DOCUMENTS PERTAINING TO THE TREATY NEGOTIATED BETWEEN HETMAN PYLYP ORLYK AND THE OTTOMAN PORTE IN 1711-1712
I. Hetman Pylyp Orlyk’s Instructions for the Ukrainian Cossack Envoys to the Ottoman Porte1
I
When the honorable envoys, together with the honorable kosho- vyi-otaτnan arrive at the Sublime Ottoman Porte in Constantinople and present, in the name of the Illustrious Hetman of all Little Russia, that is, of Ukraine,2 the appropriate expressions of gratitude to the Sublime Ottoman Porte for the special sympathy which —to its eternal praise—it showed to the neighboring people of Little Russia who were groaning under the terrible yoke of Muscovite rule at the time when its [the Porte’s] victorious armies forced Moscow to sue for peace.
In that treaty [the Pagreed with the Commonwealth that Ukraine should be placed under Turkish rule and that a tribute, commonly called harac would be taken there. This can be seen clearly from the manifesto publicized by the same (Muscovite). And now he [the Muscovite], in order to maintain control in Ukraine, frightens the poorly informed populace by means of rumors to the effect that our Greek faith and our rights and liberties are being violated, that churches are transformed into mosques, and that unbearable tributes are extorted by the Ottoman Porte. This is similar to the lies which were already spread in the previous winter in public letters. Therefore, in attempting to solve such problems, the honorable koshoυyi- otaman and the honorable envoys should request the Sublime Porte for a confirmation of the contents of the treaty which was concluded with the Crimean Khan as well as for a grant of a special charter of assurance [privilegium assecuτatorum} such as the one which we have among the documents [given to us] by His Royal Majesty, the King of Sweden.The following points should also be included in it [the charter of assurance]:
—Ukraine on both sides of the Dnieper together with the Zapo- rozhian Host and the people of Little Russia should be free from foreign rule and no harm should be caused by the allied forces to the fraternity and friendship concluded with the Crimean Khan.
And that he [the Khan] should not, under the pretext of protection or privilege, attempt to establish his absolute rule, vassalage or subjugation in Ukraine and within the Zaporozhian Host. And he should not collect any taxes or tribute.—The Ukrainian fortresses which are to be taken away from the Muscovite, either by treaty or by force of arms, should not be placed under their [Ottoman] rule and should not be occupied unlawfully by their soldiers.
—They [the Ottomans] should not build any new fortifications in Ukraine for their own use and they should not allow other neighbors to build them.
—The right to exercise one’s religion should not suffer any harm. There should be only one religion and it should be based on the ancient dogmas of the Eastern Orthodox Church and be in obedience, in spiritual matters, to the Patriarch in Constantinople.
—They [the Ottomans] should maintain the IntegrityofUkraine and they should not allow her neighbors, under any pretext, to oppress it.
—They [the Ottomans] should faithfully maintain the inviolability of its [Ukraine’s] borders, the free exercise of its liberties, order, laws and privileges. Ukraine should always enjoy its rights and liberties without determent from the Sublime Porte.
—The Zaporozhian Host should maintain the right to elect freely the Hetmans and the Porte should not attempt in any way to remove them.
—The Hetman should have complete control of, and the highest authority in, Ukraine, according to the laws of the fatherland. He should have the right to receive [envoys] from beyond the borders of his fatherland.
—The Zaporozhian Host which inhabits the lower part of the Dnieper should always enjoy its rights, liberties, privileges and immunities and it should have the free use of the rivers, streams and fields up to Ochakiv for hunting and fishing, according to the ancient customs and without any interference from the Porte.
—When the Hetman is elected in free elections he will offer ceremonial homage, not personally but by means of letter, to the Sublime Porte.
—Ukrainian merchants should be allowed to trade in the Turkish empire and its provinces. Additional payments should not be demanded from them and they should pay for their wares at the same rate as the Turks.
Itis essential that, with the mediation of the Khan, such a charter of assurance (ιnstτumentum assecuτatoτiuτri) be obtained so that it may be promulgated in Ukraine, by means of the Most Illustrious Hetman’s manifestoes, and thereby counter Moscow’s arguments and oppression.
