Friends

Friends! On this day in 1639 was born Ivan Mazepa - Ukrainian political and military figure, Hetman of the Cossack Army. When he was hetman, Ukraine was characterized by its economic and social development, the rise of the church and religious life and culture. Despite the fact that in Soviet times Mazepa was known as a "traitor" because during the Northern War (1700-1721), he defected to the Swedish empire and betrayed the interests of Moscow, in fact, Hetman above all put Ukraine's independence.

Ivan Mazepa was born in Mazepynci (near the Bila Tserkva), came from a noble family of Mazepa Koledynskyh. From the childhood he studied military affairs, fencing. The future Hetman finished Kyiv-Mohyla Academy. Subsequently Mazepa was sent to the service of King Casimir.

Ivan quickly gained confidence, he was sent to study abroad, after returning – he was sent on several diplomatic missions in Ukraine, the Ottoman Empire, Muscovy. And after Mazepa came into conflict with the Polish gentry, he lost the grace of the king and returned home.

In 1669 Mazepa went into the service of Hetman Petro Doroshenko. He was able to find the purpose of life - to serve the good of the Ukrainian state. By the way, when he married the older widow Anna Frydyrkevych. He lived with her for more than 30 years - until the end of her life, and even after death he cared of their stepchildren.

Left Bank Hetman Mazepa became in 1687. He was 50, he had a serious life and political experience. The goal was unification Hetman Cossack landsof the Left Bank, Right Bank, Zaporozhye and, at best, Slobozhanschyna, Ottoman Ukraine in a united Ukrainian state. Unfortunately, immediately to get everyone was impossible, so the first goal was to obtain the greatest possible autonomy.

Ivan Mazepa supported Ukrainian identity by all possible means. He built at the expense of Kyiv-Mohyla Academy and the College of Chernigov, in all Hetman - churches in the Ukrainian Baroque style. Hetman actively published works, started a real "cultural renaissance", which included not only art and architecture, but also philosophy, theology, literature and science.

In 1689 was crowned Russian Tsar Peter, Mazepa helped him in the Azov campaigns, relations with the king were friendly, until the Northern War began. Then Peter, known reformer, decided to change his approach to everything, from the army and ending with the foreign policy views. Under threat came H guaranteed autonomy for which Mazepa supported the king. Peter meanwhile put at the head of Cossack regiments Moskovian and German commanders, who morale collapsed Cossacks. Ukrainian farmers were sad – Peter’s troops inflicted harm to the local population.

So Mazepa went to a deal with Charles XII. And then there was the Battle of Poltava, the final of which you know. After the victory of Peter I Mazepa and Karl XII fled to Moldova, which belonged to the Ottoman Empire. There, near the town of Bender Ivan Mazepa died – on the 21 or 22 September, 1709.

Ivan Mazepa is a figure that is still shrouded in legends. Many of them are concerned on his private life, he is often portrayed as a seducer. All through the perceptive story of his love – at the age of 65 years between him and the daughter of Cossack Army general judge Vasyl Kochubei Motria appeared feelings. Historians believe that there was no the physical relationship between the lovers was not only authentic and pure relations, correspondence. It is unknown how this affair would end, if not the Battle of Poltava. Ivan Mazepa and Motria gone forever. According to legend, she never married and devoted life to serving theGod.

Friends! Ivan Mazepa is an example of a statesman who tried to do everything possible to ensure that Ukraine would gain independence. We have to remember and honor his contribution to the development of Ukrainian statehood.