Sarmatian savoir vivre

Titles. The respect for dignity and dignity was perhaps the most important feature of culture nobility.
Despite the theoretical equality of knighthood, the high dignity of voivode or The castellan had a strong
distinction in social life compared to the dignity of an ordinary person nobleman. This was reflected
primarily in the titles. Equal to equal he used to say "your lord", "your lord", " wąpan", and even more
directly "sir, brother". Tone very familiar, condescending, bordering on disrespectful were the words
"acan", "asan" and "aspan", which a powerful lord would kindly throw to a noble servant, or a neighbor
to a good a neighbor with whom they should have been together a long time ago. People addressed
themselves to a higher dignity "your honorable sir" or "your majesty", to the senator "your honorable
sir" 1, and to hereditary princes "Highly Enlightened Prince".
The same title was used in letters. So it was written: “Reverend Mr. X, my (Highly) Your Majesty's
Brother" or "Born X, my Majesty's Brother" to a friend nobleman, "Your Honorable Mr. Enlightened
Prince X, ..." to the princes. In turn, a powerful lord wrote to an ordinary nobleman: "Me Your Excellency
Mr. Similarly a nobleman to a townsman - "Gracious Mr. X", or "Lord and Friend", but never "Brother."
The king wrote to the nobility: "Reverend Mr. Attention:
If the addressee of the letter held an office, the name was not written in place X, only the title, e.g. "Your
Honorable Lord, Castellan of Vilnius, my Lord and Benefactor." A seemingly minor error in the
"inscription" - e.g. omission of the word "Brother" in correspondence with an equal person - you could
seriously offend the addressee by giving him to understanding that we consider ourselves inequally
better than him.

Place of honor. Maintaining the correct title was as important as correct titling order in taking places
at the table, in the church, in the parliament, in the roll (name list accompanied by a military banner),
everywhere. First places were always for the most distinguished. Even in the parish school or college,
noble children attended in the first pews, and the plebeian pews further from the cathedral. Sometimes
at a council meeting or a feast Arguments broke out over whether the chamberlain should sit higher
than the starosta or one higher chair lower. Soldiers fought for a higher place in the roll (depending on
dignity and seniority). sabers.
And in the highest spheres, the so-called "right hand". Because at meeting of two monarchs or the
great envoys representing them, the one who had "right hand", i.e. standing/sitting with the interlocutor
on his left side, was considered to be higher dignity. Of course, in the case of two kings the matter was
of great importance. Sobieski and the emperor managed to avoid a dispute because they simply met
on horseback in the field, facing each other. But with "Fire and Sword" we probably remember the
nativity scene Chmielnicki left Kisiel while taking his seat in the sleigh...

Welcome. The most commonly used greeting was the phrase "God Helps", used which made the
nobility and townspeople and almost all peasants more pious. Known to today the phrase "Praised be
Jesus Christ" came into use only in the 18th century century, so we should not use it in Dziki Pola. The
nobility often greeted each other also the secular "Forehead", "Hello" or "Good morning", and widely
among soldiers the greeting "Service!" became widespread. or “My service!”
However, this was not enough, as politeness required showing keen interest interlocutor. So the
nobleman asked his neighbor first about his health, then about his father the health of my wife and
children, then about the success of recent affairs, for example how the crops have grown, how the
servants are doing, whether the new horse was actually worth the price, et cetera, et cetera. It was also
worth chatting about the latest events in the district, parish or town, i.e yes, just for a chat, even if neither
of the people you were talking to really cared about it. Talkativeness was one of the most significant
features of the Sarmatians. So be careful, Gentlemen Players! If you dismiss a nobleman you know on
the road with just a short "Hello, my brother!" and If you go further, I will feel very offended.

Groping and kissing. During the Renaissance, Italian haberdashery was fashionable. By greeting
people bowed politely, or shook hands, but holding each other in hugs were considered gross Moscow
customs. But under the influence of the baroque, Sarmatian exuberance, the Moscow "bear" has also
arrived in our country. So somewhere around the 1930s In the 17th century it became common to
welcome brothers among equal gentlemen hugging each other and kissing on... not the cheeks like
today, but the neck or the... arm. Women were kissed on the hands, just like today, but this unhygienic
custom was common made pleasant by placing a second kiss on... the breasts of the greeted woman,
which was completely widely accepted in low-cut dresses of the second half of the 17th century
practiced.
People higher in the social hierarchy were kissed on the hand, and clergymen were also kissed on the
hand hand or were embraced around the waist and kissed on the chest. The same respect applied to
parents, especially towards the father. An expression of even greater respect was falling down in front
of them interlocutor on his knees, hugging his legs and kissing his knees - that's what he did a grateful
gray to a magnate-benefactor, a peasant making a request to a lord, a son or a daughter wanting to
express her highest devotion to her parent, a soldier thanking the king for his title lieutenant. It was an
act of extreme obscenity, very offensive to human dignity falling flat on your feet and kissing your feet.
Hardly any nobleman ever humiliated happened this way, it was only in the 18th century that it
happened more often. Even a poor farmhand he fell at the feet of a nobleman only in exceptional
situations, e.g. begging for forgiveness punishment... that's why the sight of such great humiliation
sometimes made your heart melt!

