Treaty of Pereyaslav: Encyclopedia II - Treaty of Pereyaslav - Historical consequences

Treaty of Pereyaslav - Historical consequences

Whatever the nature of the treaty, the consequences were more clear over time. Major consequences of the treaty included the separation of Ukraine from formerly dominant Catholic Poland, the re-strengthening of Orthodoxy in the historic center of Ukraine, and the eventual domination of Ukraine by neighboring Orthodox Russia.

In the long run, the consequences for Ukraine were pivotal. Polish colonization and Polonization of the upper class soon became replaced by a systematic process of Russification, culminating in the Ems Ukaz, which banned the Ukrainian language. Also suppressed was the distinct identity of the Kievan Church of Rus': both branches of the Ukrainian Church resulting from the Union of Brest were suppressed.

For Poland, the treaty marked a beginning of sorts of a process of dismemberment leading to complete loss of independence (1795).

For Russia, the treaty eventually led to the acquisition of Ukraine, providing a justification for the ambitious title of the Muscovite, and later Russian tsars and emperors, The Ruler of All Rus’. Russia, being at that time the only part of the former Kievan Rus which was not occupied by a foreign power, considered herself as legitimate successor and reunificator of former Rus lands.

This treaty is seen by Ukrainian nationalists as a sad occasion of the lost chance for Ukrainian independence. Pro-Russian Ukrainian parties celebrate the date of this event calling for the re-unification of three Eastern Slavic nations: Russia, Ukraine and Belarus.

In 2004, after the celebration of the 350th anniversary of the event, the administration of president Leonid Kuchma of Ukraine established January 18 as the official date to commemorate the event, a move which created controversy. Previously, in 1954, the anniversary celebrations included the controversial transfer of Crimea from the Russian Republic to the Ukrainian Republic of the USSR.

Adapted from the Wikipedia article "Historical consequences", under the G.N U Free Docmentation License. Please also see http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki