ottoman Empire: Contribution to the History of Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth
Abstract
Armenian presence in the territory of Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth, well described by numerous sources, has made a significant contribution to the history of all above mentioned regions. During the whole 17th century (between years 1599-1699 ), countries in the immediate vicinity of the Ottoman border experienced major upheavals.
The chain of fortress, their defences and conquest as well as seizing captives and dragging them off (direction south) to Black Sea ports; all these attributes were integral part of notion of borderland, not excluding the emergence of stereotypical images and myths. Lehastan (Poland) played a crucial role in Armenian imagery as the synonym for land full of plenty and it determined for several centuries the way in which Armenian community was seen.Within cultural orbit of Eastern Europe and Black Sea region, Armenian merchants were socially visible as international traders, translators, mediators and negotiators.
Their ability to cross borders determined the perception of Orientalism itself - even if it could be described as a highly stereotypized category, the figure of Armenian merchant foreshadowed the image of Oriental merchant as such. This stereotypical image served to mirror trends in literature and art in general, especially in the period of Renaissance and then Enlightement.
Central Europe represents a specific case, because here the figure of Armenian merchant could not be understood exclusively within connotations of alterity and idealized notion of Orient. On the contrary, Armeniansheld the role of long-established and well known community, which itself crossed borders and entered into contact with the category of Orient.
Armenian perception of Orient or their description of Commonwealth thus show some attributes, characteristic for border identity - authors write simultaneously from their position of a foreigner and a local, other and native in the same time.