Hat and bow. An interesting old Polish custom was to wear hats as well roof, also when staying at an
inn or visiting friends. Today it may be surprising, but the feasting nobility even sat at the table with their
heads covered. To welcome the equal the hat was removed from a person or a higher person and then
put it back on 2. Even a noble lord should tip his hat to an ordinary nobleman, and if he did not do so,
he clearly made him feel his superiority. It even mattered who picked it up first hand to reveal the head.
Equals should do it at the same time, the noble gentleman waited until the "measier" person will reach
for the hat first.
This was true in the highest spheres, and not only in Poland. People told each other an anecdote about
how, after the Vienna victory, Sobieski met the Austrian emperor and they stood still for a long time,
waiting for the other to make a welcome gesture. Then it was Sobieski he was supposed to cleverly
fool the emperor by raising his hand first, but only... to play up the game mustache.
Of course, greetings and hats should be accompanied by a bow. There was enough bowing low,
bending the right knee and holding the left hand over the heart, and making a gesture towards with the
right down, as if wanting to take the interlocutor under his feet. 3. The woman was curtsying and bending
both knees. The distinguished senator did not bow so deeply, he only nodded back, averting his hats.
It should be added that the Polish bow was an interesting phenomenon for foreigners some of whom
considered him serious and dignified, while others considered him too dignified.

Guest. There is nothing to write about the old Polish hospitality itself, because it is in the first book
"Wild Fields" is already about this, and there is still something left in the national tradition. However, I
will tell you about the customs applicable to the host and guest. First of all, if a guest was expected, he
had to be welcomed on the porch (or at home). gate, if we wanted to do a great honor), hence the
teenager was often sent to the roof or to the tree to keep an eye on the road and let you know in
advance. When he announced that the guests were coming, the cooks they rushed to heat up the
dishes, and the hosts hurriedly put on their ceremonial costumes and set them up service in the order.
The guest should arrive slowly to allow time for preparations. The host, as I mentioned, should stand
on the porch and welcome the guest with a short speech, thanking for the arrival of such an eminent
person at his low threshold. Guest on the other hand - he thanked for the honor done him by receiving
Yes in this famous house unworthy person. The servants took the newcomer's horses to the stable and
rolled the carriage aside, and the host asked for rooms - or rather straight to the table, where the dishes
were already being placed and jugs. If a guest arrived with his wife, the host's wife usually hosted her
women's rooms. Sometimes a guest would take with him one or two henchmen who they stood behind
his chair during the feast, and the rest of the servants (if he had more) were invited to join him the
servants' chamber - where drinking most often began.
Both drinking and eating were subject to nuka, i.e. coercion host page. At the beginning he had to
constantly encourage people to help themselves, tasting, filling cups and adding to plates. If there was
no party, guests they should suppress their appetites and enjoy only small bites, as if casually. What
was it like to force guests to drink who were too sincerely afraid? described in the Wild Fields manual.
The farewell looked similar to the hello. The host escorted the newcomer away porch (or to the gate),
and a drawn carriage was waiting in the yard. The host thanked me the guest for coming, he apologized
for the inconvenience and the reception unworthy of such a distinguished guest, he expressed regret
about the separation and finally asked to be kept in grateful memory and revisiting. The guest replied
in a similar tone, praising the wonderful hospitality and apologizing if he was too much of a burden and
caused trouble. Of course, on farewell to the stirrup drinker, and it was often drunk in so many cups,
alternating with each other flattery and unnecessary apologies that the guy eventually gave up that day
from the trip. And sometimes he couldn't leave at all.

