THE SECRET PROJECT OF MAZEPA

(Continued from the previous issue)

«Why did Ivan Mazepa choose the Swedish king as ally? Did he get this idea off- the-cuff or nurture it gradually?»

«An alliance with Sweden was conceived back in the times of Bohdan Khmelnytsky who wanted to actively involve the Swedes in his national liberation plans. This question emerged, naturally, in the times of Charles XII who supported Stanislaw Leszczynski, a contender for the Polish throne. The very first negotiations over the future alliance quite satisfied Mazepa. For the question was not of Ukraine's status of a vassal but only of military and political support by Sweden. Moreover, it was the question of an ally from remote lands, who laid no claims to Ukrainian black soil or the industrious Ukrainian people.

«We have today a few articles of the Ukrainan-Swedish treaty quoted in 1712 in a document drawn up by Pylyp Orlyk, ‘The Making of Independent Ukraine.' It read, among other things, that ‘His Royal Majesty shall defend Ukraine and the lands adjacent to the Country of Cossacks, and immediately send there troops for help, whenever necessary and asked by the Prince (the Hetman —Ed. ). When entering the country, these troops will be commanded by Swedish generals, but during operations in Ukraine, His Majesty shall place them under the command of the Prince and his deputies. This shall last as long as Ukraine is in need of the troops whom His Majesty will pay salary and the Cossacks will provide with bread and foodstuffs.' The treaty also pointed out: ‘...everything to be won back from the Muscovite territory shall belong to the one who captures it. Ivan Mazepa, the legitimate Prince of Ukraine, shall not be deprived in whatever way of owning this principality until his death which, let us hope, will not occur soon. Ukraine's estates shall preserve all their liberties according to their rights and old laws.'»

«In other words, the treaty between Charles XII and Mazepa was a bilateral international treaty which sealed the alliance of two sovereign states.»

«Mazepa and Cossack officer corps thus seriously raised the idea of the unification of all Ukrainian lands, following the footsteps of Bohdan Khmelnytsky and Charles X Gustav.»

«Judging by the reminiscences of contemporaries, Mazepa was a very contradictory and far-from-sinless person. Negative traits must have played a considerable role in his nature and destiny...»

«Yes. It is probably because of this that he evoked tremendous interest among writers and politicians. He had works dedicated to him by the Englishman Byron, the Frenchman Hugo, the Pole Slowacki, the Russian poets Ryleyev and Pushkin. In Ukrainian literature, T. Shevchenko, S. Rudansky, B. Lepky, Yu. Darahan, V. Sosiura et al. wrote about Mazepa. They gave various assessments of the rebellious Hetman's activities. Some writers, including the Russian revolutionary poet K. Ryleyev, tried to make Mazepa the hero of freedom. Taras Shevchenko, reflecting on the destiny of Ukraine, wishes the Fastiv Colonel Semen Paliy and the Left-Bank Ukraine Hetman Ivan Mazepa had joined forces. Had this happened, the developments in Ukraine would have taken a different turn and it would not have been ruled by a despotic Tsar.

«As a result of his character, Mazepa made many mistakes and, indeed, outwitted himself. His excessive caution and suspiciousness turned against him at the decisive hour. Suffice it to recall that he, disguising his true intentions, reminded the priests to hold prayer services in churches for the victory of Peter I. He, of course, underrated the influence of the religious factor on the Ukrainian Cossacks and common people. Ivan Mazepa began to introduce serfdom in Ukraine, which is unpardonable for him as a European by spirit and education. He also displayed a cavalier attitude toward the common people, rejecting the people's ideas of loyalty, fraternity, and self-sacrifice. As you know, his intrigues claimed the lives of Colonel Iskra, Justice-General Kochubey, and a Ukrainian Cossack leader Semen Paliy. However, it seems to me those sacrifices were made not for the sake of his own enrichment or other gains but for the sake of strengthening the Ukrainian state. Some of his nefarious actions can also be justified by the fact that he had to follow in the wake of mean Muscovites who disdained no methods to expand their territories.

