Vasyl Konstantyn the Duke of Ostrog and Ukrainian Cossacks: the Dynamics of the Relations and the Interaction

Abstract

The article analyzes complicated and controversial relations between Vasyl Konstantyn the Duke of Ostrog and Ukrainian Cossacks in the second part of the 16th century. The purpose of the article is to study the linkage of V.-K. the Duke of Ostrog and the representatives of Ukrainian Cossacks in the end of the 16th century. The methodological basis of the study are chronological, historical-retrospective and system-structural methods. Various views of contemporaries and historians concerning the relations of the Duke and the Cossacks were studied. It was outlined that the Duke of Ostrog was balancing between the need to protect his property from Cossacks’ raids and the wish to save his authority within the Cossacks’ environment especially during Kosynskyy and Nalivaiko rebellions. It is defined that the Duke of Ostrog provided his own strategy on Cossacks that often didn’t meet the expectations of the Polish Crown. In spite of the king’s decree the Duke cooperated with the Cossacks engaging them in military campaigns in 1560th. Since the 1570th due to disregard of the king’s government for defense issues the Duke of Ostrog was providing independent policy supporting Ivan Pidkova’s claim for the Moldovan Throne, while formally refusing to help. It is noted that the Duke of Ostrog chose the way of peacekeeping and neutrality avoiding direct confrontation with Cossacks who usually originated from Duke’s lands. Also the article mentions the complication of relations between the Duke and the Cossacks in the end of the 16th century when the Cossacks headed by Krzysztov Kosinski were robbing the Duke’s property. After the raid to the Volyn possessions the preventive actions were taken, the fortifications were built and the ways for the rebels were blocked. In 1595 the Duke’s army won at P’yatka that paved the way to peace. The analysis of the Duke of Ostrog role in Severyn Nalyvaiko rebellion defines that in spite of rumors about his secret relations with Nalyvaiko the Duke kept neutral and didn’t provide his forces to suppress the uprising. Conclusion. Vasyl Konstantyn the Duke of Ostrog aimed to keep his authority as an influential rus orthodox magnate, who protects his property and acts as a defender of the nation and orthodox faith avoiding the direct confrontation with the Polish Crown.