Problem of the Ukrainian-Lithuanian relations when Bohdan Khmelnitskiy was a hetman is not become a subject of special researches. Owing to what there are many questions demanding the lighting. Among them is study of the image of the Grand Duchy of Lithuania (henceforce – GDL) in consciousness of Zaporozhye Cossacks. By the beginning of the Ukrainian national revolution (1648–1676) Ukrainian Cossacks saw in its political elite (especially of Protestant religion) the patrons and potential allies. Therefore ethnonym “litvin” (“Lithuanian”) didn’t cause any negative feelings and estimates by them that can’t be told about ethnonym “Pole” (“lyakh”) who was perceived as something potentially hostile. During revolutionary events of 1648 the Zaporozhye Army aimed, on the one hand, to maintain neutrality of the GDL, and with another – to extend their power to its southern part. Bohdan Khmelnytskiy supported at the beginning of 1649 Transylvanian princes Rakotsi’s project in creation of the anti-Polish coalition, which providing entry into its structure the GDL. But Y. Radzivill’s repressions against rebels and Cossaks in the south of the principality, and also the fidelity declared by the Lithuanian hetman to Jan Kazimir, became the reason for formation by B. Khmelnytsky and Cossack’s foremen a view upon the GDL as on the hostile state which should be destroyed.
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