In the face of the second partition of the Commonwealth, having in 1793 become the Having suppressed the uprising, M. K. Oginskis retreated to Western Europe. In exile he Grand Treasurer of Lithuania, M. K. Oginskis was among those who aimed to “give hope became actively involved in the activities of political immigrants who aimed to restore and comfort to the citizens of the remaining part of the Commonwealth in adopting the nationhood of the Commonwealth. In early 1796, as the representative of the im- the law of good governance and returning peace and happiness to the people”. How- migrants, he travelled to the Ottoman Empire in his quest for support. From Constan- ever, these e orts were crushed by the force of foreign countries, which M. K. Oginskis tinople he sent a letter to General Napoleon Bonaparte, asking for help to liberate 20 EURO COIN DEDICATED described with the following words: “What a state of real captivity, when you cannot Poland and Lithuania from Russia’s yoke. The answer was unequivocal: “A nation, TO THE 250TH ANNIVERSARY own your opinion and to the shame of all must allow that, which has been brutally struck down by its neighbours, can only rise with weapon in hand” (M. K. Oginskis, OF THE BIRTH Lithuanian raped. What a situation, worthy of the mercy of the Poles! Those who once created Memoirs, Vol. II, p. 121). OF MYKOLAS KLEOPAS OGINSKIS laws for foreign countries, now with clipped walls must obey the commands of their After returning to Lithuania in 1801, this political immigrant continued to dedicate all his Collectors neighbours” (from M. K. Oginskis’ speech at the Grodno Diet, on 25 September 1793). e orts to the restoration of the nationhood of the Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth. Silver Ag 925 In 1794, when the uprising began in Poland and Lithuania, M. K. Oginskis joined the Hopes to restore independence turned towards the new Russian emperor Alexander Quality proof Coins ranks of the rebels. Having returned to Vilnius on 29 April, he stepped down from the I. On 27 May 1811, M. K. Oginskis, together with Ksaveras Liubeckis (Ksawery Łubiecki) Diameter 38.61 mm. position of Lithuania’s Grand Treasurer and signed an oath — with all his power to con- and Kazimieras Pliateris (Kazimierz Plater), prepared and presented to the emperor a Weight 28.28 g tribute to the success of the uprising. He gave 138 thousand zloty for the needs of the memorandum in regard to the restoration of the Grand Duchy of Lithuania, and on 22 On the edge of the coin: uprising. On 5 May 1794, M. K. Oginskis was elected to the Supreme National Council, October — a draft decree, which was to ensure the autonomy of Lithuania within the FOR THE GOOD OF MY HOMELAND I GIVE MY PART while on 7 June, with 300 ri emen under his command and having 200 horsemen Russian Empire. In early 1812 this draft was supplemented with the draft Constitution under the command of lieutenant Kasparas Korsakas (Kasper Korsak), began the rst of the Grand Duchy of Lithuania, legitimising the sovereignty of Lithuania, as prepared Designed by military expedition of his life, the goal of which was to encourage an uprising in the by M. K. Oginskis and presented to Emperor Alexander I. In the Constitution particular Rūta Ona Čigriejūtė and Voivodeship of Minsk. At the end of July 1794, M. K. Oginskis organised another attack attention was paid to social and economic issues, the eradication of serfdom: it was Rytas Jonas Belevičius on the enemy-occupied territory; however, he was unable to cross the river and take planned to free the serfs over 10 years (1812–1821). M. K. Oginskis’ drafts received much Mintage 3,000 pcs. Issued 2015 over the fortress of Daugavpils. support from the nobility, but in June 1812, with the rise of the war between Russia and France, Lithuania’s autonomy project was no longer relevant for the Russian Empire. Information is available at the Bank of Lithuania Tel. +370 5 268 0316 Rietavas. By N. Orda. Toned With all hope lost in regard to regaining Lithuania’s nationhood, M. K. Oginskis signed over all his assets in Lithuania to his wife Marija de Neri and his children (Tadas, Ksaveras, E-mail: [email protected] lithograph printed at the www.lb.lt Lithographic Printing House Irenėjus, Amelija, Ema and Ida), while he himself moved to Italy. The last ten years of his of M. Fajans. Warsaw, 1876. life were spent in Florence. There he created music, published his memoirs(Mémoires de National Museum of Lithuania. Michel Oginski sur la Pologne et les Polonais, depuis 1788 jusqu’à la n de 1815, Paris,1826 ), wrote on musical theory in Letters About Music (Lettres sur la musique, 1828). M. K. Ogin- skis’ musical legacy consists of the opera Zélis et Valcour ou Bonaparte au Caire (1799), The coin was minted at the UAB Lithuanian Mint polonaises, waltzes, mazurkas, marches and songs. www.lithuanian-mint.lt
