History and Political Activity Ukrainian nobility from Galicia

1 history , political activity

1.1 origins

1.1.1 ukrainian or east slavic origins
1.1.2 polish origins


1.2 during polish–lithuanian commonwealth
1.3 under austria-hungary , twentieth century

1.3.1 abolition of serfdom , loss of status
1.3.2 evolution class national identity


1.4 during , after first world war

history , political activity

sas coat of arms. many ukrainian nobles belonged families carrying coat of arms


origins

the territory of western ukraine part of medieval state of kievan rus. after collapse of kieven rus, westernmost part of state formed independent kingdom of galicia–volhynia, poland conquered in 1349. on following centuries, of wealthy native landowning nobility adopted dominant polish nationality , roman catholic religion, , assimilated polish society.

the nobility in western ukraine retained non-polish identity poorer , developed social class in fourteenth century.

ukrainian or east slavic origins

according mainstream ukrainian historiography, western ukrainian nobility developed out of mixture of 3 groups of people: poor rus boyars (east slavic aristocrats medieval era), descendants of princely retainers or druzhina (free soldiers in service of rus princes), , peasants had been free during times of kingdom of galicia–volhynia. during 12th , 13th centuries, fortified villages built kievan rus , galician princes in order defend local lucrative salt trade , borders poland , hungary. these villages located southwest of lviv , przemyśl in areas such surrounding sambir, in modern times have been heartland ukrainian noble settlement. these villages populated , defended poor or minor boyars , druzhina. after kingdom of galicia-volhynia absorbed poland in fourteenth century, noble status of these poor boyars , druzhina confirmed in exchange military service polish crown; poor boyars failed confirm noble status reduced level of serfs or, more frequently, town servants , assimilated social groups. ukrainian nobility s development involved process of poor rus boyars , druzhina changing allegiance defunct east slavic kingdom of galicia-volhynia , princes of polish commonwealth, , becoming legally integrated polish system nobles.

polish origins

in 1930s polish government attempted assimilate western ukrainian nobles polish culture. @ time, polish researchers claimed ukrainian nobles descended poor polish nobles became assimilated ukrainian culture adopting ukrainian language , orthodox religion of peasants among whom lived. noted period of polish rule involved settlement of newly acquired ukrainian territories poles, , ukrainian nobility s speech used polish words , expressions. polish historians pointed out in 19th century western ukrainian nobles tended ally polish rather east slavic or ukrainian causes politically. seen vestige of polish roots.

contemporary ukrainian historians write while poor polish nobles may have assimilated ukrainian culture in isolated instances, number of ukrainian nobles large accounted assimilated polish nobles. point out arguing in favor polish origins, while writing polonization of wealthy landowning boyars (nobles), ignore documented existence of poor boyars , druzhina inhabited western ukraine prior polish rule , failed account happened large group of people after western ukrainian lands absorbed poland. furthermore, given polish culture dominant , centuries poles controlled local administration, seems unrealistic large numbers of poles assimilate subservient ukrainian culture , adopt ukrainian orthodox or greek catholic faiths, @ disadvantage relative polish roman catholic religion. moreover, western ukrainian nobles lived in villages populated exclusively nobles. such nobles had little contact ukrainian peasants , no means assimilated them. in terms of political allegiance, although western ukrainian nobles did side poles against ukrainian peasants during of nineteenth century, nobility s loyalty exclusively political in nature , focused on retention of traditional privileges; there little movement adopt polish language or roman catholic religion ukrainian nobles in spite of political cooperation poles.

during polish–lithuanian commonwealth

jerzy franciszek kulczycki, nobleman sambir region (1640-1694) , founder of first viennese coffee shop

western ukrainian nobles enjoyed legal rights , privileges of other nobles. had own court system , unlike ukrainian peasants not under authority of polish landlords. villages populated exclusively nobles typically self-governing, , nobles living in mixed towns under authority of own governing bodies. elected heads of self-governing ukrainian noble communities called prefects. noble villages tended older other villages, , typically carried names of noble families associated them, such kulchytsi (kulchytsky family), mokhnate (mokhnatsky family), etc. unlike many polish nobles, western ukrainian nobles did not own serfs , instead worked own lands. relative poverty served barrier assimilation wealthy polish landowners , helped them retain east slavic identity. nobles lived in compact groups occupying entire villages or parts of villages. although ukrainian nobles scattered throughout western ukraine, 2 regions had particularly large concentrations of them: southern galicia, north of carpathian mountains , south-west of city of lviv; , in western parts of podolia, east of galicia in ternopil oblast. commonly used coats of arms western ukrainian nobles sas , korczak.

despite obligation serve polish crown, during fifteenth through seventeenth centuries western ukrainian nobles took part in anti-polish uprisings. @ time, ukrainian nobles considered honor-bound defend orthodox church. due shared orthodox faith, when moldavian prince bogdan iii one-eyed invaded polish-controlled galicia in 1509, local ukrainian nobles joined invasion en masse. after polish victory on moldavian forces in 1510, many of ukrainian nobles lands confiscated polish authorities, although returned them after ukrainian nobles claimed had been coerced joining moldavians. in 1511, polish king declared ukrainian nobles banned participating in religious ceremonies in moldavia. opposition western ukrainian nobles delayed implementation of union of brest, recognition orthodox church in ukraine of pope, several decades in galicia. noble resistance resulted in galicia being last part of polish-ruled ukraine accept union catholicism. number of western ukrainian nobles traveled east , joined zaporozhian cossacks. 1 of them, petro konashevych-sahaidachny, became leader of cossacks in 17th century. remained loyal poland.

