FORMATION OF THE HISTORIOGRAPHICAL IMAGE OF THE UKRAINIAN COSSACKS IN POLISH HISTORICAL THOUGHT

Abstract

It is ascertained that Cossacks problems took one of the leading places in the works of Polish historians. The Polish authors, because of their national, political, ideological beliefs, sympathies or antipathies, evaluated the Cossacks differently. This influenced the formation of historical consciousness of Poles. Their depiction of Cossacks history was influenced by several factors: critical view on Cossacks wars of the scholars of the 16th – the first half of the 19th centuries, spreading of positivist and neo-romantic methodologies, discussions with Russian, Lithuanian and Ukrainian historiography, and political situation of that time, which contributed to revival of historical and political myths and stereotypes.