The function of footnotes in neo-Sarmatian prose – the use of Old Polish works in Jacek Komuda’s series "Orły na Kremlu"

Abstract

The article examines the use of 16th- and 17th-century texts in the works of Jacek Komuda, particularly in the Orły na Kremlu (Eagles in the Kremlin) series, which blends elements of historical and fantasy literature. Komuda, both a writer and a historical reconstructor, draws on premodern Polish literature to create an authentic depiction of 17th-century Poland and Moscow, while also highlighting its influence on contemporary cultural identity. The article specifically analyzes the footnotes in the novels, which not only point to sources but also provide space for the author to express his own reflections and digressions on Sarmatian culture. The texts used by Komuda include diaries, correspondence, belles-lettres, scholarly, and religious works, which allow for the reconstruction of the image of 17th-century nobility and its mindset. The article emphasizes the author’s distinctive approach to sources, often turning to later studies, a characteristic practice of reconstructors. The footnotes in Orły na Kremlu not only serve as erudite elements but also as a tool for shaping a neosarmatian vision of the past, reflecting Komuda’s libertarian and anti-modernist tendencies in his literature.