Foreign policy of Rus' in the 17th century. Foreign policy of Russia in the 17th century

Foreign policy events XVII century.

The foreign policy of Mikhail and Alexei Romanov can be divided into two stages:

Istage (1613-1632) – the main task– make and maintain peace with Sweden and Poland in order to solve internal problems.

IIstage: (1632-1667) – task – revise difficult conditions Stolbovo peace and Deulin truce, return lost lands.

1632-1634

War

with the Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth

1654-1667

Russian-Swedish War 1656-1661

Russo-Turkish War 1676-1681

Causes of the war

During the Time of Troubles, Vasily Shuisky asked for help from Sweden in 1609 to fight against False DmitryII. After the fall of Shuisky, Swedish troops occupied Novgorod (1611).

Causes of the war:

1) plans of the Swedish king to become the Russian Tsar

2) capture and looting of Russian cities by the Swedes

In 1609, the Polish king began intervention against Russia. The Seven Boyars, who seized power, proclaimed the son of the Polish king Vladislav the Moscow Tsar. In 1612, the Poles were driven out of Moscow. Russia lost Smolensk and the Seversky lands.

Causes of the war: Polish troops plundered Russian lands. King Sigismund refused to recognize Mikhail Romanov as Russian Tsar. He himself was aiming for the Russian throne.

Russia sought to return Smolensk and the Seversky lands captured by Poland.

Reunification of Ukraine with Russia.

Reluctance of Tsar Alexei Mikhailovich

share with Sweden the fruits of their victories in Poland.

In 1672, the Ottomans and Tatars (Ottoman Empire and Crimean Khanate) attacked Ukraine and Poland. Poland gave in to them southern regions Ukraine. The Ottomans could go to the Left Bank Ukraine.

This alarmed Moscow.

Causes of the war:

Fears of loss of Left Bank Ukraine.

Main events

In 1613, the Swedes tried to capture Tikhvin.

In 1614, the Swedes captured the Gdov fortress.

In the summer and autumn of 1615, Pskov was besieged.

In 1617, Prince Vladislav began a campaign against Moscow.

On October 1, 1618, the Polish army attacked Moscow. It was forced to retreat.

1632 - march to Smolensk by the Russian army led by M.B. Shein.

Attack of the Crimean Tatars.

1633 siege of Smolensk.

Attack of the Crimean Tatars.

Battles with Polish troops. Encirclement of Russian troops.

In February 1634, Voivode Shein signed a truce.

September 1654 - Russian troops took Smolensk.

Entry into Lithuania, capture of Lithuanian cities. Tsar Alexei Mikhailovich had plans to conquer all of Poland.

But then Sweden entered the war against Poland, which disrupted the tsar’s plans. In 1656, a truce was signed with Poland.

In 1658, Polish-Lithuanian troops launched an offensive in Belarus.

In 1657, the new hetman of Ukraine, Vygovsky, announced the return of Ukraine to Polish rule. Together with the Crimean Tatars, he tried to capture Kyiv. At the beginning of 1660, the Polish king made peace with Sweden and threw all his strength into the fight against Russia. Moscow troops were driven out of Belarus and Lithuania.

At first the war was successful. But in the fall of 1656 they could not take Riga by storm.

At this time, hostilities resumed with Poland, which regained control over Belarus and Lithuania.

Tsar Alexei Mikhailovich decided to urgently make peace with Sweden.

In 1674, Moscow regiments and Cossacks of the “Russian” Hetman Samoilovich besieged the Chigirin fortress, but were forced to withdraw their troops.

In the summer of 1676, by order of the Tsar, the Moscow army occupied Chigirin, the capital of the “Turkish” Hetman Doroshenko.

1677, 1678 - Chigirinsky campaigns.

In the summer of 1677 - battle with the Turks and Crimean Tatars near Chigirin. The Turks retreated.

1678 – Turkish army took Chigirin.

Results-conditions of peace treaties

The failure at Pskov forced the Swedish king to begin negotiations with the Moscow government.

1617 Peace of Stolbovo (eternal peace): Novgorod, Staraya Russa and Porkhov were returned to Russia for 20 thousand rubles. silver But some of the Russian cities remained with Sweden. Russia was completely cut off from Baltic Sea.

