Krzysztof Zygmunt Pac
Encyclopedia
Krzysztof Zygmunt Pac (1621–1684) was the Chancellor
(1658–1684) of the Grand Duchy of Lithuania
.
He was the brother of Michał Kazimierz Pac, the Great Lithuanian Hetman
(1667–1682) who sponsored St Peter and St Paul's Church in Vilnius
, a masterpiece of Baroque architecture
. After their deaths, the influence of the Pac family deteriorated.
K. Z. Pac was an educated man. He studied in Kraków
, Liège (now Belgium), and for eight years at the University of Perugia
in Florence, Italy. When he returned to the commonwealth he obtained permission from Rome to establish a monastery for the Order of Camaldolese
. The construction started in 1664. This monastery is now known as Pažaislis monastery
and is considered to be one of the best examples of baroque architecture
in the lands of present Lithuania
.
In 1673 K. Z. Pac succeeded in passing a law stating that the convention of every third Sejm
of the Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth should take place in Hrodna
, a city in the Grand Duchy of Lithuania
. He was also appointed Vilkaviškis
elder
.
He was married to Klara Isabelle de Mailly (~1631/35-1685), an authoritative woman. Their first born son died at the age of eight days and they had no other children. Instead, K. Z. Pac helped to launch his nephew's political career; he later continued to sponsor construction of the Pažaislis monastery.
He, his wife and their son were all buried in the cemetery of Pažaislis monastery. Their grave was robbed and vandalized several times during the monatsery's eventful history. In 2003 they were properly reburied in a ceremony led by Kaunas
archbishop
Sigitas Tamkevičius
.
Kanclerz
Kanclerz was one of the highest officials in the historic Poland. This office functioned from the early Polish kingdom of the 12th century until the end of the Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth in 1795. A respective office also existed in the Grand Duchy of Lithuania since the 16th...
(1658–1684) of the Grand Duchy of Lithuania
Grand Duchy of Lithuania
The Grand Duchy of Lithuania was a European state from the 12th /13th century until 1569 and then as a constituent part of Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth until 1791 when Constitution of May 3, 1791 abolished it in favor of unitary state. It was founded by the Lithuanians, one of the polytheistic...
.
He was the brother of Michał Kazimierz Pac, the Great Lithuanian Hetman
Hetman
Hetman was the title of the second-highest military commander in 15th- to 18th-century Poland and the Grand Duchy of Lithuania, which together, from 1569 to 1795, comprised the Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth, or Rzeczpospolita....
(1667–1682) who sponsored St Peter and St Paul's Church in Vilnius
Vilnius
Vilnius is the capital of Lithuania, and its largest city, with a population of 560,190 as of 2010. It is the seat of the Vilnius city municipality and of the Vilnius district municipality. It is also the capital of Vilnius County...
, a masterpiece of Baroque architecture
Baroque architecture
Baroque architecture is a term used to describe the building style of the Baroque era, begun in late sixteenth century Italy, that took the Roman vocabulary of Renaissance architecture and used it in a new rhetorical and theatrical fashion, often to express the triumph of the Catholic Church and...
. After their deaths, the influence of the Pac family deteriorated.
K. Z. Pac was an educated man. He studied in Kraków
Kraków
Kraków also Krakow, or Cracow , is the second largest and one of the oldest cities in Poland. Situated on the Vistula River in the Lesser Poland region, the city dates back to the 7th century. Kraków has traditionally been one of the leading centres of Polish academic, cultural, and artistic life...
, Liège (now Belgium), and for eight years at the University of Perugia
University of Perugia
University of Perugia is a public-owned university based in Perugia, Italy. It was founded in 1308, as attested by the Bull issued by Pope Clement V certifying the birth of the Studium Generale....
in Florence, Italy. When he returned to the commonwealth he obtained permission from Rome to establish a monastery for the Order of Camaldolese
Camaldolese
The Camaldolese monks and nuns are part of the Benedictine family of monastic communities which follow the way of life outlined in the Rule of St. Benedict, written in the 6th century...
. The construction started in 1664. This monastery is now known as Pažaislis monastery
Pažaislis Monastery
Pažaislis monastery and church form the largest monastery complex in Lithuania, and the most magnificent example of Italian baroque architecture in the country...
and is considered to be one of the best examples of baroque architecture
Baroque architecture
Baroque architecture is a term used to describe the building style of the Baroque era, begun in late sixteenth century Italy, that took the Roman vocabulary of Renaissance architecture and used it in a new rhetorical and theatrical fashion, often to express the triumph of the Catholic Church and...
in the lands of present Lithuania
Lithuania
Lithuania , officially the Republic of Lithuania is a country in Northern Europe, the biggest of the three Baltic states. It is situated along the southeastern shore of the Baltic Sea, whereby to the west lie Sweden and Denmark...
.
In 1673 K. Z. Pac succeeded in passing a law stating that the convention of every third Sejm
Sejm
The Sejm is the lower house of the Polish parliament. The Sejm is made up of 460 deputies, or Poseł in Polish . It is elected by universal ballot and is presided over by a speaker called the Marshal of the Sejm ....
of the Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth should take place in Hrodna
Hrodna
Grodno or Hrodna , is a city in Belarus. It is located on the Neman River , close to the borders of Poland and Lithuania . It has 327,540 inhabitants...
, a city in the Grand Duchy of Lithuania
Grand Duchy of Lithuania
The Grand Duchy of Lithuania was a European state from the 12th /13th century until 1569 and then as a constituent part of Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth until 1791 when Constitution of May 3, 1791 abolished it in favor of unitary state. It was founded by the Lithuanians, one of the polytheistic...
. He was also appointed Vilkaviškis
Vilkaviškis
Vilkaviškis Until 1940 the city had a large Jewish Community which was annihilated by the Nazis and their local collaborators. The whole Jewish population was killed in a single day,, after the entry of the Germans into the city.-Names:...
elder
Elder (administrative title)
The term Elder is used in several different countries and organizations to indicate a position of authority...
.
He was married to Klara Isabelle de Mailly (~1631/35-1685), an authoritative woman. Their first born son died at the age of eight days and they had no other children. Instead, K. Z. Pac helped to launch his nephew's political career; he later continued to sponsor construction of the Pažaislis monastery.
He, his wife and their son were all buried in the cemetery of Pažaislis monastery. Their grave was robbed and vandalized several times during the monatsery's eventful history. In 2003 they were properly reburied in a ceremony led by Kaunas
Kaunas
Kaunas is the second-largest city in Lithuania and has historically been a leading centre of Lithuanian economic, academic, and cultural life. Kaunas was the biggest city and the center of a powiat in Trakai Voivodeship of the Grand Duchy of Lithuania since 1413. During Russian Empire occupation...
archbishop
Archbishop
An archbishop is a bishop of higher rank, but not of higher sacramental order above that of the three orders of deacon, priest , and bishop...
Sigitas Tamkevičius
Sigitas Tamkevičius
Sigitas Tamkevičius is a Lithuanian archbishop of the Roman Catholic Church. He currently serves as Archbishop of Kaunas....
.