Gifts. Among the nobility, the custom of giving each other gifts was very common widespread. The
occasion was not only holidays and anniversaries, but also ordinary meetings social. After a cheerful
feast in good company, the host very often he would give the guest something as a souvenir, preferably
something he knew the guest would like. I liked it. So the guests were given weapons, robes, rugs,
hunting dogs and rich people most often they gave away horses, and magnates even gave away
villages. Of course, we had to hide a little before accepting the precious gift, and then offer a flowery
thank you. Moreover, household servants were given small items on holidays and on various occasions
sums of money or items of little value. Similarly, being at someone's place guest, it was good to give a
few ducats to the host's teenage son, or some a nice gift for your wife and daughters. And everywhere
you had to give "tips" - to the writer for issuance of the act and the clerk for copying it, the carter, the
guide, and the musicians in inn... for every favor a nobleman should give at least a few groszy, and to
a beggar also threefold alms, it would seem... Even the gatekeeper in the palace had to put a few
zlotys, so as not to look like a miser or a pauper.
However, there was no oriental custom in Poland (essentially flat, calculating and definitely not noble
J), according to which the value had to be assessed gift and reciprocate with a gift of identical value.
Of course, good neighbors they often gave gifts to each other, but the hetman could give a village to a
poor soldier after simply as a reward for faithful service - or even out of pure drunken sympathy - and
a soldier could accept the gift without prejudice.

Ridiculousness and vulgarity. Sarmatian culture was very direct. It didn't exist with us stiff, meticulous
etiquette (an exception was the court of Sigismund III, who worshiped patterns Spanish), but only some
general rules of decency. Whose limits were very high fluent because, for example, the use of "coarse"
words was widely tolerated. It wasn't only afterward that people were cursed in inns, but also in courts,
and even in the Sejm among senators. Władysław IV himself or Jan Kazimierz, in a moment of anger,
could throw whores in public. Not known here the art of elegant conversation, in manors and palaces
(except lordly courts, where in in the 17th century, French fashion was spreading), one could hear
mainly orations, faces, gossip and "old Polish gawęda bullshit". So stories, not conversations,
dominated. And the same the stories were often crude and sometimes vulgar, especially among men.
IN the presence of women or distinguished persons was to be restrained, or at least apologized for
blunt words with the phrase "honest ears" or "with forgiveness", but cheerful gentlemen sometimes they
even forgot about the ladies. Hence, very young, adolescent girls were familiar with it tavern talk, and
sometimes they even uttered strong words, much to their slight confusion the "culprit" and the great joy
of those present.
People were most often called "from the mother", i.e. "son of a son of a bitch", "son of a pagan" or more
mildly, "such a son", and the insult "kiep" or "whore" was also often heard. What Interestingly, "you
whore" was said to both women (sometimes softened to "murwa") and men and to men. A letter from
"The Devil" Stadnicki to Mikołaj Jazłowiecki has been preserved, in which he writes, "You vile, vile
whore, stop your whoreish, filthy quarrels." Even the vulgarism beginning with "j" that is popular today
is very ancient, as we can already find it in... a court chronicle from the 17th century, in a situation that
was both terrible and comic - when conducted on... at the stake, the witch was asked, according to
custom, whether she forgives the wrongs of her own persecutors, judges and torturers, the witch
"forgave" with blunt words "fuck them there dog".
And one more thing. To contemporary ears, exclamations such as: "Go to hell", "let the devil take me",
"let him be consumed by hell". Satan was in the 17th century alive and physically present among
people. Similar curses could bring down the devil attention and come true. There were many stories
about sinners being kidnapped alive to hell.

Curses. In addition to the usual insults, curses were thrown very often. “Let me get you first the bullet
didn't miss", "I wish you were dead", "I wish you were killed" and many, many others. Townswomen,
and especially merchants, excelled at this. But noblewomen also showed themselves sometimes true
artistry, like Mrs. Sułkowska, known from Pasek's diaries, whose soldiers the royals cut down trees
from the patio for shelters. Then when the king came to her court, the housewife fell on her knees,
raised her eyes and hands to heaven, and began to cry: "Lord God, fair! If you ever punished evil and
unjust kings with various plagues, extortioners, tearers, spillers of innocent human blood, today show
justice yours over King John Casimir, so that lightning would crackle at him from the clear sky, so that.
the earth devoured him alive, so that the first bullet would not miss him, so that all those that You
caused Pharaoh to suffer plagues for all these wrongs..." And who wants to know when it ended for the
baby, we went to the bookstore to buy Paskowe's "Diaries"!

