HARROGATE LADIES’ COLLEGE
History coursework
‘The rulers of the Russian Empire were successful in suppressing nationalism in Left-bank
Ukraine between 1741 and 1855.” Assess the validity of this view.
n/a
2022-2023
This coursework examines how valid is the view that the rulers of the Russian Empire were successful
in suppressing nationalism in Left-bank Ukraine between 1741 and 1855. Footnotes contain details
about the sources and clarifications of some concepts, ideas etc. Appendices include maps, timelines,
and sources. The full list of the sources used could be found in the bibliography.
, 1
Зміст
Coursework.................................................................................................................................................2
Appendices................................................................................................................................................20
Bibliography...............................................................................................................................................28
, 2
Coursework
Nationalism1 in Left-bank Ukraine2 between 1741 and 1855 was manifested in the restoration
of the Hetmanate,3 the development of the Zaporizhia, 4 the formation of the Cyril and
Methodius Brotherhood,5 the praising of Ukrainian national heritage in ‘Eneida’, 6 and the
criticism of the Russian Empire in ‘Istoriia Rusov’. 7 When one manifestation of nationalism in
Left-bank Ukraine was suppressed by Russian rulers, 8 another one appeared. This way,
nationalism in Left-bank Ukraine survived between 1741 and 1855, 9 demonstrating that the
view that the rulers of the Russian Empire were successful in suppressing nationalism in Left-
bank Ukraine between 1741 and 1855 is invalid.
1
In this essay, I define ‘nationalism’ as in the Stanford Encyclopedia of Philosophy where nationalism is described
as two phenomena: the attitude – care of the members of a nation for their national identity, and the actions the
members of a nation take when they seek to achieve/sustain their self-determination. So, the demonstrations of
Left-bank Ukraine’s caring attitude to their national identity, and Left-bank actions directed to achieve or preserve
their self-determination and/or autonomy I consider as the expressions of nationalism.
2
In this essay, I define ‘Left-bank Ukraine’ as in the Internet Encyclopedia of Ukraine: A territorial-administrative-
geographic region consisting of the Ukrainian lands east of the Dnipro River. Ukrainian historians can also describe
these territories as ‘Лівобережжя’ (Livoberezhia). These territories were sees by the Russian Empire as being
under the influence of the Russian Empire since the Treaty of Andrusovo (1667). See
http://www.encyclopediaofukraine.com/ for more information about the division of Right-bank and Left-bank
Ukraine. See appendix 3 for a map illustrating the division of Ukraine in around 1750.
3
The Hetmanate refers to the Ukrainian Cossack state, which existed from 1648 to 1782. Some historians may call
these territories the Hetman state. The Hetmanate was established by Bohdan Khmelnytsky during the Cossack-
Polish War (1648–57). In 1663 the Hetmanate in Left-Bank Ukraine came under the control of the Russian Empire.
See http://www.encyclopediaofukraine.com/ for more information about the Hetmanate. See appendix 4 for a
map illustrating the Hetmanate in around 1750.
4
The Zaporizhia refers to the military and political organization of the Ukrainian Cossacks and of their autonomous
territory in Southern Ukraine from the mid-16th century to 1775. It bordered the Hetmanate in Left-Bank Ukraine
along the Dnipro River and its tributary, the Orel River. Its borders were established and were changing throughout
the years. See http://www.encyclopediaofukraine.com/ for more information about the Zaporizhia.
5
Cyril and Methodius Brotherhood refers to a secret society in Kyiv (1845–46), one of which aims was to ensure an
equal opportunity for all Slavic nations to develop their national language and culture. See
http://www.encyclopediaofukraine.com/ for more information about this society.
6
‘Eneida’ is a Ukrainian poem (a parody of Virgil's Aeneid), written by Ivan Kotliarevsky in 1798, which is
considered to be the first literary work published wholly in the modern Ukrainian language (Eneida, 2022). See
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Eneida for more information about this poem.
7
Istoriia Rusov (translated as ‘History of the Rus’ People’) is a document of Ukrainian political thought from the
end of the 18th or beginning of the 19th century, of unknown authorship with an underlying theme of the struggle
of the Ukrainian nation against foreign (Russian or Polish) domination. See
http://www.encyclopediaofukraine.com/ for more information about this document.
8
I consider all rulers of the Russian Empire from 1741 to 1855, except for Constantine (1825), who ruled for less
than a year, and thus was unable to introduce any policies towards Left-bank Ukraine. See appendix 1 for a
timeline of Russian rulers from 1741 to 1855.