Doc Dr Ramunė Šmigelskytė-Stukienė Lithuanian Collectors Coins © Bank of Lithuania, 2015
Coins photographed by Arūnas Baltėnas Designed by Liudas Parulskis 20 EURO COIN DEDICATED TO THE 250TH The publication uses illustrations from the M. K. Čiurlionis National Museum of Art, Lithuanian State Historical Archives, ANNIVERSARY Vilnius University Library and a photo by Jūratė Motuzienė. OF THE BIRTH OF MYKOLAS KLEOPAS The cover depicts a fragment of a portrait of Count Mykolas OGINSKIS Kleopas Oginskis (by François Grenier de Saint-Martin (1793– 1867). From the Muzeum Archeologicznie w Wilnie / publié par J. K. Wilczyński. Paris, 1860. Lithograph. 35x26.5. Vilnius University Library Graphics Cabinet, MAwW IB(kn)-1).
Published by the Bank of Lithuania, Gedimino pr. 6, LT-01103 Vilnius Printed by UAB LODVILA, www.lodvila.lt On 15 October 1833, Mykolas Kleopas Oginskis (Michał Kle- Portrait of Mykolas Passport from the Kingdom of France, issued by cessfully worked, seeking to secure diplomatic support to the Commonwealth’s ofas Ogiński), a national and public gure, political émigré Kleopas Oginskis the minister in Great Britain, François Barthéle- reforms, while at the same time to receive a Dutch trading house loan, necessary from the former Polish-Lithuanian State — the Commonwe- (1765–1833) [copy]. my, authorised by the King of France, Louis XVI, for reforms to be implemented. Through the e orts of the diplomat, a treaty was alth — died in Florence. The remains of the former diplo- Painted by François to the Duke Oginski, Duchess Oginska and their signed with Amsterdam’s bankers, and the Commonwealth’s treasury was supple- mat, one of the leaders of the Kościuszko Uprising, nurturer Xavier Fabre (1766– people, returning through Calais to Hague. Lon- mented with a credit worth 3 million orins. of the idea of Lithuania’s statehood, composer and musical 1837). Canvas, oils, don. 3 January 1791, Lithuanian State Histori- In 1791 M. K. Oginskis was one of those who actively stood for the Constitution theoretician, were laid to rest at the Basilica di Santa Croce 69x54. M. K. Čiurlionis cal Archives, F. 1177, ap. 1, b. 63, l. 6. 1-1v. of May 3, although he considered it to not be radical enough. He wrote: “I accept in Florence. National Museum of that this Constitution is based on very wise and modest principles and more than “To serve one’s homeland!” — this was the life credo of an Art, Inv. No. ČDM Mt anything else is in line with the way of the people and the current situation in Eu- exceptional individual. Unfortunately, historical fractures at him in the spirit of the Age of Enlightenment 1474. rope, where, inevitably, anarchy and despotism will clash. [...] I still believe in my the end of the 18th– rst half of the 19th c. resulted in not na- ideas. From early childhood M. K. Oginskis country’s salvation, if twelve million countrymen unite to defend its borders and tional and public activities bringing M. K. Oginskis eternal was surrounded with music. At the twilight the Constitution, if the opposition, which really is not very great, but led by a few fame, but rather his musical legacy. Particularly his polonai- of his life, with the utmost respect he re- rich and powerful individuals, does not seek Russia’s support to destroy everything se, Farewell to the Homeland (Les Adieux à la Patrie), is a testament to the dramatic membered his rst music teacher from his that the Diet created and to provoke a major bloodshed; nally, if the King joins our fate of the Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth. The Commonwealth, which had alre- childhood — Józef Kozłowski (1757–1831) ne front and leads them