Peace negotiations resumed. In December 1618, the Deulin Truce was concluded for a period of 14 years and 6 months. Smolensk and Seversk land went to Poland.

In the summer of 1634, the Peace of Polyanovsky was signed. Smolensk and the Chernigovo-Seversk land remained with Poland.

1664-1667 – peace negotiations between Russia and Poland. In 1667 the Treaty of Andrusovo was signed. Poland recognized Smolensk and Left Bank Ukraine, Kyiv as Russia. Zaporozhye was recognized as a joint possession of Poland and Russia.

1661 Peace of Cadiz between Sweden and Russia. All lands conquered by the Russians were returned to Sweden.

In January 1681, the Bakhchisarai Peace Treaty was concluded. The border between the Ottoman Empire and Russia was established along the Dnieper.

Historical meaning wars

Peace in the Baltic states allowed us to fully concentrate on the fight against the Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth.

The Deulin truce allowed Russia to focus on solving internal political problems

The Polish king Vladislav renounced his claims to the Russian throne.

Russia returned Smolensk.

The heroic defense of Chigirin saved Left Bank Ukraine from the Ottoman invasion.

Convinced of the high fighting qualities of the Russian troops, the Ottomans began peace negotiations with Russia.

Test.

1.What foreign policy tasks did Russia face?

in the first years of the reign of the new Romanov dynasty?

1)Return lost during Livonian War And

Time of Troubles territory;

2) Focus on solving acute internal political problems

problems

3) Achieve access to the Baltic Sea

2. Who commanded the Russian troops during the Smolensk War?

1) Yu.A. Dolgorukov 2) A.N. Trubetskoy 3) M.B. Shein

3. What was the consequence of the Deulin truce?

1) Russia's loss of Smolensk

2) Annexation of Courland to Russia

3) creation of an anti-Swedish coalition

4. What was the consequence of the Andrusovo truce?

1) Russia's loss of Smolensk

2) Accession of Left Bank Ukraine to Russia

3) Annexation of Azov to Russia

5.As a result of which war, the Polish king Wladislav renounced his claims to Russian throne?

1) Smolensk War of 1632-1634.

2) Russian-Swedish War 1656-1661.

3) Russian-Turkish War 1676-1681.

6. As a result of what peace treaty did Sweden return Novgorod to Russia?

1) Peace of Cadiz 1661

2) Peace of Stolbov of 1617

3) Polyanovsky peace of 1634

7. What tasks in foreign policy did Russia face in 1632-1667?

1) Strengthen the position in the Black Sea region

2)Destroy the Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth

3) Reconsider the difficult conditions of the Deulin truce and the Stolbovo peace.

8.The reunification of Ukraine with Russia took place in

1)1634 2)1654 3)1667

Answers:

Answer no.

After the Time of Troubles, Russia had to abandon an active foreign policy for a long time. However, as the economy was restored and the situation within the country stabilized, the tsarist government began to solve pressing foreign policy problems. The first priority was the return of Smolensk, the most important fortress on the western border, captured by the Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth during the Time of Troubles. In 1632 - 1634 Russia is dealing with it so-called. Smolensk war. The Russian army, however, turned out to be weak and poorly organized. The siege of Smolensk did not produce results. The Treaty of Polyanovo in 1634 left Smolensk and all the western territories of Russia captured during the Time of Troubles for the Poles.

At the end of the 1640s. A third force intervened in the confrontation between Russia and the Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth: a powerful uprising broke out in Ukraine and Belarus. It was caused by the difficult situation in which the local population found itself. If Ukrainian and Belarusian feudal lords in the 16th - 17th centuries. mostly accepted Catholic faith and became Polish, the peasants and townspeople continued to remain faithful to Orthodoxy, their native language, and national customs. In addition to social inequality, they also had to suffer from religious and national oppression, which was extremely strong in the Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth. Many tried to flee to the eastern outskirts of the state, to the Dnieper Cossacks. These Cossacks, who retained self-government, carried out border service, protecting the Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth from attacks by the Crimean Tatars. However, the Polish government strictly controlled the number of Cossacks, entering them into special lists - registers. It considered everyone not included in the register as runaways, trying to return them to their owners. Conflicts constantly broke out between the government and the Cossacks. In 1648 they developed into an uprising led by Bohdan Khmelnytsky.

