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The Museum of Free Belarus continues to expand its collection, now gathering exhibits and historical artifacts from various eras that testify to the centuries-long struggle of the Belarusian people for freedom and dignity.
A new addition to the museum’s collection is a secret letter from the Voivode of Brest, a figure who resisted Russian expansion. The letter was written in 1773 by Jan Antoni Harain, a statesman of the Grand Duchy of Lithuania who held the position of Brest Voivode.
As the museum explains on social media, the letter was composed at a time when the territory of the Polish–Lithuanian Commonwealth was overrun by Russian and Prussian troops, and fierce conflict was taking place between rival political factions within the country.
For this reason, the author took several precautionary measures, fully aware of the level of surveillance over private correspondence. On the envelope, he signed his name as “J. Niaroh,” which, when read backward, revealed the true identity of the sender — “J. Horain.”
The letter was written on July 17, 1773, during the time of the Partition Sejm, initiated by Russia, Prussia, and Austria to legitimize the First Partition of the Polish–Lithuanian Commonwealth.
In his letter, Jan Antoni Harain touches upon various political issues. Among other things, he mentions that he was being persuaded to “sign something” — likely referring to the formal approval of the First Partition. However, the Voivode of Brest firmly responds: “I do not take resolutions and do not agree to such persuasion.”
Jan Antoni Harain (Polish: Jan Antoni Horain, 1686–1777) was a statesman and official of the Polish–Lithuanian Commonwealth. He served as the Voivode of Brest from 1768 until his death in 1777. In 1768, he joined the Bar Confederation, which he left in 1772.
The acquisition of the artifact became possible thanks to the support of the Embassy of the Kingdom of the Netherlands in Warsaw for the Museum of Free Belarus.
Original article: Reform.news
