Ivan Mazepa is one of the most famous hetmans of Cossack Ukraine. He left a mark in history as a politician who fought for the independence of his state. In 2009, the Order of Mazepa was established in Ukraine, it is awarded for merits in national diplomatic activity, charity and state building.
Pedigree of Ivan Mazepa
Mazepa Ivan Stepanovich was born on March 20, 1640, some sources claim that a few years later on the farm Kamenets, later renamed Mazepintsy, near the White Church. The child was the offspring of the Ukrainian gentry. Ivan's mother Mary Magdalene was a respected, educated woman with her own political views. Throughout her life she was an adviser to her son. For the last 13 years of her life, she was abbess of the Kiev Caves Monastery.
Ivan's father Stepan-Adam Mazepa held a post surrounded by Hetman Vyhovsky.
Education
From childhood, Ivan Mazepa received an excellent education. In his father's estate, he studied horse riding and saber skills, studied various sciences. Then he became a student of the Kiev-Mohyla Collegium. A capable student is fond of the works of Roman and Greek philosophers,tends to European literature, speaks several foreign languages.
At the end of his studies, his father sends Ivan to the page service to the Polish king. At court, Ivan Mazepa shows himself to be an educated, promising gentry. He is sent to receive further education at universities in Western Europe. During the years of study, he managed to visit Italy, France, Germany and Holland.
The future Ukrainian hetman fascinated people at first sight. Not only the strength of his mind, but also flattering speeches and external qualities were his trump cards at the time of climbing the career ladder.
The situation in Ukraine
Ivan Mazepa, whose biography is still full of inaccuracies, has come a long way to the top of his political career. At the end of the 17th century, Cossack Ukraine was going through hard times. The lands were ruled by three hetmans, who were guided by different foreign political forces.
Pyotr Doroshenko was a protege of the Turkish Sultan, who had his own political interests in this territory.
Hetman Samoylovich took a pro-Russian position.
Ivan Mazepa, according to some sources, was excommunicated from the court for a quarrel with colleagues, according to others - for a relationship with a married lady. But be that as it may, in 1664, Jan Casimir sent an army to the Left-Bank Ukraine, Mazepa left the corps and went to his father's native village.
In 1665, after the death of his father, Ivan Mazepa took over his position and became a subchalice of Chernigov.
Dreaming of a political career, he marries the we althy widow AnnaFridrikevich, who soon dies and leaves him a huge fortune and useful connections. Anna's father, Semyon Polovets, being a general convoy, provides patronage to his son-in-law and arranges him for the service of Hetman Doroshenko. Under the “Turkish” hetman, the confident and cunning Mazepa became a captain of the court army and later a clerk.
In 1674 Doroshenko sends Mazepa to the Crimean Khanate and Turkey. As a present, he gives the Sultan slaves - left-bank Cossacks. In the Crimea, Ivan Sirko smashes him, but does not kill him, but hands him over to Samoylovich. The gift of persuading people worked, some sources claim that Mazepa's fiery speech saved his life.
Ivan Mazepa, whose biography is full of twists and turns of fate, began to look after the children of the Left-Bank Hetman, and a little later he was appointed captain for his faithful service. Samoilovich often sent Mazepa to Russia, and here they won the favor of the royal favorite, Prince Golitsyn.
Hetmanate
In July 1687, Mazepa, with the participation of his patrons, was elected hetman of the Left-Bank Ukraine, and his predecessor Samoylovich, along with his relatives and retinue, was sent to Siberia.
Some sources claim that Mazepa gave a bribe to Golitsyn for help, others deny this fact.
Nevertheless, in 1689, when young Peter ascended the Russian throne, a close friendship developed between them. The experienced hetman gave the young majesty advice on foreign policy relations with Poland.
Temtime in Ukraine was restless. In 1690, Petrik's uprising began. Mazepa, relying on his own army and the help of Peter, brutally suppressed him. Many contemporaries believed that Ivan Mazepa, whose reign history was very bloody, from his very youth was not distinguished by loy alty and devotion. Our contemporaries call these qualities political flair.
Alliance with Charles XII
Be that as it may, the Northern War, which lasted 21 years in Russia, pushed the Left Bank Hetman into an alliance with the Swedish king.
In 1706, after Russia was left alone with the Swedish king, Mazepa conceived the autonomy of Little Russia. Denunciations to Peter I about the upcoming betrayal of the Cossack hetman came regularly, but he did not want to believe them.
In 1708 Mazepa Ivan Stepanovich refused to join the tsarist troops and, together with a small part of the Cossacks, mostly foremen, went over to the side of Charles.
Peter I was furious, because he considered Mazepa not only a subordinate, an ally, but also a friend.
In 1709 Mazepa's betrayal of the tsar led to the complete destruction of the Zaporozhian Sich.
