Denis Zubrytsky
Encyclopedia
Denis ZubrytskyDenis Zubrytsky ( (1777, Zhovka, Galicia (now Ukraine) – January 16, 1862), was the first Ukrainian historian in Galicia and a major early figure in the Galician Russophile movement
.
in 1795 he worked as a civil servant. In his youth he had been pro-Polish, and had even supported Napoleon's invasion of Austria-Hungary; in 1809 he served as a secretary to the pro-French Polish forces who occuopied the city. Later in his life Zubrytsky became very hostile to Polish interests and an ardent supporter of Russophilism. Between 1829 and 1847 he held various positions within the Stauropegion Institute
, an important cultural and historical institution in western Ukraine that served as a bastion of Russophilism. In 1842 he became a corresponding member of the St. Petersburg Archeological Commission and in 1855 he became a corresponding member of the Russian Academy of Sciences. In 1843 he was commissioned to organize the Lviv
municipal archive.
, and his idea that Ukrainians and Russian constituted one nation. During his time Austria and Russia were allies and Zubrytsky idealized Russian autocracy while also being loyal to Austria-Hungary. He opposed the Polish nobility and the Polish domination of Galicia while also objecting to the abolition of serfdom. Through Zubrytsky's efforts many Galicians, such as Yakiv Holovatsky
, one of the members of the Ruthenian Triad, were converted to Russophilism.
Denis Zubrytsky published numerous historical works. His most significant work, written in the Russian language, was the Histroy of the Principality of Galicia-Volhynia, written in 1852 and 1855. He also published articles on Galician folk songs, histories of the Ruthenian people and church figures in medieval times, and other historical articles. According to a letter Zubtrytsky wrote to Mikhail Pogodin, the purpose of his histroical research was to acquaint Galicians (western Ukrainians) with Russian history and with the Russian language.
Ukrainian Russophiles
The focus of this article is part of a general political movement in Western Ukraine of the nineteenth and early 20th century. The movement contained several competing branches: Moscowphiles, Ukrainophiles, Rusynphiles, and others....
.
Life
Denis Zubrytsky was born in 1777 into a family of Ukrainian nobles. After graduating from Lviv's gymnaziumGymnasium (school)
A gymnasium is a type of school providing secondary education in some parts of Europe, comparable to English grammar schools or sixth form colleges and U.S. college preparatory high schools. The word γυμνάσιον was used in Ancient Greece, meaning a locality for both physical and intellectual...
in 1795 he worked as a civil servant. In his youth he had been pro-Polish, and had even supported Napoleon's invasion of Austria-Hungary; in 1809 he served as a secretary to the pro-French Polish forces who occuopied the city. Later in his life Zubrytsky became very hostile to Polish interests and an ardent supporter of Russophilism. Between 1829 and 1847 he held various positions within the Stauropegion Institute
Stauropegion Institute
The Stauropegion Institute was one of the most important cultural and educational institutions in western Ukraine from the end of the 18th century until World War II...
, an important cultural and historical institution in western Ukraine that served as a bastion of Russophilism. In 1842 he became a corresponding member of the St. Petersburg Archeological Commission and in 1855 he became a corresponding member of the Russian Academy of Sciences. In 1843 he was commissioned to organize the Lviv
Lviv
Lviv is a city in western Ukraine. The city is regarded as one of the main cultural centres of today's Ukraine and historically has also been a major Polish and Jewish cultural center, as Poles and Jews were the two main ethnicities of the city until the outbreak of World War II and the following...
municipal archive.
Works and ideas
Zubrytsky was highly influenced by his friend, Mikhail PogodinMikhail Pogodin
Mikhail Petrovich Pogodin was a Russian historian and journalist who, jointly with Nikolay Ustryalov, dominated the national historiography between the death of Nikolay Karamzin in 1826 and the rise of Sergey Solovyov in the 1850s. He is best remembered as a staunch proponent of the Normanist...
, and his idea that Ukrainians and Russian constituted one nation. During his time Austria and Russia were allies and Zubrytsky idealized Russian autocracy while also being loyal to Austria-Hungary. He opposed the Polish nobility and the Polish domination of Galicia while also objecting to the abolition of serfdom. Through Zubrytsky's efforts many Galicians, such as Yakiv Holovatsky
Yakiv Holovatsky
Yakiv Holovatsky was born October 17, 1814 in Chepeli, Zloczow powiat, Kingdom of Galicia and Lodomeria - died on May 13, 1888 in Vilno, Russian Empire...
, one of the members of the Ruthenian Triad, were converted to Russophilism.
Denis Zubrytsky published numerous historical works. His most significant work, written in the Russian language, was the Histroy of the Principality of Galicia-Volhynia, written in 1852 and 1855. He also published articles on Galician folk songs, histories of the Ruthenian people and church figures in medieval times, and other historical articles. According to a letter Zubtrytsky wrote to Mikhail Pogodin, the purpose of his histroical research was to acquaint Galicians (western Ukrainians) with Russian history and with the Russian language.