The uprising began with the victories of the Cossacks over the troops of the Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth in 1648 at the Yellow Waters and at Korsun. After this, the Cossack uprising, supported by the masses, developed into a war of liberation. In 1649, near Zborov, Khmelnytsky’s army defeated the Poles. After this, the Zboriv Treaty was concluded, which significantly expanded the lists of registered Cossacks (from 8 thousand to 40 thousand). The agreement was of a compromise nature and could not reconcile the warring parties. In the same year, the liberation war also engulfed Belarus in addition to Ukraine. In 1651, in the battle of Verestechko, the Ukrainian army was defeated due to the betrayal of the Crimean Khan, an ally of Khmelnytsky. The new Belotserkovsky Treaty, which limited the number of registered Cossacks to 20 thousand, satisfied the rebels even less. Khmelnitsky, who well understood the impossibility of coping with the Poles on his own, repeatedly turned to Russia for support. However, the tsarist government considered the country not ready for war and was slow to take decisive action. Only after, first in 1653, the Zemsky Sobor in Moscow, and then in 1654, the Ukrainian Rada ( national assembly) in Pereyaslavl they spoke out for the reunification of Ukraine and Russia, and another Russian-Polish war began.

The first actions of the Russian troops were successful: in 1654 they returned Smolensk and captured a significant part of Belarus. However, without bringing this war to an end, in 1656 Russia started a new one with Sweden, trying to break through to the Baltic Sea. The protracted battle on two fronts went on with varying degrees of success. In the end, Russia has achieved much less than that, what I was counting on. According to the Treaty of Kardis with Sweden (1661), Russia returned all the Baltic territories it had captured during the war. It was not possible to achieve complete success in the war with the Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth: according to the Truce of Andrusovo, Russia returned Smolensk, and received Left Bank Ukraine - all the lands east of the Dnieper - and Kyiv on the western Dnieper bank. Right-Bank Ukraine remained under the authority of the Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth.

After these wars, Russia’s relations with the Ottoman Empire, which by that time had captured the Northern Black Sea region and was trying to extend its power to the whole of Ukraine, sharply worsened. In 1677, the united Ottoman-Crimean army besieged Chigirin, a Russian fortress in Ukraine. In 1678 it was captured, but the siege of Chigirin weakened the Ottomans and they no longer had enough strength for other military actions. In 1681, a treaty was signed in Bakhchisarai, according to which the Ottomans recognized Russia’s right to its Ukrainian territories. In 1686, Russia concluded an “eternal peace” with the Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth - recent enemies became allies in the fight against expansion Ottoman Empire.

The key tasks for Russian foreign policy in the 17th century are the return of lands in the west and north-west that were lost in Time of Troubles, and achieving stable security in the south, since the Crimean khans committed outrages in these territories.

Territorial issue

Since 1632, kinglessness has set in in Poland, and the general international situation favors Russia's struggle with the Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth for the return of Smolensk. The city was captured by the Russian army, its siege lasted eight months and ended unfavorably.

The new king of Poland, Wladyslaw IV, entered into confrontation with the Russian army. In 1634, the Polyanovsky Peace Treaty, which determined the further development of events, was concluded, the terms of which were the return of all cities captured by Russia and Smolensk itself.

In turn, the King of Poland ceased to claim the Moscow throne. The Smolensk War turned out to be a complete failure for Russia.

Russian military actions

But in 1654, new and more significant clashes began between the Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth and Russia - soon Smolensk was taken, and then 33 cities located on the territory of Eastern Belarus. The Swedish invasion of Poland also turned out to be an initial success for Russia.

But in 1656, a truce was concluded between the countries at war, and a little later Russia began a war with Sweden. Military operations take place in the Baltic states, the Russian army reaches Riga and besieges the city. But the siege was extremely unsuccessful, and soon the course of the war changes - Poland resumes hostilities.

A truce was concluded with Sweden, and already in 1661 the Treaty of Kardis was concluded, in which it was stated that the entire Baltic coast would go to Sweden. And the protracted war with Poland finally ended in 1667 with the signing of the Truce of Andrusovo for 13.5 years.

The truce stated that Smolensk and the entire territory from the Dnieper to the east would go to Russia. An important event for foreign policy was the conclusion of the “Eternal Peace” in 1686, which secured the territory of Kyiv to Russia forever.

