ROMAN MSTYSLAVOVYCH IN THE EARLY MODERN UKRAINIAN INTELLECTUAL HERITAGE OF THE 17th AND 18th CENTURIES

Abstract

The article explores the portrayal of Prince Roman Mstyslavovych in Ukrainian narratives of the 17th and 18th centuries, drawing on works of various origins and ideological orientations. It focuses in particular on the seminal texts of Ukrainian literati from this period. On the one hand, the works written by church authors are highlighted, namely «Palinodiia» by Zakhariia Kopystensky, «Hustynja Chronicle» by an unknown author, «Chronicle from Antient Chronicles» by Feodosii Sofonovych, «Synopsys» of the first edition by Inokentii Gizel, historical writings by Teofan Prokopovych, the drama «The Benevolence of Marcus Aurelius Antoninus» by Mykhail Kozachynsky, «Leopoliensis archiepiscopatus historia» by Jan Tomasz Józefowicz, and several other texts. On the other hand, historical works composed by secular authors, mainly representatives of Cossack intellectual circles, are also considered. These are the so-called Cossack Chronicles and their later adaptations, such as «The Conversation of Great Russia with Little Russia» and «The History of the Rus’». In conclusion, it is stated that the figure of Roman Mstyslavovych did not gain prominence in the works of Ukrainian intellectuals of the 17th−18^th centuries. In cases where Prince Roman was still mentioned, his image was instrumentalized depending on the confessional and political preferences of the authors.