Der Palas der Oberen Burg - zum Problem seines Wiederaufbaus

Die wichtigste und zugleich älteste erhaltene Quelle, die den Herrscher palas zeigt, ist der im Atlas von Georg van Bruyen und Frans Hoogenbergh aus dem Jahre 1581 enthaltene „bebilderte“ Stadtplan von Vilnius. Aus dem beigefügten Text geht hervor, dass es auf dem Vilniusser Burggelände zwei königliche Palasse gegeben hat. Den Quellen aus dem 16. Jh. zufolge hat sich einer der beiden Palasse, über den nur sehr spärliche Informationen vorhanden sind, auf dem Berg befunden.

Ein vom Kunstwissenschaftler und Historiker Vladas Drėma angefertigtes Modell der Vilniusser Burgen zeigt, dass im 17. Jh. die nordöstliche Ecke des Palas auf dem Berg einen Erker und die südwestliche Ecke einen Eckturm aufwies. Das nach verschiedenen historischen Quellen rekonstruierte Modell der königlichen Residenz der Oberburg vom Architekten Sigitas Lasavickas zeigt aber den Palas mit jeweils einem Erker an allen vier Ecken (Zeichnung 1).

Der Text zum oben erwähnten Vilniusser Stadtplan lässt darauf schließen, dass der königliche Palas auf dem Berg mit mindestens zwei Türmen versehen war. Der Vilniusser Stadtplan von Karl Grunert aus dem Jahre 1808 enthält zusätzliche Angaben über zwei Ecktürme an der Südwand des königlichen Palas (Zeichnung 2). Die Zeichnung von Pranciškus Smuglevičius (Ende des 18. Jhs.) zeigt die Ruine des Palas auf dem Berg mit einem erweiterten Obergeschoß an der südöstlichen Ecke, das aber nur beim ersten flüchtigen Blick als Erker gedeutet werden könnte (Zeichnung 3). Die vergleichende Auswertung der drei erwähnten Quellen legt die Annahme nahe, dass die Burg über zwei Ecktürme mit Schießscharten im breiteren oberen Teil verfügte (Zeichnung 4).

Den vorhandenen Quellen zufolge ist die Burg nach dem Brand von 1419 wiederaufgebaut worden. Der königliche Palas, der als Residenz von Vytautas dem Großen diente, gewann im 15. Jh. an gotischen Zügen. Nach seiner zweimaliger Flucht aus Litauen 1382/84 bzw. 1390/92 fand Vytautas Zuflucht beim Deutschen Orden. Hier bot sich ihm auch die Möglichkeit, verschiedene Ordensburgen näher kennenzulernen, so auch die Marienburg. Die Bauweise des Palas des Hochmeisters des Deutschen Ordens auf der Marienburg mit zwei Ecktürmen an der westlichen Seite dürfte sich auch auf die Architektur der königlichen Residenz in Vilnius, der zu Beginn des 15. Jahrhunderts entstand, ausgewirkt haben.

The Royal palace in Upper castle - problems of reconstruction

I would like to attend you to the text of explanation to the panoramic view-plan of Vilnius made by Georg van Bruyen's and Frans Hoogenbergh's at the second half of 16 th century. This source reveals two Royal palaces in Vilnius castle. One of these was down the hill, and another - on the hill.

An art critic and historian Vladas Drėma in his model of Vilnius castle as they were in the middle of the 17 th century (made in 1950) has reconstructed the Royal palace on the hill with oriel in the north-eastern corner and corner tower in the south-western corner. Later V. Drėma agreed that in the light of modern researches some details of his model became incorrect. Especially he wanted to correct buildings of Upper Castle. An architect Sigitas Lasavickas in his sketch-project of reconstruction (made in 1977) of the same palace on Upper castle showed a fine Gothic styled residence with four oriels in each corner (Fig. 1).

Fig. 1. Royal palace in an Upper castle. By S. Lasavickas sketch-project 1977. (3 D view by V. Abramauskas, drawn by G. Rackevičius).

The text of the most ancient plan of Vilnius describes the Royal palace on the hill as towered. So it had at least two towers. Plan of Vilnius made in the beginning of the 19 th century by Karolis Grunertas also gives us additional information, that the Royal palace in Upper castle had two corner towers at the corners of the southern frontage (Fig. 2).

Fig. 2. Part of an Old City plan of Vilnius. K. Grunertas 1808

Another source - sepia drown by Prančiškus Smuglevičius at the end of the 18 th century shows the ruins of the Royal palace with enlargement in the south - eastern corner (Fig. 3).