The long-awaited end of the war with Poland allowed Russia to pay attention to the hostile intentions of the Crimean Khan and the Ottoman Empire. In 1677, the Russian-Ottoman-Crimean War began, important date for which is July 1678, when the Ottomans tried to take the Chigirin fortress.

The war ended with the signing of the Bakhchisarai Truce in January 1681, which recognized Russia's right to Kyiv for the next 20 years, and declared the territory between the Dnieper and Bug neutral.

Fight access to the Black Sea

Subsequently, the “Eternal Peace” signed with the Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth, Russia pledged to oppose the Ottoman Empire in alliance with Poland, Venice and Austria. This was extremely beneficial for Russia; strengthening its positions in Crimea and Turkey provided access to the Black Sea, which was important for the country’s economic power.

To achieve this goal, two Crimean campaigns were carried out, and both turned out to be extremely unsuccessful for the Russian army. By the end of the 17th century, Russia’s foreign policy objectives remained the same; access to the sea and the struggle for it were the most important directions to strengthen the country's external position.

This chapter will cover the most important points related to foreign policy issues Russian state in the 17th century. IN early XVII century a necessary condition To get the country out of a deep crisis was to stop foreign intervention and stabilize the foreign policy situation. In the external politics XVII century, several tasks can be traced: 1) overcoming the consequences of the Troubles; 2) access to the Baltic Sea; 3) fight against the Krymchaks on the southern borders; 4) development of Siberia.

Foreign policy of Mikhail Fedorovich (1613-1645)

Restoring the state after the Time of Troubles, the new government was guided by the principle: everything should be as of old. One of his main concerns was overcoming the consequences of the intervention, but all attempts to expel the Swedes from Russian lands failed. Then, using the mediation of the British, Mikhail began peace negotiations, which ended in 1617 with the signing of the “eternal peace” in the village of Stolbovo. According to this agreement, Novgorod was returned to Russia, but the coast of the Gulf of Finland, the entire course of the Neva and Karelia remained with Sweden.

The situation with Poland was even more complicated. While the Swedes had no reason to expand their aggression beyond the territories they had already captured, the Poles had such reasons. The Polish king Sigismund did not recognize the accession of Mikhail Romanov to the Moscow throne, still considering his son to be the Russian Tsar. He launched a campaign against Moscow, but failed. The king did not give up his claims to the Russian throne, but he could not continue the war, so in the village of Deulino in 1618 only a truce was signed for a period of 14 years. Smolensk, Chernigov and 30 other Russian cities continued to remain under Polish occupation. In 1632, Moscow troops tried to free them, but to no avail. In 1634, an “eternal peace” was signed with Poland, but it did not become eternal - hostilities resumed a few years later. True, Prince Vladislav renounced the Russian throne.

Foreign policy of Alexei Mikhailovich (1645-1678)

Foreign policy the next ruler - Alexei Mikhailovich Romanov, who ascended the throne after the death of his father in 1645 - turned out to be quite active. The consequences of the Time of Troubles made it inevitable that the fight against Russia's main enemy, Poland, would resume. After the Union of Lubin in 1569, which united Poland and Lithuania into one state, the influence of the Polish gentry and Catholic clergy on the Ukrainian and Belarusian states sharply increased. Orthodox population. The inculcation of Catholicism and attempts at national and cultural enslavement provoked sharp opposition. In 1647, a powerful uprising began under the leadership of Bohdan Khmelnytsky, which grew into real war. Unable to cope with a strong enemy alone, Bogdan Khmelnitsky turned to Moscow for help and protection.

The Zemsky Sobor of 1653 was one of the last in the history of Russia. He decided to accept Ukraine into the Russian lands, and the Pereyaslav Rada, representing the Ukrainian population, on January 8, 1654 also spoke out in favor of reunification. Ukraine became part of Russia, but received broad autonomy, retained self-government and its own judicial system.

Moscow's intervention in the Ukrainian issue inevitably entailed war with Poland. This war lasted, with some interruptions, for thirteen years - from 1654 to 1667 - and ended with the signing of the Andrusovo Peace. Under this agreement, Russia regained Smolensk, Chernigov-Seversk land, acquired Kyiv and Left Bank Ukraine. The Right Bank part and Belarus remained under Polish domination. The lands that had once gone to Sweden could not be reconquered in the 17th century. Thus ended another attempt to reunite ancient Russian lands under the auspices of Moscow.

