Журнал Viche 2013 №11

№11, 2013

Even prophets did not know who would get the mace

It happened on June, 27–28, 1663. Before that a few councils took place– both Cossack and top-ranking officer’s. They became especially stormy after Ukraine said goodbye to the great hetman. Before death Bohdan Khmelnytskiy wanted to pass the mace to his son, and quite a bit influential colonels denied this not characteristic for the Ukrainian society principle of heredity of sovereignty. A sharp fight began for hetman authorities.

Mykola SLAVYNSKYI