Fig. 3. Vilnius castle from the south. Sepia. P. Smuglevičius 1785

Only at first sight it's possible to interpret this widening as oriel. Combining these three sources it's better to interpret, that the southern frontage of Royal palace in Upper castle had two defensive corner towers with widening at the top, also with balistrarias (Armbrustschie?scharte) for the crossbow armed shots (Fig. 4).

Fig. 4. Font page. Royal palace in the Vilnius Upper castle. Corrected S. Lasavickas sketch-project 1977 - 2001. (3 D view by V. Abramauskas, drawn by A. Mizgirienė).

Written sources gives information that king Jogaila Vladislav donated to bishop of Vilnius one brick and four wooden houses in Vilnius castle at 1387. It's also very important that first known residence of Vilnius bishop in Vilnius Lower castle also has two corner towers. That building as well as Royal palace in Upper castle was launched to defensive walls which were built earlier and the most important purpose of that building was to defense very important western part of Lower castle.

Chronicles describes burning a wood Curved (Kreivoji) castle fired by crusaders in 1390. Majority of researches agree, that Curved castle situated on Bold (Plikasis) hill on another bank of eastern branch of river Vilnia, in front to the east of Castle (Pilies) hill. Bold hill is higher than Castle hill, that it is why in another chronicle Curved castle defined as Highest castle. So at the end of the 14 th and the beginning the 15 th century there was a military necessity of reinforcement of Upper castle from the east side. It' s possible that it coursed a reason to launch two corner towers with additional positions for the crossbow armed shots, because Upper castle just from south - eastern corner was not defenced by defencive walls of the Lower castle.

Well known researcher of Castles Napoleonas Kitkauskas building of the Royal palace on the hill dated to the second half of the 14 th century. The last and a big reconstruction of the Upper castle was carried out after a fire in 1419 by a rule of Vytautas - Alexander the Great. By opinion of historian Juozas Jurginis Upper castle was reconstructed in a period of short time. Because already at summer of 1422 Vytautas - Alexander had wrote a letter to Archbishop of Ryga and received envoys of the Pope in Vilnius castle. Vytautas - Alexander visited German Order twice in the years of 1382 - 1384 and 1390 - 1392. He had an opportunity personally to see Order castles, also Marienburg (Malbork). It is possible that palace of the Great master (Der Hochmeister-Palast) in Middle castle (Mittelschloss) of Marienburg with two corner towers on the western frontage influenced on a reconstruction of the Royal palace in Vilnius Upper castle.
Archeologist Alina Kietlińska has excavated the deepest layers beside the western and southern frontages of Royal palace in 1938. Maybe, she founded remains of two corner towers at the corners of the southern frontage. All documents of archeological research were at authors apartments during nazi occupation. She prepared material of excavation for publication. It' s a pity, but during uprising in Warsaw at 1944 the A. Kietlińska's living house was demolished and all documents disappeared.

At the beginning of the 15 th century reconstructed Royal palace on the hill took some decoration of exterior of the late Gothic.

During archeological investigation of the Castle hill in 1969 - 1999 were founded over one hundred breaks of green glazed tiles. All these Gothic trough - shaped tiles with their external side covered by green glaze belonged to buildings of the Upper Castle, also, possible, to the roofs of the defensive walls. It's impossible to say how exactly the roofs of the Upper castle were ornamented, because there is no iconography from 15 th century. I would like to propose just one of a lot possible variants of roof decoration in Gothic style for Royal palace in Vilnius Upper castle.

The Insular castle of Trakai was reconstructed, or, by another opinion, built, also, at the beginning 15 th century (roughly 1407 - 1408). According the written sources Vytautas - Alexander spent more his time in Trakai than in Vilnius. Some documents about the Gothic trough-shaped tiles, found during works of restoration of Insular castle, proved that these roofs were decorated with green colored glazed tiles as well as in Vilnius Upper castle, and also with black and grey tiles. Beyond all manner of doubt the roof of Luck Upper castle was already decorated with green colored glazed roof tiles during famous convention in 1429, when Vytautas - Alexander was proclaimed as a king of Lithuania. In one of the nearest European capitals of that time - Marienburg analogous Late gothic decoration of the roofs was well known. Here is also possible to speak about Vytautas - Alexander relationship with the German Order and his personal impressions. I would like to pay your attention a well known example - the roofs of Marienburg Upper castle (Hohschloss) ornamented with yellow and green glazed tiles.

