Józef Szujski
Encyclopedia
Józef Szujski was a Polish politician, historian, poet and professor of the Jagiellonian University
.
He studied at Tarnow, then at Cracow (1854) and at Vienna
(1858-9). He began his career as a poet, and continued to write verses till the end of his life. Apart from many short lyrical poems, his first attempts were dramatic: Samuel Zborowski, Halszka of Ostrog, and a translation of the Agamemnon of Æschylus. Before his marriage (1861) he had also published his Portraits, not by Van Dyck, in which various types of Poles are characterized. He began working at a manual of Polish history, publishing two volumes in 1862, but was presently convinced of the necessity of independent research, which features in volumes three and four (1864-6).
The insurrection of 1863
was a blow to Szujski's hopes for Poland's future, and he resolved to devote his whole life to seeking the causes of his country's misfortunes, with a view to her regeneration. At the time that he was publishing the poems: The Servant of the Tombs, The Defence of Czestochowa, and the dramas, George Lubomirski and Wallas, he placed himself in the front rank of Polish historians by his work Some Truths of our History (1865). "No nation", he said, "can fall save through her own fault, nor rise again, save by her own intelligent labour and spiritual activity". He founded the "Polish Review" (1866), and the next year brought out "Hedwige" and "Twardowski", both dramas.
When the use of the national language was restored in Cracow University, Szujski was named (1869) professor of Polish history; later, he was chosen as rector
. As early as 1872, he was reportedly the moving spirit of the Academy of Sciences at Cracow in his capacity as secretary. His researches were not confined to Poland: at about that time, he published a sketch of the literary history of the non-Christian world; studies on Marcus Aurelius and on Lucian
; translations from Æschylus and Aristophanes
; Maryna Mnischowna, and The Death of Ladislaus IV, dramas of his own, together with several other works. After his rectorate (1879) Szujski was made a peer. But his health, which had always been precarious, now failed completely, and tuberculosis
set in. He continued to work, however, till he could work no more. His history, first sketched in four volumes, from the sixteenth century on, was supplemented by three other volumes, entitled Relations and Researches. It has been said of him that "the historian killed the poet".
Jagiellonian University
The Jagiellonian University was established in 1364 by Casimir III the Great in Kazimierz . It is the oldest university in Poland, the second oldest university in Central Europe and one of the oldest universities in the world....
.
He studied at Tarnow, then at Cracow (1854) and at Vienna
Vienna
Vienna is the capital and largest city of the Republic of Austria and one of the nine states of Austria. Vienna is Austria's primary city, with a population of about 1.723 million , and is by far the largest city in Austria, as well as its cultural, economic, and political centre...
(1858-9). He began his career as a poet, and continued to write verses till the end of his life. Apart from many short lyrical poems, his first attempts were dramatic: Samuel Zborowski, Halszka of Ostrog, and a translation of the Agamemnon of Æschylus. Before his marriage (1861) he had also published his Portraits, not by Van Dyck, in which various types of Poles are characterized. He began working at a manual of Polish history, publishing two volumes in 1862, but was presently convinced of the necessity of independent research, which features in volumes three and four (1864-6).
The insurrection of 1863
January Uprising
The January Uprising was an uprising in the former Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth against the Russian Empire...
was a blow to Szujski's hopes for Poland's future, and he resolved to devote his whole life to seeking the causes of his country's misfortunes, with a view to her regeneration. At the time that he was publishing the poems: The Servant of the Tombs, The Defence of Czestochowa, and the dramas, George Lubomirski and Wallas, he placed himself in the front rank of Polish historians by his work Some Truths of our History (1865). "No nation", he said, "can fall save through her own fault, nor rise again, save by her own intelligent labour and spiritual activity". He founded the "Polish Review" (1866), and the next year brought out "Hedwige" and "Twardowski", both dramas.
When the use of the national language was restored in Cracow University, Szujski was named (1869) professor of Polish history; later, he was chosen as rector
Rector
The word rector has a number of different meanings; it is widely used to refer to an academic, religious or political administrator...
. As early as 1872, he was reportedly the moving spirit of the Academy of Sciences at Cracow in his capacity as secretary. His researches were not confined to Poland: at about that time, he published a sketch of the literary history of the non-Christian world; studies on Marcus Aurelius and on Lucian
Lucian
Lucian of Samosata was a rhetorician and satirist who wrote in the Greek language. He is noted for his witty and scoffing nature.His ethnicity is disputed and is attributed as Assyrian according to Frye and Parpola, and Syrian according to Joseph....
; translations from Æschylus and Aristophanes
Aristophanes
Aristophanes , son of Philippus, of the deme Cydathenaus, was a comic playwright of ancient Athens. Eleven of his forty plays survive virtually complete...
; Maryna Mnischowna, and The Death of Ladislaus IV, dramas of his own, together with several other works. After his rectorate (1879) Szujski was made a peer. But his health, which had always been precarious, now failed completely, and tuberculosis
Tuberculosis
Tuberculosis, MTB, or TB is a common, and in many cases lethal, infectious disease caused by various strains of mycobacteria, usually Mycobacterium tuberculosis. Tuberculosis usually attacks the lungs but can also affect other parts of the body...
set in. He continued to work, however, till he could work no more. His history, first sketched in four volumes, from the sixteenth century on, was supplemented by three other volumes, entitled Relations and Researches. It has been said of him that "the historian killed the poet".