to glory, and by his example inspires those who are de- ady turned on the road of a modern state: in the face of the rst partition in 1773 it who also became his good friend. M. K. termined to follow him!..” (from a 1791 letter from M. K. Oginskis to the Portuguese began to implement a large-scale national education reform and in 1791 adopted Oginskis, as a composer, was educated by diplomat António de Araújo e Azevedo). the famous Constitution of May 3. the ideas of the French encyclopedists, Jean In order to bring in more nobility as supporters of the Constitution, as well as to After the third partition (1795), the name of the Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth Jacques Rousseau, his musical views were demonstrate the unity of the noble and townspeople classes, on 16 April 1792, at was erased from the political map of Europe. The work of M. K. Oginskis, as of many impacted by the works on musical history the Vilnius Town Hall, he, together with 37 nobles, solemnly recorded themselves other prominent personalities of that time, went into oblivion. Only in the early 21st c., and aesthetics by the composers Giovanni in the municipality’s books. as a result of the united e orts of Lithuanian, Belarusian and Polish promoters of Battista Martini (1706–1784), Michel Paul cultural heritage, was this oblivion dispelled. The 250th anniversary of the birth of M. Guy de Chabanon (1730–1792), André Er- K. Oginskis was included in the UNESCO list of memorable dates and the year 2015 nest Modeste Grétry (1741–1813). in Europe was named the year of Mykolas Kleopas Oginskis. In this way this excep- In 1786 M. K. Oginskis aggressively joined Passport from the tional individual and his cultural legacy were returned to our historical memory. the political life of the state: elected by the president of the city Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth Diet to the institution that administered the state’s of Vilnius, Antanas nances (Grand Duchy of Lithuania Treasury Commission) he took on the reorganisa- Tyzenhauzas Mykolas Kleopas, son of Andrius Ignotas Oginskis tion of the customs network, presented ideas on the improvement of tax collection, (Antoni Tyzenhauz), (Andrzej Ignacy Ogiński, 1740–1787), Voivode speeding up of the digging of the Royal Channel between the Pina and Mukhavets issued to Mykolas of Trakai, and Paulina Šembek (Paula Szembek, rivers, founding of the port of Šventoji and other issues of improving the economic Kleopas Oginskis, circa 1737/1738–1797), was born on 25 Sep- state of the Grand Duchy of Lithuania. In 1788 he prepared and submitted to the Diet on his way to tember 1765 at the family manor in Guzów. The “Notes”, with which he proposed to improve the administration of Lithuania’s treasury Sokołów. Vilnius. decisive in uence on the formation of the per- and noted that “every citizen is required to try and search for ways that would revive 17 May 1794, sonality of M. K. Oginskis came from the talented trade, which brings real and unquestionable bene ts”. Lithuanian State pedagogue, bibliophile Jean Rolay — he gave his For his merits to the state, in 1788 M. K. Oginskis was awarded the Order of St. Stanis- Historical Archives. student a broad knowledge in the eld of humani- laus and in 1789 — the Order of the White Eagle. When the Four Year Diet (1788–1792) ties, natural and exact sciences, as well as nurtured came to a decision on increasing the army, on 2 March 1789 he earned his rst mili- tary rank — that of the Grand Duchy of Lithuania Army’s 10th cavalry ag rittmeister. That same year he was nominated as sword bearer of Lithuania. Portrait of Marija de Neri Oginskienė (Maria de In March 1790 the Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth and the Kingdom of Prussia Mykolas Kleopas Oginskis Neri Ogińska, 1778–1851). Painted by Domenico signed a union treaty and the Commonwealth’s foreign policy direction changed Pellegrini (1759–1840), circa 1815. Canvas (linen radically. M. K. Oginskis was appointed Envoy Extraordinary and Minister Plenipoten- tablecloth), oils, 205.5x129.5. M. K. Čiurlionis tiary of the Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth to the Dutch Republic and here he suc- (1765–1833) National Museum of Art, Inv. No. ČDM Mt 7818.