Ornamenting of external walls with black brick headers was much more simple and spread wider in the Middle Ages. Architectural exploring on the hill was very complicated, because of lots works of preserving and conservation of ruins of Royal palace. Works of conservation started at 1905. Some works of preserving ruins of walls and partial reconstruction continued till 1995. Archeological sources also gave no information about external decoration, because before the World War II and even later the bricks were not treated as archeological finds.

I would like to base reconstruction of black brick ornaments on analogy of the Trakai Insular castle last time reconstructed at beginning 15 th century (roughly 1407 - 1408), but it is impossible. During the restoration of Insular castle before World War II were find black brick ornaments on the towers and Royal palace. Illustrations of the published report by architect of conservation do not show us what kind of ornaments were decorated the buildings of Insular castle. During later reconstruction of an Insular castle these Gothic decorations were not restored or recreated (there are just some small original parts of ornamented walls). Some brick walls of Trakai Peninsular castle also were decorated with black bricks, but it is not clear when?

Reconstruction decoration of external walls of corner towers of the Royal palace on the hill was based on nearest analogy from Vilnius city. It's black brick ornament of stair tower on the north-western corner of St. Mary church of Franciscans monastery. Franciscans built their church on Trakai street before official christianizing of Lithuania in 1387. But crusaders demolished that church in 1390. New church was built at the beginning of the 15 th century (about 1421). First reference of St. Mary church came from a document dated to 1422. The last reconstruction of the Upper castle was finished at the same period (about 1421 - 1422).

One of the earliest catholic churches - St. Nicolas in Vilnius was mentioned in written sources first time in 1387. After last restoration of the church on the southern facade it is possible to see the remains of analogous diamond - shaped black brick ornament of the St. Mary church.

Franciscans built St. Marry church in Kaunas at the beginning of the 15 th century. First reference comes from a document dated 1439, which allows to hold a services there also for foreigners, mainly merchants (CDCV 1948: 180). St. Marry church frontages also decorated with diamond - shaped and cross - shaped black brick headers ornaments. One of the Kaunas Cathedral church southern frontage buttresses also decorated with diamond - shaped black brick headers. According hypothesis, Parish church (later Cathedral) in Kaunas was built approximately at 1408 - 1413.

Marienburg - the nearest capital of that time - castle buildings, even defensive walls, as well as a residence of Great master were decorated with various ornaments of black brick headers. One of most distinctive examples of diamond - shaped ornaments are from German Order castle in Radzyń chelmiński (castrum de Redino, Reden). German Order built st. George church on Nevėžis river bank just on a border with Lithuanian Great Duchy at 1403. Right buttress of main frontage of st. George church also decorated diamond - shaped black brick headers ornaments.

I just would like to express my opinion, that we just standing at the beginning of understanding our Architecture in middle Ages, also at the beginning of historical reconstruction of our castles. All these corrections of sketch-projects are already history. It necessary to work a lot for future and do not be in a hurry with real rebuilding of imaginations, which do not have much common with our history.

You may ask me - what was the reason to prepare of that report? I think, that corrected sketch - project it's more realistic, than sketch - project done in 1977 by architect S. Lasavickas, but not enough. I will be grateful to all colleagues for a additional information, especially about documents or publications of archeological excavations of Castle hill by A. Ketlińska.

Special thanks to Vytautas Abramauskas, dr. Napoleonas Kitkauskas, Alvyra Mizgirienė.

