into a semi-independent state. The strength and influence of the Kozaks became so great that Ukraine called itself Kozakian.
Petro Mohila, the metropolitan of Kiev (head of the “Uniate” church) with the help of Petro Konashevich and his Kozaks’ protection founded the first Ukrainian University called the “Akademia” of Kiev. This period under the regime of the Kozaks is famous for the spread of general education, literature, art, the establishment of printing presses and the building of many beautiful churches.
Poland, alarmed at the growing strength of the Ukrainian state, made several attempts to resist Ukrainian separation. At first it was quite successful, but after each attack by the Warsaw forces the Kozaks continued to emerge ever stronger until the climax of these wars of liberation was reached when Bohdan Khmelnitsky became Hetman of Ukraine. He was successful in annihilating the enemy’s forces and freeing all of Ukraine from foreign domination. When he returned to Kiev he was immediately proclaimed the Hetman of Ruthenian Ukraine. It has often been said that Khmelnitsky made a grave error in not pushing the enemy further than Warsaw. In the resulting disintegration of the Polish state he could easily have then conquered all of Poland and thereby changed completely the history of the Ukrainian nation.
Poland, Muscovy, Turkey, Venice, Hungary and Sweden sent gifts with their envoys to Ukraine bidding for her alliance, but for ten years the Kozak Republic refused to ally itself with any foreign powers. Poland, missing the loss of so much valuable territory, plotted against the Ukrainian nation until she stirred up the enmity of her neighbors.
It was under these circumstances that the Hetman decided to enter into an alliance with Muscovy even though such an alliance was against the will of the people. This momentous treaty was completed in 1654 at Pereyaslav. From that time
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