This edition presents an entire era of Ukrainian statehood — the rise, development, and destruction of the Cossack State, as well as the complex process of its formation amid a continuous struggle for political and spiritual independence. The author traces the key stages of this history, from the uprising of Severyn Nalyvaiko at the end of the sixteenth century to the Koliyivshchyna rebellion of 1768, emphasizing the immense human sacrifices made in the fight for freedom and national sovereignty.

The study is based on a thorough analysis of legal and state documents, treaties concluded by the hetmans with foreign powers, and a wide range of literary sources, including outstanding examples of Ukrainian poetic art. Special attention is devoted to the interconfessional development of Ukrainian society and to the role of the hetmans as state-builders. The volume is supplemented with rare illustrative material and is intended for both specialists and general readers.

792 pages. Hardcover.