Published : 2016-11-30

Despised, Yet Necessary

The Paradox of Beggars in the Old Polish Period

Abstract

The aim of this article is to show the position of beggars in the Old Polish period. They had one of the lowest positions in the hierarchical and class society in the Republic of Poland. As they did not belong to any recognized social group (e.g. family or guild), had no assets and were often homeless, they were despised and people suspected the worst of them. They often belonged to the margins of society, or the so-called people of the road. They were therefore excluded from the basic social structures. Residents of recognized institutions, such as hospitals, were also engaged in begging.
At the same time, beggars were paupers and as poor men they had the face of Christ. The so-called poverty was a necessary goal of charity resulting from the basic principle of Christianity, i.e. love. Alms – different forms of donation – were a prerequisite for salvation. In return, donors expected that the donated would pray for them.
Thus, on the one hand, beggars were humiliated and despised; on the other hand, they were a necessary condition for the proper functioning of Christian charity.

Keywords:

beggars, poverty, charity, support, medieval hospital, almshouse



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Jabłońska, A. (2016). Despised, Yet Necessary: The Paradox of Beggars in the Old Polish Period. Biografistyka Pedagogiczna, 1(1), 133–150. https://doi.org/10.36578/BP.2016.01.08

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"Biografistyka Pedagogiczna" received funding for the years 2022-2024 from the funds of the Minister of Education and Science under the programme „Rozwój Czasopism Naukowych”.

Project duration: 2023-2024.

The amount of co-financing is 65 992,00 PLN

Contract number: RCN/SP/0434/2021/1