Kako je ukrajinski hetman Ivan Mazepa postao romantični junak u djelu istaknutog engleskog pjesnika Georgea Gordona Byrona? Koji su povijesni događaji inspirirali pjesnika da stvori poemu “Mazepa”? I zašto je Ivan Mazepa najpoznatiji Ukrajinac u kulturi Europe i Sjeverne Amerike? Razjasnimo!

U posljednje vrijeme se puno govori o tome je li Ukrajina dio Europe. Dio nje u povijesnom, kulturnom i političkom smislu. Pod utjecajem imperijalnog narativa, neki vjeruju da je ona bila i jest samo dio Rusije. Međutim, kratak izlet u povijest lako dokazuje: Ukrajina je neodvojiv dio europske zajednice, a u povijesnim događajima raznih vremena njezina je uloga često bila važna. I u borbi protiv sjevernog agresora nije joj prvi put da stupa u vojni savez s europskim susjedima.

Sjeverni rat

Veliki sjeverni rat vodio se za vlast u Sjevernoj, Istočnoj i Srednjoj Europi početkom 18. stoljeća između koalicija Švedske i Moskovije. Hetmanat (Ukrajina) je u to vrijeme bio vazal Moskovije. Između zemalja je bio potpisan ugovor o određenoj unutarnjoj i vanjskoj političkoj autonomiji Hetmanata, kao i o pomoći od Moskovije u zaštiti granica. Hetman ukrajinske države bio je Ivan Mazepa.

Godine 1708. vojska Moskovije se povlačila pod pritiskom Šveđana. Povlačeći se, Moskovljani su koristili taktiku “spaljene zemlje”, odnosno uništavali su sve na putu protivnika. Shvaćajući prijetnju od švedske vojske, Ivan Mazepa se obratio Petru I. za pomoć u jačanju vojnih jedinica koje su trebale braniti Hetmanat. Ali je dobio odbijenicu. Istovremeno s tim, porezno opterećenje na Hetmanat od strane Moskovije je raslo. Također se doznalo da car planira uništiti njezinu autonomiju i reorganizirati je kao redoviti dio svoje države. To je ugrozilo postojanje Hetmanata i Kozačke vojske. Stoga je hetman Mazepa stupio u savez s Karlom XII.

Bitka kod Poltave

U presudnoj bitki kod Poltave (Ukrajina) u lipnju 1709. vojska Hetmanata pod njegovim zapovjedništvom borila se na strani Šveđana. Ovu je bitku Karlo XII. izgubio. Kao rezultat, Švedsko je Carstvo izgubilo svoj utjecaj i teritorije. Moskovija je dobila izlaz na Baltičko more i značajno ojačala kao država. Godine 1721. Moskovija je preimenovana u Rusko Carstvo. Kao odmazda za savez s Karlom XII., glavni grad Hetmanata Baturin spaljen je od strane moskovske vojske zajedno s tisućama njegovih stanovnika. Autonomija Hetmanata je uništena.

Ivan Mazepa

Ubrzo nakon poraza kod Poltave, Ivan Mazepa je umro. Njegov nasljednik u izgnanstvu postao je Pilip Orlyk. Ipak, nasljeđe Ivana Mazepe živi i dan-danas. Hetman Mazepa je pridonio procvatu arhitekture, ukrajinskog baroka, obrazovanja, kulture i književnosti.

Ivan Mazepa je bio plemić s dobrim obrazovanjem i odgojem, govorio je 7-8 jezika. Vojni, politički djelatnik i mecena, svojedobno je ostavio snažan dojam na mladog Petra I. kada je stigao u Moskoviju zbog poslova Hetmanata-Ukrajine. Duge godine Mazepa je uspijevao održavati pozitivne odnose s carem. Ali hetman se vodio interesima Hetmanata. Zbog prelaska na stranu Šveđana Ivan Mazepa je u Moskoviji proglašen izdajnikom i izopćen iz crkve.

Bajronov romantični junak

U povijest kulture Mazepa je ušao kroz djela Byrona, Liszta, Hugoa, Verneta, Boulangera, Friča, Starickog i drugih. Stvaranju romantičnog junaka u Byronovoj poemi “Mazepa” poslužila je priča koja se Mazepi dogodila u mladosti. Muž jedne plemenite dame posumnjao je mladog Mazepu u romantičnu vezu sa svojom ženom. I kao kaznu, vezao je mladića golog na leđa konja i pustio ga stepom. Postoje sumnje da je ta priča bila istinita. Ali slika romantičnog junaka, plemenitog pobunjenika zaživjela je vlastitim životom. I dodala auru intrige i neobičnosti Mazepinoj biografiji.

