We are proud to present "The Sarmatian Warlords", an exhibition showcasing the bravery and cultural legacy of the renowned and respected warlords of 16th-17th century Lithuania, Poland and Ukraine. The exhibition invites you to travel through the immersive world of the Grand Duchy of Lithuania (GDL) and the Republic of the Two Nations (ROC).
Liberty, brotherhood, consensus and Renaissance valour, which gradually transformed into Baroque restraint - these are the values of the citizens and defenders of the GDL and ROC. This is what we will tell you about in the exhibition "Sarmatian Warlords". Using portraits of the most famous warlords, the weapons they used and political literature, we will present in three sections the common history of the nations that inherited the ATR, the idea of a free republic, and its defenders - the nobility - the sons of the mother of their motherland.
The exhibition intertwines several narratives that try to explain the birth of the ATR, the historical consciousness of its citizens, the development of statehood and political ideas, the concept of Antemurale Christianitatis, and Sarmatianism - a fusion of Eastern and Western cultures, a bridge between the two worlds. How could it be without warfare? Visitors will learn about the most famous battles of the time, the genius of military thought, strategy and tactics of the commanders.
The exhibition in Kaunas will include more than 200 authentic 16th and 17th-century artefacts on loan from 15 museums in Ukraine, Poland and Lithuania. This wealth of unique artefacts highlights the ethos, values and political culture of the Sarmatian warlords of the GDL and the ATR. The Sarmatian warlords that emerge in the exhibition will remind us of the strong worldview and way of life of the Antemurale Christianitatis - the bastion of Christianity built by the people of Lithuania, Poland and Ukraine, which defended European civilisation under a common flag.
In addition to the exhibits, the exhibition will also feature lectures by Lithuanian and Polish historians, film screenings, and a weekend of educational activities for schoolchildren and families.