Duel. The old Polish duel was very different from the Western European model, which we know from
"The Three Musketeers". The Polish duel has never developed strict rules or a rigid code of honor.
There wasn't even an obligation to fight. A nobleman could refuse the challenge without losing his
honor, and if he was voted in favour then a coward, it was enough to proudly emphasize his higher
social position. What in practice anyone could do it - an old man might not want to fight a young man,
a property owner might not want to fight a bully, a land official with an ordinary nobleman. Then one
would say with dignity something like: "I would stand up for you if you were my equal, but since you are
unworthy of it, I can only make you a servant. order my men to be beaten." And if the position of both
adversaries was equal, that solved the matter slandering an opponent of illegitimate origin or sexual
perversion or of perjury or anything dishonorable. There was also no obligation to challenge him a duel
for a wrong or insult suffered - it was more natural for the settled nobility taking the wrongdoer to court
rather than taking it to court. Of course, other customs prevailed among the military, who usually
returned the insult with a saber, but it is worth remembering that this was not the case it was necessary
to maintain honor. You could pursue your rights in court or even afterwards Christian forgiveness of all
sins. If they were challenged to fight, they did so most often in person, because most of the fights broke
out spontaneously and were resolved even before the emotions subsided. It was true that it was
inappropriate to start a fight while in someone's house guests, because this would dishonor the host
(and doubly so – once it turned out to be a common lack of respect for him, and two, you attacked the
guy he was the host's safety was partly responsible), but when heavily intoxicated feasts, few people
paid attention to it - at most, pro forma, people went out to the yard to see the fight did not take place
under the host's roof. Of course, people didn't always jump to it throats immediately (and even if they
did, sometimes the companions held them down and told them to cool down), the offended person was
not always present on the spot - sometimes he found out about the harm done to him insult from third
parties. Therefore, a challenge to a duel - oral or written - is possible it was to be sent through a
nobleman he knew. It was fitting that it should be a nobleman, a if the cartel's challenge was defeated
by a servant, it meant another slap in the face to the opponent. Moreover, the servant was more
exposed to the possible effects of the anger of the challenged person - after all, he was in a similar
situation to the janitor delivering the lawsuit. As for the seconds, she was in control here complete
freedom. You could choose your seconds and the referee, or you could both stop at mere observers.
There were hardly any one-on-one duels no witnesses, or at least I've never heard of any. The
challenge itself the duel was not absolutely binding in Poland. If an appointment was made more distant
deadline, relatives and friends tried to calm the dispute and prevent bloodshed, which was also the
case often succeeded 4. Reconciling, apologizing to each other and not fighting at all they did not bring
disrepute to honor, but on the contrary, they testified to Christian virtues and common sense, which
were qualities highly valued 5. Such wannabes we had a lot of duels. And when it comes down to it, it's
worth it It should be noted that saber duels were rarely fatal - most often they only ended injuring one
of the combatants in the arm or hand (and, for example, cutting off a few fingers) 6. Next the next most
common were cuts to the head - also not always fatal - and the least common pushing or hitting other
locations. Here, Polish statistics are much better than Western European, because in the West they
fought with rapiers and swords, which was mostly the case cases ended in death. Almost every serious
sword hit to the body (piercing the lung, liver, abdomen) led straight to the cemetery - or you died there
place or in a short time from infection. So there were Western European traditions more bloodthirsty
not only because of the strict code of honor, but also because depending on the type of weapon used.
In the Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth, honorary duels followed suit western (but usually with sabers)
appeared only sometimes, and this custom was brought mainly young people educated at European
universities. Such duels more broadly However, they became popular only in the 18th century.
Sarmatian opinion was very contrary the Western code of honor, especially that cool, proud politeness
required during the duel. It was understood that one could get angry and chop up one's opponent place,
but murder each other coldly, calmly, showing courtesy to each other... no, the Sarmatians did not
accept this. And finally, let me mention that duels have been going on since 1588 were banned in
Poland under penalty of half a year and six weeks in prison, which even happened some to serve time.
In Lithuania, the duel was formally punishable by death - but yes the strict law, of course, was not
enforced.

