Давня Річ Посполита в українській еміграційній та вітчизняній історичній літературі
Ancient Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth in Ukrainian Emigration and National Historical Literature

Summary/Abstract: The author examines trends in Ukrainian emigration and local historiography, highlighting the evolving scholarly interpretations of the Union of Lublin (1569). It is pointed out that both the so-called people’s and Soviet historiography interpreted the Act of July 1, 1569, as the seizure of Ukrainian lands by the Polish gentry, which was supposed to lead to increased national, religious, and social oppression of the autochthonous Ruthenian population of Kyiv, Volyn, and Podolia. It is emphasized that following Ukraine’s declaration of independence, Ukrainian historians faced a long and complex path toward objectively presenting the causes and nature of the Union of Lublin. The author examines the perspectives of Ukrainian historians from the American continent, who were the first to attempt a balanced assessment of events from the past centuries, as well as the complex transformations in the views of historians in independent Ukraine. The article reaches a clear conclusion that modern Ukrainian historiography is gradually embracing a thesis closer to historical reality – acknowledging the voluntary participation of Ruthenian regional elites in the formation of the Commonwealth of Both Nations. At the same time, attention is drawn to the complex political, economic, and social transformations that occurred over more than two centuries of the Polish-Lithuanian-Ruthenian federation, reshaping its multinational character. At the same time, attention is drawn to the complex political, economic, and social changes that took place during the more than two hundred years of history of the Polish-Lithuanian-Russian federation, which fundamentally transformed its multinational character.

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