«However, I cannot understand and absolve this action of the old Hetman: he seduced the young and inexperienced Motria Kochubey, thus breaking a religious taboo (he was godfather of the famous Leonty Kochubey's daughter), and wanted to marry her. But still, if we are to consider Ivan Mazepa a great sinner and criminal, then what can we call Peter I who, after Tsarina Sophia had been toppled, personally clubbed to death the two hundred streltsy (Moscow Tsar's lifeguard riflemen — Ed. ) who sided with her, and killed his son with his own hands? And is not he to blame for the death of many thousands of people, including Ukrainian Cossacks and peasants, during the construction of St. Petersburg? And can we justify the total extermination of the old- rite believers? What can we say about the morality of the drunkard Aleksandr Menshikov, Peter I's most trusted lieutenant, who razed to the ground the innocent town of Baturyn?»

«Yet, account should be taken for the Ukrainian people. After all, they did not support Ivan Mazepa and did not side with the Swedes. Why?»

«It seems to me the well- known Ukrainian national mentality played a great role here. The never-ending foreign forays ruined the national unity of Ukrainians. This phenomenon assumed especially wide currency among the well-to-do, for their souls had been deformed by huge private property: manors, lands, pastures... Many of them found it hard to understand Mazepa who, in spite of his wealth, invested money in the construction of churches and monasteries and in culture and education, rather than in the building of his own palaces... In general, the last war showed Ivan Mazepa who was who in his entourage, but it was too late. The siege Menshikov had laid to Baturyn might have lasted very long if there had not been a Pryluky sotnyk (Cossack lieutenant —Ed. ) Ivan Nis among the town defenders, who showed the invaders a secret passage. Equally nefarious actions were done by many from Mazepa's entourage after his defeat in the Battle of Poltava. They at once defected to the Muscovite Tsar and began to unanimously curse Mazepa. Probably, as long ago as during the Tatar-Mongol invasion, the Ukrainian national mentality was dealt a series of crushing blows that gradually undermined and deformed it.»

«As is known from history, Hetman Mazepa had a rather tense relationship with Zaporizhian Sich...»

«Indeed, the Hetman failed to establish good relations with the arbitrary and bellicose Zaporizhian Cossacks from the very first days of his rule. He aspired to build a strong state with settled-life Cossacks who would protect the whole territory from the enemies. He wanted to form a regular army based on registered Cossacks, which would obey the Hetman's orders. These annoying misunderstandings resulted in the fact that in the decisive moment of the Poltava Battle Mazepa was only assisted by kosh otaman (Cossack camp commandant — Ed. ) Kost Hordiyenko with a small detachment of Zaporizhian Cossacks.»

«Does the Ruin of Mazepa's time remind you of the current situation in Ukraine?»

«Much to my regret, the historical experience of state- building has taught almost no lessons to modern leading politicians who recognize themselves in Ukraine, not Ukraine in themselves. They continue their never-ending squabble for the mace and horsetail standards. And even though there is no bloodshed, the nation is gradually dying spiritually. It seems to me present-day Ukraine needs, as never before, a wise head and a strong hand. This in turn requires a national idea which would soar over all party-related likes and dislikes.

«September 21, 1999, is the 290th anniversary of the death of the rebellious Hetman Ivan Mazepa. Shortly before his demise, he and the Swedish king with what remained of his army were rushing across the wild steppes. Mazepa was stunned and depressed at what had happened. They soon crossed the river Bug to the Turkish bank. Tsar Peter I repeatedly demanded that the Turkish pasha extradite Mazepa in exchange for huge money. But the pasha remained faithful to the Koranic commandments which do not allow extradition of fugitives who asked for asylum.

«Hetman Mazepa is facing his tragic denouement. After it was announced he was dying, crowds of Cossacks, Poles, Swedes, and Turks began to gather outside the Hetman's house. The Swedish King Charles XII and official representatives of England and Holland appeared at midday to say farewell to their friend and ally, but the Hetman was already unable to recognize anybody.

«A legend was making rounds of Ukraine for a long time that Hetman Mazepa had not died and been buried at Bendery. A mock funeral was held, but in reality the Hetman secretly made his way to Kyiv, adopted monasticism and ended his life repenting at Kyiv- Pechersk Lavra monastery.»