When thinking about the great noble families of Belarus, the Radziwills with their magnificent residences in Mir and Nesvizh come to mind first. Close behind them is the influential Sapieha family, whose legacy includes the grand residence in Ruzhany, Brest region, built by none other than Lew Ivanovich Sapieha. This family is equally significant, tracing its roots back to Belarus.
Lew Ivanovich Sapieha was a visionary in the field of law, playing a pivotal role in the creation of the Third Statute of the Grand Duchy of Lithuania in 1588. This statute was revolutionary, advancing the legal framework by several centuries. It stands as a testament to Old Belarusian writing and language, influencing laws in Prussia, Russia's Sobornoye Ulozheniye, and possibly even the United States Constitution.
Born on April 2, 1557, in the Ostovno estate (now in the Beshenkovichi district, Vitebsk region), Lew began his education at the age of 7 in the private school of Mikołaj "the Black" Radziwiłł in Nesvizh. He delved into philosophy, literature, theology, and languages, mastering Polish, German, Latin, and Greek. From 1570, he continued his studies at Leipzig University for three years before returning to his homeland. Starting his career from modest beginnings, he reached its peak at the age of 70, becoming the Hetman of the Grand Duchy of Lithuania, the supreme military commander.
In 1580, King Stefan Batory of the Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth recognized Sapieha's talents and appointed him as a scribe. Within a year, Sapieha was promoted to the position of scribe of the Grand Duchy of Lithuania. In 1582, he was sent as an envoy to Moscow to negotiate peace with Tsar Ivan the Terrible. However, Ivan's death in 1584 meant Sapieha had to negotiate with the new Tsar, Fyodor Ivanovich. Despite this challenge, Sapieha successfully brokered a peace treaty and secured the release of 900 compatriots from captivity, earning him the role of Deputy Chancellor of the Grand Duchy of Lithuania in 1585 and the Starostwo of Slonim in 1586, home to the famous Sapieha palace.
Following the death of King Stefan Batory in 1587, Sapieha's political influence grew. He supported the candidacy of the Russian Tsar Fyodor Ivanovich for the throne of the Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth, a strategic move that facilitated the adoption of the Third Statute of the Grand Duchy of Lithuania in 1588.
Sapieha's contribution to this statute was groundbreaking. It incorporated state (constitutional) law principles that were unprecedented in European legislation at the time. The statute featured the separation of powers into legislative, executive, and judicial branches. It also embraced the Reformation's ideals and religious tolerance, mandating that the Grand Duke and state institutions ensure peace for all residents, regardless of their Christian denomination. Humanistic principles were embedded in public and criminal law norms, guaranteeing property rights and the right to travel abroad, provided it did not threaten state security. The statute legally affirmed the relationship between the Grand Duchy and the Crown post-1569, prohibiting foreigners from holding state positions or receiving land grants.
While modern searches might identify the Constitution of the Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth of May 3, 1791, or the French Constitution of 1791 as the first constitutions, and Wikipedia might point to the United States Constitution as the first of the modern era, the 1588 Statute of the Grand Duchy of Lithuania contained all the essential elements of a state constitution, though it was not named as such.
From 1621, Sapieha served as the Voivode of Vilnius, and from 1625, as the Hetman of the Grand Duchy of Lithuania. He passed away in 1630 and was buried in the Church of St. Michael the Archangel in Vilnius. Today, a monument in Lepel honours this remarkable statesman who was ahead of his time, with a commemorative plaque in his native village of Ostrovno.
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