Tekst poeme “Mazepa” Byrona u originalu možete pročitati ovdje.

Kao ilustracija materijala koristi se slika Johna Fredericka Herringa.

Byron’s Cossack Prince

How did Ukrainian Hetman Ivan Mazepa become a romantic hero in the work of the prominent English poet George Gordon Byron? What historical events inspired the poet to create the poem “Mazeppa”? And why is Ivan Mazepa the most famous Ukrainian in the culture of Europe and North America? Let’s figure it out!

Recently, there has been a lot of talk about whether Ukraine is part of Europe. Its part in a historical, cultural, and political sense. Under the influence of the imperial narrative, some believe that it was and is only part of Russia. However, a small historical excursion easily proves: Ukraine is an inalienable part of the European community, and in historical events of different times, its role was often important. And in the fight against the northern aggressor, it is not the first time it has entered into a military alliance with European neighbors.

The Great Northern War

The Great Northern War was fought for power in Northern, Eastern, and Central Europe at the beginning of the 18th century between the coalitions of Sweden and Muscovy. The Hetmanate (Ukraine) was a vassal of Muscovy at that time. A treaty was signed between the countries on a certain internal and foreign political autonomy for the Hetmanate, as well as on aid from Muscovy to protect the borders. The Hetman of the Ukrainian state was Ivan Mazepa.

In 1708, the army of Muscovy was retreating under pressure from the Swedes. As they withdrew, the Muscovites used a “scorched earth” tactic, that is, they destroyed everything in the path of the enemy. Realizing the threat from the Swedish army, Ivan Mazepa appealed to Peter I for help in strengthening the military units that were supposed to defend the Hetmanate. But he was refused. At the same time, the tax burden on the Hetmanate from Muscovy was increasing. It also became known that the tsar planned to destroy its autonomy and reorganize it as a regular part of his state. This threatened the existence of the Hetmanate and the Cossack army. Therefore, Hetman Mazepa entered into an alliance with Charles XII.

The Battle of Poltava

In the decisive battle near Poltava (Ukraine) in June 1709, the Hetmanate’s army under his command fought on the side of the Swedes. Charles XII lost this battle. As a result, the Swedish Empire lost its influence and territories. Muscovy gained access to the Baltic Sea and significantly strengthened as a state. In 1721, Muscovy was renamed the Russian Empire. As a retribution for the alliance with Charles XII, the capital of the Hetmanate, Baturyn, was burned by the Muscovite army along with thousands of its inhabitants. The Hetmanate’s autonomy was destroyed.

Ivan Mazepa

Soon after the defeat at Poltava, Ivan Mazepa died. His successor in exile became Pylyp Orlyk. However, Ivan Mazepa’s legacy lives on to this day. Hetman Mazepa contributed to the flourishing of architecture, Ukrainian baroque, education, culture, and literature.

Ivan Mazepa was a nobleman with a good education and upbringing, who spoke 7-8 languages. A military and political figure and a patron, he once made a great impression on the young Peter I when he arrived in Muscovy on the affairs of the Hetmanate-Ukraine. For many years, Mazepa managed to maintain a positive relationship with the tsar. But the Hetman was guided by the interests of the Hetmanate. For switching to the side of the Swedes, Ivan Mazepa was declared a traitor in Muscovy and excommunicated from the church.

Byron’s Romantic Hero

Mazepa entered the history of culture through the works of Byron, Liszt, Hugo, Vernet, Boulanger, Fric, Starytsky, and others. The story that happened to Mazepa in his youth served as the basis for the creation of the romantic hero in Byron’s poem “Mazeppa.” The husband of a noblewoman suspected the young Mazepa of a romantic relationship with his wife. As a punishment, he tied the young man naked to the back of a horse and let him loose in the steppe. There are doubts that this story was true. But the image of a romantic hero, a noble rebel, lived its own life. And it added an aura of intrigue and uniqueness to Mazepa’s biography.

The text of Byron’s poem “Mazeppa” in its original language can be read here.

John Frederick Herring’s painting is used as an illustration for the material.