Povilas Mikalauskas (Vytautas Magnus university, Lithuania)
The article analyses the image of Grand Dutchy of Lithuania in the first German newspapers published in Saxony in 17th century. By analysing such first newspapers as Einkommende Zeitungen, Ordentliche Wochentliche Zeitungen, Einkommende Wochentliche Zeitungen, Neu-einlauffende Nachrichten von Kriegs- und -Welthandeln, Ordinar-Post-Zeitungen and other newspapers of the second half of the 17th century in the region, the paper tries to explore the perception of Lithuania. By analysing different editions of the newspapers, the paper mainly discusses the following questions: 1. What were the main stereotypes about Lithuania in the first German newspapers, and what images could a reader perceive by reading the printed matter. 2. To what extent was the autonomy of the Grand Duchy of Lithuania and the limits of its sovereignty perceived by the editors of the first German newspapers, whether it was understood as a separate dual partner state within the Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth or merely as an indifferent region of Poland. 3. How well were the Great Duchy of Lithuania and the Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth represented in German-language newspapers in the 17th century in comparison with other European regions, what approximate proportion did this representation occupy in the general spectrum of news published by different Saxon newspapers of the 17th century?