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RESEARCH PRODUCT

Kilka uwag o alkoholu i tytoniu w życiu żołnierzy polskich w XVII w. i w pierwszej połowie XVIII w

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For centuries alcohol had constituted a key component of soldiers’ diet. As early as in ancient times, health benefits of wine and its impact on human body were appreciated, foremostly its germicidal properties. Probably alcohol was popular among soldier of the first Piasts or knight of the time of regional disintegration, time of king Władysław 1 the Elbow-high, Casimir the Great or kings of the Jagiellonian dynasty. It may be presumed that the former only drank beer, however, knights in XIV-XV treated it as a common everyday beverage, relishing wine for special occassions and during feasts. In XVI century the list of alcoholic beverages was enriched by vodka - aqua vitae. In the first half of XVII century tobacco appeared on the list of recreational substances and Polish and Lithuanian soldiers soon became fond of smoking and chewing it. In XVII and XVIII century alcohol and tobacco were soldiers’ favourites for their assumed therapeutie and stimulating properties. In XVII it was conlirmed by authors of mcdical dissertations (including precursors of military medicine) and compilations o f knowledge useful in everyday life and economy. Highcst commanders of the Commonwealth’s army were lenient towards the problem of common use of alcohol and tobacco in the army. It was also acceplcd among the nobilily who were quite keen on abusing both, especially alcohol. As for the latter, noblemen who had nothing to do with military service could gel so drunk that foreign soldiers got really amazed. I lans Christian Holsten in his memoir eommented on one of the nobility - military feasts using the following words: „lollowing the Polish tradition, we were drinking disgustingly”. Large consumption of alcohol and tobacco in the army was accompanied by the awareness that both had negative impact on soldiers’ stance and health. As for alcohol, it was common knowledge that it negatively affected the discipline and frequenlly resulted in bestialities during military operations, as well as to criminal acts during time of peace and war. On the other hand, however, the lack of it seriously strained the morale ofthe army. Therefore it was fully approved, although there were some regulations in the Polish military law limiting the freedom of its use, however, mostly during military operations. No such bans were introduced pertaining to the use o f tobacco, and only in the military rules introduced sińce the 1720s smoking was first limited. Smoking was forbidden during military duty and in places where it was easy to set tire by accident. The reason behind introducing such regulations was quile prosaic - lear of incidental tire that could have disastrous consequences in towns and villages built mostly of wood.