BORYS HRINCHENKO’S HISTORICAL VIEWS: THE UKRAINIAN NATIONAL REVOLUTION IN THE MIDDLE OF THE XVIITH CENTURY IN THE COVERAGE OF THE INTELLECTUAL

Abstract

The purpose of the research is to reconstruct B. Hrinchenko’s historical views concerning the events of the Ukrainian National Revolution of the mid-XVIIth century, the author’s assessments of B. Khmelnytskyi’s and the Hetmans of Ukraine during the ‘Ruina’ time (Ruin), to determine the reasons for the loss of the Ukrainian statehood and actualization of this historical experience for the Ukrainian Liberation Movement development at the end of the XIXth – the beginning of the XXth century. The methodology of the research is based on the principles of historicism, systematicity, anthropic, interdisciplinarity. General historical methods of analysis and synthesis have been used, as well as special historical ones – historical genetic, comparative, typological. The authors adhere to the basic principles of historiographical analysis. The scientific novelty consists in the fact that a wide range of historical, historiographical and literary sources covered B. Hrinchenko’s views on the history of Ukraine in the middle of the XVIIth century (Khmelnychchyna and Ruina). The Conclusions. B. Hrinchenko’s works on historical themes are a talented popularization of the history of Ukraine in a form accessible to the masses, without primitivization and distortion of facts. Conceptually, B. Hrinchenko relied on the longevity of the Ukrainian history according to M. Hrushevskyi. Due to elaboration of historical sources and scientific literature, which allowed him to rise to the popular science and even research level (the monograph “Hetman Ivan Vyhovskyi, his Life and Deeds”, 1909). In addition, B. Hrinchenko focused on activity of several Hetmans: B. Khmelnytskyi, I. Vyhovskyi and P. Doroshenko. He was critical of B. Khmelnytskyi’s activities and the Treaty of Pereyaslav with Moscow in 1654, considered the treaty forced, but historically tragic for the Ukrainian statehood fate. I. Vyhovskyi’s and P. Doroshenko’s state-building activity and geopolitical combinations were assessed by B. Hrinchenko as the experience of struggle against Moscow influences.

1. Hrinchenko’s long-term, persistent work on popularization of the historical experience of the Ukrainian National Revolution of the middle of the XVIIth century prepared, under the conditions of the public life modernization and the Ukrainian nationally conscious elite formation, a favorable ground for the further struggle for the Ukrainian statehood and its revival in 1917 – 1921.

   Key words: B. Hrinchenko, the Ukrainian National Revolution of the middle of the XVIIth century, historical views.