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Gustaw Herman Marcin Gizewiusz, or Gustav Gisevius (May 21, 1810 – May 7, 1848) was a Polish political figure, 
In the 19th century a Polish national revival begun in the areas of the partitioned state as well as in those territories that were lost to Poland before the partitions (
Google books
He encouraged the
folklorist
Folklore studies, less often known as folkloristics, and occasionally tradition studies or folk life studies in the United Kingdom, is the branch of anthropology devoted to the study of folklore. This term, along with its synonyms, gained currenc ...
, and translator. He was married to a Mazur Polish woman, who encouraged him to become a political figure. He was born in Pisz
Pisz (pronounced , previously also ''Jańsbork'', german: Johannisburg) is a historic town in the Warmian-Masurian Voivodeship in northern Poland, with a population of 19,466 (2016). It is the seat of Pisz County. Pisz is situated at the junct ...
(Johannisburg). From 1835 he was also an Evangelical-Lutheran pastor in Ostróda.
In the 19th century a Polish national revival begun in the areas of the partitioned state as well as in those territories that were lost to Poland before the partitions (Silesia
Silesia (, also , ) is a historical region of Central Europe that lies mostly within Poland, with small parts in the Czech Silesia, Czech Republic and Germany. Its area is approximately , and the population is estimated at around 8,000,000. S ...
, Farther Pomerania). In Masurian area - which was under Polish suzerainty until the 17th century - there was a Polish linguistic, though not yet widespread political revival.
The local Prussian authorities were hostile to the movement and, beginning in the 1830s, attempted to eradicate the Polish language
Polish (Polish: ''język polski'', , ''polszczyzna'' or simply ''polski'', ) is a West Slavic language of the Lechitic group written in the Latin script. It is spoken primarily in Poland and serves as the native language of the Poles. In ad ...
from schools in Masuria. The authorities' efforts however failed to bring the effects expected by the Prussian state. The defending action of the Polish population during the first half of the 19th century was led by Krzysztof Celestyn Mrongowiusz and Gizewiusz who became involved in the movement to counteract Germanization in Masuria.Józef Burszta, Bożena Beba, ''National culture of Masurs and Warmiaks'', Zakład Narodowy im. Ossolińskich, 1976, p. 5Google books
He encouraged the
Mazurs
The Masurians or Mazurs ( pl, Mazurzy; german: Masuren; Masurian: ''Mazurÿ''), historically also known as Prussian Masurians (Polish: ''Mazurzy pruscy''), is an ethnographic group of Polish people, that originate from the region of Masuria, ...
to maintain their Polish language and culture by publishing Polish-language texts for use in schools. He also recorded Mazurian folk songs which were later published in Oskar Kolberg's ''Dzieła Wszystkie''. He died in Ostróda
Ostróda (; Old Prussian: ''Austrāti'') is a town in northern Poland, in the historic region of Masuria. It is the seat of the Ostróda County within the Warmian-Masurian Voivodeship and has approximately 33,191 inhabitants (2009).
Ostród ...
(Osterode). In his honor, Łuczany (Lec, Lötzen), his ancestor's hometown, was renamed Giżycko.
Further reading
* Sławomir Augusiewicz, Janusz Jasiński, Tadeusz Oracki, ''Wybitni Polacy w Królewcu. XV-XX wiek'', Olsztyn, Littera, 2005,References