The First “Mention” of the Vilnius Cathedral School in 1397: Between Myths and Facts

Abstract

Abstract. The aim of the article is to deconstruct, on the basis of primary sources and historiography, the erroneous historiographical tradition of the first mention of the Vilnius Cathedral School in 1397 by Jan Kurczewski (1854-1916) at the beginning of the twentieth century and the false historiographical tradition of 1397 as the first mention of Vilnius Cathedral School in the international historiography that has become the locus communis of the international historiography and to propose a linguistically based and historically valid meaning(s) for the Latin term “stubella”, different from “school”. The study makes use of various primary documentaries, lexicographical sources, and historiography. The data is processed using narrative, analysis and synthesis, and historiographical methods, as well as elements of lexicographical and retrospective methods. The results of the research are presented in three parts and conclusions.