Gente Ruthenus, natione Polonus[a] (Ruthenian origin, ofPolish nationality[b][2]) — a term describing the political and national self-identification of PolonizedRuthenians (modernBelarusians,Rusyns,Ukrainians).
The authorship of this phrase has historically been attributed to the Ruthenian-Polish Renaissance thinkerStanisław Orzechowski, who, in the absence of a Ruthenian state, outlined a new political identity for theRuthenian nobility. This identity emphasized a strong awareness of their Ruthenian origins while simultaneously acknowledging their belonging to the "Polish political nation".[c] Later research, however, has shown that Orzechowski did not use the exact phrasegente ruthenus, natione polonus.[4] The closest formulation he used wasgente Roxolani,[d] natione vero Poloni or, as he described himself,homo ex Ruthenis ortus, Romano tamen ritu.[e] The latter was meant to emphasize that Ruthenians could belong to different religious rites. Today, such interpretations of Orzechowski's views are questioned due to his pro-Polish stance.[6]
This self-identification became widespread inGalicia in the 19th century among Ruthenians who consciously chose Polishness as their new identity, allowing them to advance socially (e.g.,I. Vahylevych,O. Krynytsky,Yu. Lavrivsky). It was also adopted by members of the old Polonized Ruthenian aristocracy who "recalled" and appealed to their Ruthenian origins (e.g.,W. Dzieduszycki,J. Kossak,L. Sapieha). Emphasizing their "Ruthenianness" gave them the legitimacy to represent the Ruthenian people while promoting the idea of a "common homeland" and "brotherhood" of nations, aiming to align Ruthenian issues with Polish interests.[2] During theSpring of Nations, they formed their political committee — theRuthenian sobor and its publication — theDnevnik Ruskij, which, however, was less popular than theSt. George's faction and theSupreme Ruthenian Council. Despite this, they managed to secure prominent positions at thePrague Slavic Congress, 1848.
Today, this term and its derivatives are used retrospectively to describe members ofPolonized Ukrainian, Belarusian, and Lithuanian noble families from various historical periods.[7]
Derivatives such asgente ruthenus, natione lithuanus andgente polonus, natione lithuanus have also been used to describe Ruthenians[8] and Poles who lived in theGrand Duchy of Lithuania and, despite their origins, primarily identified as its citizens —Litvins.[9]
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