9
See appendix 2 the timeline of the events discussed and analysed in the essay.
, 3
One of the expressions of nationalism under Elizabeth10 was the Cossacks’ petition to her in
1744 to allow them to restore the Hetmanate in Left-bank Ukraine, 11 which she failed to
suppress, as she allowed the restoration.12 However, Elizabeth did not adhere to the Cossacks’
tradition of a free election 13 and appointed Rozumovsky as the hetman, 14 which, Sokyrko notes,
highlighted her intention to limit the autonomy of the Hetmanate through Rozumovsky who
swore allegiance to her in 1751. 15 Nevertheless, Rozumovsky’s appointment backfired at
Elizabeth, because his remoteness from the Cossacks’ realities, and lack of ties allowed senior
Cossacks to rule over him.16 This, Subtelny argues, turned Rozumovsky’s rule into ‘the golden
autumn of the Hetmanate’s autonomy’. 17 Rozumovsky made the distribution of land possible
without the consent of Russian officials; and attempted to limit the arbitrariness of Russian
officials in Ukraine.18 Therefore, these policies and reforms strengthened the Hetmanate’s
autonomy,19 and, Kogut emphasizes, brought ‘the revival of Ukrainian autonomist sentiments’
10
Elizabeth (Ukrainian: Yelyzaveta Petrivna) ruled the Russian Empire from 1741 until 1761. She came to power as
a result of a coup d’etat, and her reign has been generally characterized as a return to the principles and traditions
of Peter the Great. See https://www.britannica.com/ for more information about her.
11
In their video When did Ukrainians appear?, Ukrainian historians - brothers Kapranovy express an idea that the
Ukrainian nation was born in around 1648 when Bohdan Khmelnytsky established the Hetmanate (during the
Cossack-Polish War (1648–57)).
After the Pereiaslav Treaty (1654), the Hetmanate became nominally a vassal of Muscovy, which damaged its
autonomy and sovereignty. Therefore, the petition to Elizabeth in 1744 to restore the Hetmanate could be
regarded as an expression of nationalism, as it was an action aimed to regain the previous self-determination of
the Ukrainian nation.
імені Т.Г Шевченка [named after T.G Shevchenko] (2019) Коли з’явились українці? [When did Ukrainians appear]
[Video file] (27:46). Retrieved July 10, 2022, from: https://www.youtube.com/
12
Figurniy, U. (2013). Українське державотворення на Лівобережжі в 1741–1796 роках в українознавчому
вимірі [Ukrainian state-building on Left-bank Ukraine in 1741–1796 in Ukrainian studies dimension]. (No
pagination). Retrieved October 21, 2022, from http://archive.ndiu.org.ua/
13
Read more about the Cossacks and their other traditions at: https://www.britannica.com/place/Ukraine/The-
autonomous-hetman-state-and-Sloboda-Ukraine
14
From 1648 the hetman was the head of the Hetmanate. He was s the supreme commander of the Cossack army;
the chief administrator and financial officer, presiding over the state's highest administrative body, the General
Officer Staff; the top legislator; and the supreme judge as well. Read more about Ukrainian hetmans at:
http://www.encyclopediaofukraine.com/display.asp?linkpath=pages%5CH%5CE%5CHetman.htm
15
Історія без міфів [History without myths]. (2021, June 26). Як Російська імперія знищила Гетьманщину // 10
запитань історику [How the Russian Empire destroyed the Hetmanate // 10 questions to the historian] [Video
file]. Retrieved October 21, 2022, from https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BIPc3UoY5eE
16
In the video ‘How the Russian Empire destroyed the Hetmanate // 10 questions to the historian’, Ukrainian
historian Sokyrko notes that Rozymovsky was educated abroad, had many Russian titles and one Ukrainian (the
Hetman), and was not familiar with the structure and the aims of the Hetmanate. Therefore, when he became the
Hetman, senior Cossacks were advising him on how to rule, which meant that he was implementing policies that
echoed the Cossacks’ interests (strengthening the Hetmanate’s autonomy).
17
Subtelny (2009, pp.170-171) gives such examples of the expanding autonomy of the Hetmanate: Rozumovsky’s
organization of a separate judiciary, the extension of the hetman's authority over Kyiv and the Zaporizhia, and
modernization of the Cossack army.
18
Vlasov, V. (2021). Історія України: Підручник для 8 класу загальноосвітніх навчальних закладів [History of
Ukraine: Textbook for the 8th grade of general educational institutions]. Kyiv, Ukraine: Litera LTD
19
This also suggests that the self-determination of the Ukrainian nation was strengthened.