But one should not assume that the peoples inhabiting them unconditionally supported this process. Over the centuries of separate living, Russians, Ukrainians, and Belarusians have experienced various influences, they developed their own characteristics of language, culture, way of life, as a result of which three nationalities were formed from what was once a single ethnic group. The struggle for liberation from Polish-Catholic enslavement was aimed at gaining national independence and independence. Under these conditions, turning to Russia for protection was considered by many as a forced step, as an attempt to choose the lesser of two evils. Therefore, this kind of unification could not be sustainable. Influenced various factors, including the soon appeared desire of Moscow to limit the autonomy of the region, part of the Ukrainian and Belarusian population came out from under Russian influence and remained in the sphere of influence of Poland. Even in Left Bank Ukraine, the situation remained turbulent for a long time: both under Peter 1 and Catherine 2, anti-Russian movements took place.

A significant expansion of the country's territory in the 17th century was also observed due to Siberia and Far East- Russian colonization of these lands began. Yakutsk was founded in 1632. In 1647, Cossacks under the leadership of Semyon Shelkovnikov founded a winter quarters on the shores of the Sea of ​​Okhotsk, on the site of which Okhotsk, the first Russian port, is located today. In the mid-17th century, Russian explorers such as Poyarkov and Khabarov began to explore the south of the Far East (Amur and Primorye). And already at the end of the 17th century, Russian Cossacks - Atlasov and Kozyrevsky began to explore the Kamchatka Peninsula, which at the beginning of the 18th century was included in Russian Empire. As a result, the territory of the country from the mid-16th to the end of the 17th century. increased annually by an average of 35 thousand km², which is approximately equal to the area of ​​modern Holland.

So, during the reign of the first Romanovs, much changed in the country’s foreign policy situation. Firstly, foreign intervention from Poland and Sweden was overcome as a relic of the Time of Troubles. Secondly, the territory of Russia was significantly expanded due to the annexation of Ukraine, as well as through the colonization of Siberia and the Far East.

The needs of Russia's economic, political and cultural development also determined its main foreign policy objectives.

1.1. The return of territories lost during the Time of Troubles, and in the future - the annexation of Ukrainian and other lands that were part of Ancient Rus'. In addition to religious and national impulses that pushed for unification with the related Ukrainian and Belarusian peoples, a significant role was played here by the desire to obtain new arable land, which was due to the extensive nature of agriculture, as well as the desire of the state to increase the number of service people and taxpayers.

1.2. The struggle for access to the Baltic and Black Seas was determined, on the one hand, by Russia’s desire to establish economic ties with Europe, without which its backwardness could not be overcome, and on the other hand, by the need to ensure the security of its southern borders, to protect them from the predatory raids of the vassal of the Ottoman Empire - the Crimean khan.

1.3. Further advance east for exploitation purposes natural resources Siberia (Russian people sought to enrich themselves by harvesting sable, which had already been exterminated in the European part, but continued to be the main object of export trade) and the establishment of a “natural border” on the Pacific Ocean.

Some of the settlers were those fleeing a heavy tax burden or serfdom. In addition, the movement to the east demonstrated the desire of the Old Believers to escape persecution and gain the opportunity to practice the old faith.

2. Obstacles to solving foreign policy problems

2.1. Economic and military backwardness of Russia. IN Western Europe in years Thirty Years' War(1618-1648) there were qualitative changes in the organization of the armed forces, battle tactics and weapons; the main striking force was the mercenary, professional infantry, reinforced by field artillery. In Russia, the basis of the army continued to be the noble cavalry, which successfully fought against the “splinters” of the Golden Horde, but was unable to withstand the advanced armies of Europe.

2.2. Dependence on weapons imports. Rearmament and tactical retraining of the army Russian government tried to provide it through the import of weapons and the hiring of foreign officers, which made it dependent on leading European countries. On the eve of the Russian-Polish War of 1654-1667. Russia purchased 40 thousand muskets and 20 thousand pounds of gunpowder from Holland and Sweden, which amounted to 2/3 of its weapons. The situation was further aggravated by the fact that Russia's only seaport - Arkhangelsk - was extremely vulnerable from Sweden, which continued to lay claim to the northern Russian lands. These circumstances predetermined the aggravation of Russian-Swedish relations.

