Yanina Ryier1; 1 Ignatianum University in Cracow, Poland
Discussion
This paper examines how Rus’ chronicles from the thirteenth to the fifteenth centuries constructed the image of the pagan Lithuanian enemy at the intersection of discourse, ideology, and politics. From the early thirteenth century onward, Lithuanian raids into Rus’ lands became a defining feature of regional politics. Chroniclers responded by portraying Lithuanians not only as political rivals but as existential threats to the Christian order. Labelling was one of the most powerful tools in this discourse. Lithuanians were consistently described with theologically charged terms such as “pagans”, “godless”, and “accursed.” These were not neutral descriptors but discursive instruments of exclusion and delegitimization. They served to demonize and morally other the Lithuanians, creating a sharp contrast with the Christian population of Rus’ and providing ideological justification for military action against them. The study explores how this discourse shifted in line with changing political realities and the varied environments of Galicia-Volhynia, Novgorod, and Pskov – centres whose relations with Lithuania alternated between rivalry and alliance.