during times when western ukraine part of poland, nobles had duty defend polish state. accordingly, obligated participate in regular military reviews presented , weapons. relative poverty of ukrainian nobility evident in fact few owned armor, few afford come on horseback, , typically armed sabers, muskets or small caliber bird-hunting rifles.

under austria-hungary , twentieth century
abolition of serfdom , loss of status

medal of 1782 commemorating constitution of parliament in galicia , lodomeria joseph ii, holy roman emperor. shows allegorical depiction of imperial law (left) being handed on allegorical figure of galicia shield showing coat of arms of lands

in 1772, western ukraine annexed austria during first partition of poland. western ukrainian nobility, self-image centered on function of militarily defending kingdom, found without social role within new political circumstances , point defined largely differences , superiority peasants. in 1848, serfdom abolished. prior abolishment of serfdom in 1848, ukrainian nobility enjoyed lifestyle quite different of ukrainian peasants. unlike ukrainian peasants, ukrainian nobles worked on own lands , not forced work polish nobility. enjoyed own court system , not under authority of local polish-dominated courts. unlike serfs, ukrainian nobles not obligated perform communal duty such working on roads, considered humiliating.

in contrast polish nobles had owned serfs, ukrainian nobles did not experience economic losses when serfdom abolished. instead, experienced loss in social status , standing. ukrainian nobles lost of privileges, placed under same legal authority , given same obligations peasants. in 1860, noble self-government abolished , noble , peasant elected bodies integrated. nobility attempted continue unofficially elect own leaders, traditionally known prefects, despite official integration peasant community. multiple appeals austrian government in 1860s seeking obtain separate legal standings failed, rare exceptions such being able avoid having perform compulsory roadwork. thus, in mid nineteenth century political , socioeconomic differences between ukrainian nobles , ukrainian peasants disappeared.

in 1 of 2 regions large concentration of ukrainian nobles, western podilia, loss of special noble legal privileges , elimination of peasant serfdom led assimilation of of western ukrainian nobility ukrainian peasantry , disappearance of nobility social group. in contrast, nobles southern galicia retain distinct self-identity twentieth century.

evolution class national identity

because western ukrainian nobles had not owned estates or serfs, unlike polish nobility not hated peasants. conversely, because had never been enserfed, ukrainian nobility did not share peasants animosity towards polish nobility, , indeed felt class solidarity them.

despite sharing language , religion of ukrainian peasant neighbors, throughout nineteenth century ukrainian nobles in western ukraine tended side polish nobility during conflicts between polish , ukrainian communities. in 1848, ukrainian nobles volunteered polish national guard , in 1863 took donations in support of polish rebels in russian empire. villages populated ukrainian nobility tended vote polish candidates , oppose efforts spread literacy among peasants. nobles politically preoccupied trying retain or win special rights nobles did not engage in other forms of political activism. alienation of nobles ukrainian national movement not one-sided. ukrainian national movement peasant-focused , rejected nobility, social background did not fit nationalist narrative. nobility treated scapegoats , blamed electoral failures; press of national movement accused them of greed , of selling votes poles. none of nineteenth century political activists seeking alleviate plight of ukrainian peasants, or spread literacy, or encourage ukrainization, or limit economic exploitation, nobles. nobles consistent indifference or opposition towards ukrainian causes resulted in rural ukrainian activists claiming nobles not part of ukrainian nation.

until mid nineteenth century, because ukrainian nobles oriented towards class standing, opposed interests of ukrainian peasants. end of century, however, idea of old multinational polish commonwealth gave way competing modern ukrainian , polish nationalisms. meant national ideas eclipsed class loyalties. @ time, of ukrainian nobility in western ukraine linked ukrainian national movement. nobility represented association of ruthenian gentry, allied conservative , religious elements within ukrainian national movement. despite allegiance ukrainian national cause, these nobles maintained separation peasants. example, rather joining peasants in reading clubs cultural activities, nobles participated in own gentry casinos. aroused negative feelings peasants. russophiles attempted exploit differences between nobles , peasants, , there stronger tendency support ideological russophilia among nobility among general galician population. indeed, noble candidate sambir county in elections of 1911, ivan kulchytsky, declared have recovered our sight , shall not allow bastards trick ukraine…. should know on not give damn ukraine , have returned historical road. on russians. in general, however, nobles adopted ukrainian national orientation. beginning of twentieth century, noble gatherings concluded singing of ukrainian national anthem, shche ne vmerla ukraina ( ukraine has not yet died ). 1912 commemoration of 17th century cossack leader petro konashevych-sahaidachny, member of petty gentry galicia, in 1912 served underscore new affiliation of ukrainian gentry towards ukrainian national movement. during these celebrations cossacks represented not peasant runaways nobles defending ukrainian nation. in way nobles found place within ukrainian national narrative.

during , after first world war

on eve of world war i, many ukrainian nobles joined ukrainian sich riflemen, patriotic ukrainian unit within austro-hungarian army. dmytro vitovsky , myron tarnavsky, 2 of supreme commanders of ukrainian galician army fought against poland ukrainian independence after world war i, noblemen. yevhen petrushevych, president of west ukrainian people s republic family of noble priests traced origins galician boyars. in survey given members of ukrainian national council, legislative body of western ukrainian people s republic, although 2.4% listed primary social origin nobility several of listed origin clergy came noble families.

during period of polish rule on western ukraine between world wars, efforts polish government in 1930s split ukrainian nobility other ukrainians (through formation of kola szlacheckie) unsuccessful. such efforts backfired, resulting in many nobles rejecting , concealing status nobles in order avoid possible association polish nation , in order emphasize solidarity ukrainian people, of whom descendants of peasants.

in 21st century attempt made revive association of ruthenian gentry. based in traditional heartland of western ukrainian nobility, town of sambir, first head priest petro sas-pohoretsky.