2.3. Diplomatic and cultural isolation of Russia, which in the West was perceived as an eastern backward country, of interest only as an object of expansion. The political border of Europe at that time ran along the Dnieper.

Thus, a vicious circle developed: Russia’s economic and military backwardness, its cultural isolation were largely caused by isolation from maritime trade communications, but it was possible to make a breakthrough, that is, to overcome the Turkish-Polish-Swedish barrier that stood on its way to Europe , only by creating a powerful army and breaking through the diplomatic blockade.

3. Western direction. Fight for Ukraine

3.1. Smolensk War (1632-1634). In 1632, taking advantage international situation, and also harboring hopes that after the death of Sigismund III, internal strife would begin in the Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth, Russia, miscalculating its forces, began a war to revise the Deulin agreements.

The Smolensk War due to diplomatic blunders (the Polish king Wladislav managed to agree with the Crimean Tatars on joint actions), the slowness of the Russian troops led by the boyar M. B. Shein, and most importantly, the weakness of the army, composed mainly of service people (having learned about the threat of Crimean detachments advancing deep into Russia, they left the army and went to their estates), ended with the signing in July 1634. Polyanovsky world. Through it, cities captured by the Russians were returned to Poland. initial stage war, but Vladislav renounced his claims to the Russian throne.

Voivode Shein and A.V. Izmailov were declared to be the culprits of the defeat, and their heads were cut off.

3.2. Liberation movement in Ukraine.

. Reasons for movement. IN 1648 In Ukraine, another uprising broke out, caused by social oppression, political, religious and national inequality, which the Ukrainian and Belarusian Orthodox population experienced while being part of the Catholic Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth.

. Zaporozhye Sich. The instigators of the protest were the Zaporozhye Cossacks. Having settled at the Dnieper rapids, they, like the Don Cossacks, did not engage in agriculture, retained autonomy, choosing their elders, carried out guard duty, repelling the raids of the Crimean Tatars and receiving rewards for this from the Polish government. But the cash salary was received only by those Cossacks who were included in the list (registry). The Zaporozhye Sich was replenished with fugitives, but the register remained unchanged, which strained relations between the Cossacks and the authorities.

. First victories. The uprising was led by the elected hetman Bohdan Khmelnytsky. His troops, reinforced by peasants and townspeople who came from Ukraine and Belarus, defeated Polish troops in a number of battles and occupied Kyiv in December 1648. In August 1649 after the rebel victory healthy, Overshadowed by the betrayal of their ally, the Crimean Khan, bribed by the Poles, a compromise peace treaty was signed. According to it, the number of registered Cossacks increased to 40 thousand, in three voivodeships - Kiev, Chernigov and Bratslav - only Orthodox Christians could hold positions, which sharply limited the power of the Polish gentry. However, feudal relations remained, and the lords could return to their possessions.

B. Khmelnitsky, realizing the fragility of the results achieved and the weakness of the rebels, more than once turned to the Russian government for help, expressing Ukraine’s readiness to join Russia. However, realizing that this would lead to war with the Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth and taking into account Russia’s unpreparedness for it, the government did not dare to satisfy the hetman’s request.

. Defeats of the rebels. Help to Russia. The renewed hostilities confirmed the validity of B. Khmelnitsky’s fears. In 1651, near Berestechko, his troops were defeated, and the signed Belotserkovsky Treaty reduced the Cossack register to 20 thousand and left restrictions for the Polish gentry only in the Kiev Voivodeship. After the defeat in the fall of 1653, the threat of complete defeat of the rebel forces loomed.

Russia could no longer allow this, since with such a development of events it would lose real possibility achieve their foreign policy goals in the western direction. In the decision Zemsky Sobor 1653 on the acceptance of Ukraine “under high hand» Russian Tsar The influence of the idea “Moscow is the third Rome”, which intensified in connection with church reform, also had an impact.

3.3. The accession of Ukraine to Russia.

. Ukrainian Rada in Pereyaslav V January 1654 made a decision to annex Ukraine to Russia, which provided it with significant independence. The elective Cossack administration, headed by the hetman, remained, who, for example, had the right to foreign policy relations with all countries, with the exception of Poland and Turkey.