Sources, literature

Borovskis J., 1941 - Trakų salos pilis kaip tvirtovė ir Didžiojo kunigaikščio rezidencija, atliktų konservacinių darbų šviesoje // Vytauto Didžiojo kultūros muziejaus metraštis. Kaunas 1941. T. 1. P. 199 - 242.
CDCV, 1948 - Codex diplomaticus ecclesiae cathedralis necnon dioceseos Vilnensis (1387 - 1507). Published by J. Fijałek, Wł. Semkowicz . Kraków 1948. T. 1.
CEV, 1882 - Codex epistolaris Vitoldi magni ducis Lithuaniae 1376 - 1430 collectus opera Antonii Prohaske // Monumenta medii aevi historica res gestas Poloniae illustranta. Cracoviae, 1882. T. 6.
Chrzanowski T., Kornecki M., 1995. Pomorze wschodnie // Architektura gotycka w Polsce. Warszawa 1995. T. 1, 2, p. 93 - 109.
Drėma V., 1991 - Dingęs Vilnius - Lost Vilnius. Vilnius, 1991.
Grinevičiūtė-Jankevičienė A., 1960 - Kauno bazilika // Valstybinis LTSR Architektūros paminklų apsaugos metraštis. Vilnius. T. 2. P. 129 - 137.
Jankevičienė A., 1988 - Kulto pastatai // Lietuvos architektūros istorija. Vilnius, 1988. T. 1. P. 119 - 154.
Jankevičienė A., 1991 - Vytauto (Prančiškonų švenčiausios Marijos į dangų ėmimo) bažnyčia. Pergalės kr. 1/3 // Kauno architektūra. Vilnius, 1991. P. 209 - 213.
Johann von Posilge, 1866 - Johann's von Posilge, Officials von Pomesanien, Chronik des Landes Preussen (von 1360 an, fortgesetzt bis 1419) // Scriptores rerum prussicarum. Leipzig, 1866. T. 3. P. 79 - 388.
Jurginis J., 1971a - Rašytinės žinios. Vilniaus pilys // Lietuvos pilys. Vilnius, 1971. P. 25 - 34.
Jurginis J., 1971b - Bendrosios žinios. Trakų pilys // Lietuvos pilys. Vilnius, 1971. P. 89 - 102.
Kitkauskas N., 1989 - Vilniaus pilys, statyba ir architektūra. Vilnius, 1989.
Orda J., 1960 - Trakų pusiasalio pilis // Valstybinis LTSR Architektūros paminklų apsaugos metraštis. Vilnius, 1960. T. 2. P. 49 - 68.
Rackevičius G., 2000 - Vilniaus aukštutinės pilies stogai XV a. pr. // Iš baltų kultūros istorijos. Vilnius, 2000. P. 35 - 48.
de la Riestra P., 1998 - Architektur der Gotik in den „deutschen Landen“ // Gotik. Architektur. Skulptur. Malerei. Köln, 1998. P. 190 - 235.
Tautavičius A., 1960 - Vilniaus pilies teritorijos archeologiniai tyrinėjimai // Valstybinis LTSR Architektūros paminklų apsaugos metraštis. Vilnius, 1960. T. 2. P. 3 - 48.
Vygandas Marburgietis, 1999 - Naujoji Prūsijos kronika. Vilnius, 1999.

Abbreviations

AVD - Archive of Vilnius district
AML - Art Museum of Lithuania
NML - National Museum of Lithuania

Summary

The most important source of representation of the Royal palace is a plan of the city of Vilnius made by Georg van Bruyen's and Frans Hoogenbergh's at the second half of the 16 th century. The text of explanation of the panoramic view reveals two Royal palaces in Vilnius castle. In our days less known palace according the 16 th century information was on the hill.

An art critic and historian Vladas Drėma in his model of Vilnius castle in the middle of the 17 th century has reconstructed the Royal palace on the hill with oriel in the north - eastern corner and corner tower in the south-western corner. Later, an architect Sigitas Lasavickas in his project of reconstruction of the same palace on Upper castle showed fine Gothic styled residence with four oriels in each corner (Fig. 1).

Let's go back to the text of the most ancient plan of Vilnius, which describes the Royal palace in the hill as towered. So it had at least two towers. Plan of Vilnius made in the beginning of the 19 th century by Karolis Grunertas also gives an additional information, that the Royal palace in Upper castle had two corner towers at the corners of the southern frontage (Fig. 2). Another source - sepia drown by Prančiškus Smuglevičius at the end of the 18 th century shows ruins of the Royal palace with enlargement in the south-eastern corner (Fig. 3). Only at first sight it's possible to interpret this widening as oriel. Combining these sources it's better to interpret that the southern frontage of Royal palace in Upper castle had two defensive corner towers with widening in the top, also with balistrarias (Armbrustschie?scharte) for crossbow armed shots (Fig. 4).

The last and a big reconstruction of the Upper castle was after fire in 1419 carried out by rule Vytautas-Alexander the Great. At the beginning of the 15 th century reconstructed Royal palace on the hill took some decoration of exterior of the late Gothic. Vytautas-Alexander visited German Order twice in the years of 1382-1384 and 1390-1392. He had an opportunity personally to see Order castles, also Marienburg (Malbork). It is possible that palace of the Great master in the Middle castle of Marienburg with two corner towers on the western frontage influenced on reconstruction of the Royal palace in Vilnius Upper castle.