X
The Zaporozhian Host and the people of Little Russia, once they have been accepted under the protection of the Most Serene Swedish King, wish never to be removed from under that protection. Ukraine and the Zaporozhian Host should enjoy perpetually the protection of His Serene and Royal Swedish Majesty without wrong or harm being done to the eternal friendship and comradeship of arms with the Crimean Khan. This fraternity, friendship and comradeship of arms should not cause any objection and harm to the protection of His Royal Majesty of Sweden. Thatprotection will bring neither the Sublime Porte nor Ukraine any harm. Indeed, thanks to Ukraine, the friendship and the union of arms between the Porte and the Swedish state may be strengthened and [turned] against Moscow which is a close neighbor of the Swedish state. For these reasons it is fitting, therefore, to request the Sublime Porte to attach this article to the charter [of assurance].
All these things and others which will appear to be necessary for the fatherland and the Zaporozhian Host will be the object of the most careful, faithful and sincere judgment and management of the honorable koshovyi-otaman and the honorable envoys-extra- ordinary for whom these instructions have been issued.
For the sake of greater creditability and importance, this letter is provided with our Hetman’s signature and our public seal. (Given in the year, month and day stated above.)
Pylyp Orlyk
Hetman of the Zaporozhian Host
II.
The Charter of the Turkish Emperor Granting Pylyp Orlyk, the Hetman of the Zaporozhians, Possession of Ukraine on this Side of the Dnieper5We, the Great Lord, Ahmed Sultan, son of Mehmed, son of Ibrahim Sultan, Emperor of the Turks as well as of Mecca, Medina and of Jerusalem, etc., etc.
Whereas among the magnates who believe in Christ only Pylyp Orlyk, Hetman of the Ukrainian as well as Zaporozhian Cossacks, whose life has lately been adorned with fortune, fled with the Ukrainian and Zaporozhian Cossacks from the hostility of the Muscovites to our most gracious protection and placed himself under the rule of our empire; and the Most Serene and Powerful Devlet Girei, Khan of the Crimean and other Tatars-Iet God sanctify his rule and multiply his fortune—has informed us that Ukraine on this side of the Dnieper, which we wrested from the Muscovite Tsar in the past year with our invincible armies at the Prut River, has been the domain and possession of the Cossacks since antiquity and that it is where previously the Hetman of the Zaporozhians and Ukrainians, Petro Doroshenko, lived together with his people and ruled under the gracious protection of our empire—we and the Most Serene and Powerful Khan wish that Ukraine on this side of the Dnieper should again be entrusted by us to the current Hetman, Pylyp Orlyk, and that there, as before, the Cossacks should reside hereditarily.
Let Ukraine again be their land.
Therefore, we offer Ukraine on this side of the Dnieper, which came to our invincible empire from the Muscovite Tsar by right of war, and graciously confer possession, together with rule over it, to the above mentioned Hetman of the Ukrainian and Zaporozhian Cossacks, Pylyp Orlyk and to his successors, the Hetmans of the Ukrainians and Zaporozhians. Let him and his successors have the highest authority over the Ukrainian and Zaporozhian Cossacks and exercise the absolute right of life and death over them, without the possibility of recourse and referral to our Porte.
Let the Cossacks and the entire Ukrainian people always have freedom under their current Hetmans. Let them freely elect their Hetmans without anyone from our elevated state meddling in their rights and liberties. Let no payments, public or otherwise, be taken from them.In remaining under our protection, they are obligated to provide military aid against every enemy of our empire and accompany our army on military expeditions, cooperating with it to the extent that it is possible. Let the current Hetman and his successors freely possess entire Ukraine on this side of the Dnieper, according to the same rights and manner as Petro Doroshenko possessed it, being under the protection of our empire. Let him [the current Hetman] rule, reign and proceed according to his rights and ancient custom. However, Kiev which is on this side of the Dnieper and the adjacent areas and towns are to be outside his jurisdiction. We have given them, together with the nearer Ukraine [Left Bank] to the Muscovite and leave them in his possession. Finally, we expect that the current Hetman, together with his Cossack regiments and the entire Ukrainian people, will remain in constant and undiminished loyalty to us and our empire and that they will eternally remain under our protection in accordance with what has been written. Let no evil, harm or oppression come to their lands because of this.
Therefore, we give this, our most gracious charter, to the current Hetman, Pylyp Orlyk and to his successors. If they will adhere to us in constant faith then let all that has been written in this charter be honored by our successors. Let the Hetman and his successors as well as all the Ukrainian and Zaporozhian Cossacks and all the people living in Ukraine on this side of the Dnieper remain under the protection of our favor and clemency.
Let all see and believe our seal to this effect.
(Given in our empire on the fifth day of third month of the 1124th Muslim year.)6