But soon a gradual restriction of the autonomous rights of Ukraine and the unification of governing bodies began in order to fully integrate it with Russia. These processes developed until the end of the 18th century.

. Reasons for joining:

Religious and ethnic community of the Russian and Ukrainian peoples;

Their common historical past and joint struggle against external enemies;

The specific historical situation in mid-17th century c., when for Ukraine maintaining independence seemed unrealistic and it was necessary to choose the “lesser evil”, that is, to join (and for many, reunite) with Russia, which was close in culture and faith, which also promised it to maintain internal independence;

The accession also met the interests of Russia (see paragraph 1.1.).

3.4. War with Poland and Sweden. The decision of the Zemsky Sobor in 1653 caused a war with Poland (1654-1667).

. The first stage of the Russian-Polish war. At first it was successful, and already in 1654 Russian troops captured Smolensk and a number of cities in Belarus, meeting with the support of the local population.

. War with Sweden (1656-1658). Sweden took advantage of Poland's failures, striving for hegemony in this region and turning the Baltic Sea into a “Swedish lake”. In addition, the Swedes did not want Russia to strengthen, and in 1655 their troops occupied Warsaw. Strong Sweden posed a greater threat to Russia than defeated Poland, therefore, having concluded a truce with it, Russia entered the war with Sweden. But competition with one of the most advanced armies in Europe was beyond the strength of the Russian troops, and in addition, Sweden signed peace with Poland in 1660. Due to the impossibility of continuing the war, Russia 1661 went to the signing World of Kardis, according to which she returned the lands she had conquered in Livonia and again lost access to the sea (the conditions of the Stolbovo Peace were restored).

The second stage of the Russian-Polish war. Poland, having received a respite, managed to regain strength and continue the war with Russia. In addition, after the death of Khmelnitsky, part of the Cossack leadership took the side of Poland. The war became protracted, successes alternated with defeats. But in the end 1667 Russia achieved signing Truce of Andrusovo, along which Smolensk was returned to her and the lands of Left Bank Ukraine were crossed. Kyiv, located on the right bank of the Dnieper, was given up for two years, but was never returned to Poland.

The terms of this truce were fixed "Eternal Peace" 1686 city, which secured Kyiv for Russia and became its major diplomatic victory.

4. Russia's relations with Crimea and the Ottoman Empire

4.1. Russian-Turkish War 1677-1681 The reunification of part of Ukraine with Russia caused opposition Crimean Khanate and the Ottoman Empire standing behind him, who launched a war against Russia. In 1677, Russian-Ukrainian troops managed to defend the strategically important fortress of Chigirin, besieged by superior enemy forces. The stubborn resistance of Russia forced the weakened by this time Porto sign in 1681 in Bakhchisaray A 20-year truce with Russia, according to which its acquisitions were recognized, and the lands between the Dnieper and Bug were declared neutral.

4.2. European countries, in the face of Ottoman expansion, tried to unite their efforts. IN 1684 The Holy League was created - a coalition consisting of Austria, Poland and Venice, which also counted on the support of Russia. It was this interest that prompted Poland to sign the “Eternal Peace” and abandon Kyiv. This led to a breakthrough in Russia's diplomatic isolation and its rapprochement with Poland, which then contributed to the solution of the main foreign policy task - securing access to the sea.

4.3. New war. Having assumed obligations towards the Holy League, the Moscow government broke the truce and declared war on the Porte in 1686. But attempts V. V. Golitsyna V 1687 and 1689 the capture of Crimea ended in failure, although they helped the allies on the western front.

5. East direction

The move to the east was less stressful for the country. During the 17th century. Russian explorers advanced from Western Siberia to the shores Pacific Ocean. As they advanced, they created strongholds: Krasnoyarsk fort, Bratsk fort, Yakut fort, Irkutsk winter quarters, etc. They collected yasak- fur tax.

At the same time, peasant colonization of the arable lands of Southern Siberia began. By the end of the 17th century. The Russian population of the region was 150 thousand people.

6. Conclusions

During the 17th century. Russia was inconsistent, periodically retreating and accumulating forces, but still solved tasks within its power. But the overall result of its foreign policy was small, and its acquisitions came from maximum voltage effort and huge financial costs. The main strategic tasks - gaining access to the seas and reunifying Russian lands - remained unresolved.