Theatricality of behavior. A true Sarmatian made his life one big theatrum, especially when others
were watching. Baroque noblemen did everything for show. Today o tearing one's hair off one's head
or stamping one's head in anger is said rather figuratively, but in... Sarmatian reality was ruled by
maximum expression in showing emotions. Or maybe after Baroque people just experienced everything
so strongly? The angry nobleman stomped and shouted, he cursed, threw his hat on the ground in
anger and trampled it with his feet. Touched, he was not ashamed shed tears in public. In despair, he
banged his head against the wall and pulled his hair. Rejoicing he twirled his mustache, laughed out
loud, roared at the top of his lungs and threw his hat in the air. He frowned in concern and tugged at
his mustache or beard. To father, mother, priest, he fell on his beloved maiden's knees or even flat on
his feet. And so on and so forth. Some restraint? Any moderation? Furda! When you play Dzikie Pola,
feel free to do so Never! Bang your fist on the table and reach for your saber. Beat your thighs with joy.
Get your hands on your hips. Gesture excessively with your hands. Curl up your mustache. Pat your
companions on the back. Hug friends in embrace. And remember that these are completely natural
behaviors.

Composure. When we talk about the theatrical display of emotions, we cannot fail to mention: anger,
in which the nobleman committed various excesses, more than once later he regretted it. And it must
be said that in the former Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth there was no self-control was especially
appreciated. Neither old age, nor education, nor office and dignity obliged to exercise restraint. There
are plenty of descriptions of scenes in the sources where the hetman was chasing him a soldier around
the camp with a mace, like the king was throwing whores in the presence of senators, or two voivodes
went crazy at a court feast. The nobility showed pride and impulsiveness surprising forbearance when
it came to actions committed in a moment of anger. Even who injured or even killed someone, it was
enough to pay compensation to the family and be sincere repentance. Usually forgiven. When angry
(or drunk, for that matter) very much you can afford a lot. This does not mean that the consequences
can always be avoided - but you can definitely count on understanding. If not with the injured party,
then at least in the public eye.
B. Baranowski "About scoundrels, witches and harlots", Łódź 1988
J. St. Bystroń "History of customs in ancient Poland", PIW 1976
W. Czapliński, J. Długosz "Everyday life of the Polish magnates in the 17th century", Warsaw 1982
J. Kitowicz "Description of customs", Wrocław 1950
Z. Kuchowicz "Obyczaje Staropolskie", Łódź 1975
W. Łoziński "Polish Life in Old Ages", Kraków 1978
J. Ch. Strip "Diaries", Wrocław 1952
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1 Which covers most of the 17th century. Previously, titles had a higher price. And so in the 16th
century, senators only the nobles were titled "nobles", the ordinary nobility-owners were "born", the
poor hołysz “noble” lords. And in the 15th century, you could also write to the voivode simply "Mr
"reverend" was reserved mainly for the Majesty...
2 When faced with a nobleman, the peasant had to stand with his head bare at all times, holding his
cap in front of him. There is a known case in which a nobleman killed another man's peasant because
he did not take off his hat in front of him.
3 Simple people, however, bowed "at the waist", bending low and holding their hands in front of them.
Of course the depth of the bow varied - a rebellious peasant only hunched his back and bowed his
head, a polite one bent almost to his knees. half.
4 Here is an idea for an episode in the script. Have a friendly NPC fight someone and challenge them
duel - and the opponent will turn to the Free Company with a request for mediation. Let them ask a
friend, to forget the insult and extend his hand to agreement.
5 Unless the case took place among bloodthirsty warriors or bandits, accustomed to crime and rape,
and let the unusual go unpunished.
6 They also fought with sabers and on horseback, or dueled with pistols. And if the game takes place
under Zygmunt Augustus, Valois or Bathory, there may still be a traditional duel, already outdated
knightly. On horseback, in full armor, with lances and swords. Have fun!

Toasting. During the Times of old polish nobility making of a toast was often known also as “wiwat”
or “zdrowie” ( which can be loosely translated as “viva” and “for your health”). It comes from the belief
that alcohol was supposed to be good for the general health. Nowadays we have an accurate view of
how alcohol affects our bodies but the term “Na zdrowie!” used during toasting remains in use. During
the feasts organised by old polish nobles the toasts were getting longer and often composed as hymns
or even songs. The increased popularity of vodka consumption increased also the popularity of the
toast formulas. The idea of drinking a toast was treated as a show of praise and support towards
different offices and institutions or people, and that’s why the entire hierarchy of toasts was crated: The
most important was the first toast usually made for the kingdom of Poland, the second one was reserved
for the king, than the next ones followed for the queen, the archbishop, notable guests and in the end
the host. Every toast was ended with the name of the recipient and the call “ Niech żyje!” ( “May he/she
live[long]!). If You refused to make a toast , your action was considered as very impolite and offensive
towards the recipient. That’s where the old polish custom of “przynuka” comes from – it was the custom
of forcing each other to drink by adding more liquor to the glasses of other guests.