Vladislovas Sirokomlė (Władysław Syrokomla,1823–1862)

Vladislovas Sirokomlė (Władysław Syrokomla, 1823–1862), whose real name was Liudvikas Kondratavičius (Ludwik Kondratowicz) was a poet and regional history researcher whose literary and social activities were closely associated with the Vilnius region. He studied at the Nesvyzh Dominican school and worked in the Radziwill palace administration where being able to visit the rich estate library, he undertook independent studies and thus educated himself. In 1844 he rented the Zaluch estate near the Nemunas River where he devoted himself to literary work. Later on he spent three years (1853–56) living in Bareikiškės. He often visited Vilnius, collaborated with the local press (“Athenaeum”, “Kurjer Wileński”), and wrote about Lithuania, especially the Vilnius region. Motifs of Lithuania’s history, nature and folklore are present in his poems “Urodzony Jan Dęboróg” (1854), “Margier” (1855), “Stare wrota” (1855), and in his realistic descriptive poetry works titled “Gawędy i rytmy ulotne” (1853–61, 6 vol.). He also released books on regional history and his travels: “Wycieczki po Litwie w promieniach od Wilna” (1857–1860, 2 vol.), “Niemen od żródeł do ujścia” (1861), etc. He participated in the activities of the Vilnius Archaeological Commission, working together with archaeologists unearthing castle graves in Kernavė, near Čiobiškis, Birštonas, and elsewhere (he did not manage to publish the data, only some information survived in the manuscripts). He donated a portion of his painting collection to the Vilnius Antique Museum. He was an acquaintance of Mikalojus Akelaitis, and was on close terms with Kostas Kalinauskas, Zigmantas Sierakauskas, and Valerijonas Vrublevskis. He was under the constant supervision of the police, with many of his poems being spread illegally. The works of Sirokomlė started being translated in the late 19th century.