Kojalowicz, Wosciech

Kojalowicz, Wosciech 

(also Albert Kojalovičius). Born 1609 in Kaunas; died Oct. 6, 1677, in Warsaw. Lithuanian historian.

Kojalowicz graduated from the Vilnius Academy in 1638 and received doctorates in philosophy (1641) and theology (1644). He later became rector of the academy (until 1655). Kojalowicz was an apologist for the feudal lords and the Catholic Church. He taught in Brest and Slonim and, beginning in 1668, in Warsaw. He compiled The Heraldry of the Knighthood of the Grand Principality of Lithuania.

Kojalowicz’s Fundamental work is The History of Lithuania (part 1, through the Union of Krevo; part 2, through the Union of Lublin). In it, he minimized the role of social movements, particularly the antifeudal actions of the Byelorussians and the Ukrainians, and extolled the community of interests of the feudal lords of Poland and Lithuania. Kojalowicz regarded the Crusades negatively, contrary to Catholic teaching.

WORKS

Historiae Lituanae, parts 1–2. Gda-sk-Antwerp, 1650–69.