How did medieval writers imagine the people of Europe’s “last pagan empire”? This monograph examines chronicles from the Teutonic Order, Rus’, and Poland to analyse how Lithuania—situated between the Catholic West and Orthodox East—was represented as both a hostile Other and a legitimate political actor. It investigates whether these portrayals followed a broader Christian pattern or varied across traditions, and how they evolved alongside Lithuanian state formation. By examining narrative discourse as ideologically shaped and adopting a comparative approach, this volume demonstrates how representations of pagan Lithuanians were used to justify warfare while also accommodating changing perceptions of power and identity.
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