Full interview with Prof. Tatiana Tairova-Yakovleva on "Ivan Mazepa and the Russian Empire," Saint Petersburg, Russia, 19 January 2021.

Partial transcript
- 0:20 Ivan Mazepa is an impressive, key figure of Ukrainian Hetmanate, Ukrainian history, early modern ties
- 0:47 Very few studies of Mazepa that place him in the middle. Most studies show him either a hero or villain
- 1:21 Important time in Ukrainian history, important relations between Ukraine and Russia. At a time when Russia emerges as a strong empire
- 1:53 Mazepa had both friends and enemies among the Russian elite
- 2:07 Mazepa's Hetmanate had a large influence on the creation of the Russian empire. Cossacks participated in the wars of Peter I, very successful wars, great impact on development of Russian Church, Russian Orthodoxy and culture. Russian education system founded by people Mazepa brought from Ukraine: friends, members of the Ukrainian Church, graduates of the Kyiv Mohyla Academy
- 3:15 Became Hetman during the rule of Peter I's sister, Sophia Alekseyevna. Russia was not a strong power; Ivan Samoylovych (Іван Самойлович), Vasily Golitsyn (Василий Голицын)
- 4:00 What was Mazepa's role during the revolt of Peter the Great when he dismissed his sister and became tsar? Mazepa gained many privileges from Peter the Great, and received wide, broad autonomy for Ukrainian Hetmanate. Ukraine's economy flourished under Mazepa
- 4:53 Paul Bushkovitch, Serhiy Plokhy
- 6:20 Process of studying thousands of documents. Chapter "Old Sick Man" describes Mazepa's declining health and illnesses. Poor health took a physical and mental toll on Mazepa. Picture of how Mazepa's health influenced his behaviour, mood, decisions
- 7:50 Thousand of documents and letters - never before used before - from archives in St. Petersburg and Moscow. Baturyn Archive found in St. Petersburg. Thousands of documents, papers. Huge collection helps reconstruct Hetman Archive. Aleksandr Menshikov
- 9:15 Mazepa background. Father served during the reign of Bohdan Khmelnytsky. Mazepa studies artillery in Poland, studied in Germany, Italy and France
- 10:30 Mazepa began his rule during the time of the Ruin (Руїна) in Hetmanate. He was very upset that Cossacks were killing each other [After Khmelnytsky died, internal war erupted in Khmelnytsky's Hetmanate. Approximately 50,000 Cossacks were killed fighting one another]
- 11:50 Travels to Crimea, Ottoman Empire. Began implementing a completely different domestic policy. Very successful economic period. Funds were donated to culture, books, publishing, literature, art, etc.
- 13:17 Mazepa's political skills. Wanted to regain Right-Bank Ukraine (Правобережна Україна) which was finally reunited with Left-Bank Ukraine (Лівобережна Україна)
- 14:30 How he made his decision to sever his relationship with Peter I and join King Charles of Sweden "The tragedy of choice)
- 15:30 Mazepa's contribution to the creation of the Russian Empire. Influence of Ukrainian culture and Ukrainian church can be felt in Saint Petersburg today
- 16:40 How did Mazepa become Hetman? Who were his allies, enemies? Tragic events of 1708. Never wanted a union with Poland
- 18:28 Peter the Great wrote "Ukraine" in his letters. Russians called Cossacks "Черкасы"
- 20:10 Saint Petersburg is more tolerates more open research and scholarship compared to Moscow. Long history of Ukrainian studies at St. Petersburg University
- 20:41 More opportunities to speak openly compared to Ukrainian colleagues.
- 21:15 Events from 300 years ago had different people, different countries, different rules, different times, and different realities
- 21:32 Mazepa was a very interesting person, very bright. Byron, Pushkin dedicated poems to Mazepa
- 22:37 Upset that certain historians in Russia preset Mazepa as a villain. Mazepa's contribution to the Russian empire should be appreciated. A miracle that he united both banks of Ukraine, successful economy, investments in baroque culture
- 24:18 Main lesson: When parts don't listen and understand one another, it leads to tragedy, Peter I did not understand Mazepa, Ukraine
- 25:28 Original letters of Mazepa preserved in archives stored in St. Petersburg and Moscow. Ivan Mazepa wrote in old Ukrainian language, old Ukrainian bureaucratic language, handwriting style, signature

Available from McGill-Queen's University Press
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and Canadian Institute of Ukrainian Studies Press
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Vasyl

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