TAM KIEDYŚ BYŁA RZECZPOSPOLITA - ZIEMIE UKRAINNE

The Ukrainian lands are rich in traces of Polish heritage. Across Red Ruthenia, Volhynia, Podolia, the Bełz Voivodeship, and the regions of Bracław, Chernihiv, and Kyiv, Poles—as well as Polonized Ruthenian princes and nobility—left an indelible mark on history and culture. Palaces, castles, cities, towns, and places of worship—many now lying in ruins—were built at the initiative of Polish magnates, while the land itself was developed thanks to privileges granted by Polish kings.
This book explores the history, locations, noble families, and figures of the Ukrainian lands, covering the period roughly up to the end of the Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth. It also addresses the Cossack question and the impact of Cossack uprisings on the fate of specific settlements. Woven into this history are the constant Tatar raids and internal conflicts among Cossack chieftains and factions loyal to either the Commonwealth or Russia—struggles that plunged Ukraine into the era known as "The Ruin" in the late 17th century. Russia was the primary beneficiary of this turmoil, annexing the Left-Bank Ukraine (Zadnieprze) and Kyiv in 1667—a move confirmed by the Eternal Peace treaty concluded by Voivode Krzysztof Grzymułtowski in 1686.
Just as in Poland, devastating wars in Ukraine led to the destruction or seizure of Polish cultural assets—treasures that are only now being slowly restored or reconstructed. May this book serve as a contribution to remembering the Polish presence and the Polish roots of Ukraine’s history.

Table of Contents:
Cover
Title Page
Imprint
The Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth in the 16th Century
Introduction
Red Ruthenia
The Bełz Region
Volhynia
Podolia
The Bracław Region
The Kiev Region
The Chernihiv and Siewierz Regions, and the Upper Oka Principalities
Conclusion
Bibliography
Index of Names
Index of Place Names

This book is written in Polish