“Southern Lands” of Ukraine in Polish Irredentism of the 1850—1870s

Abstract

The purpose of the research is to determine the role and place of the southern Ukrainian lands (the southern / “poludenni” lands of Ukraine) in Polish irredentism, which manifested itself during and after the January Uprising.

The research methodology is based on the principles of scientificity and comprehensiveness; general scientific and special historical research methods, including problem, chronological, synchronous, and comparative-historical, are used.

The scientific novelty of the research is that an attempt was made to rethink the significance of Southern Ukraine for Polish irredentism, to research the process of their involvement in supporting the January Uprising, on the basis of archival documents.

Conclusions. It is proved that Southern Ukraine has become a strategically important territory for the preparation and organization of the January Uprising. In these lands, Polish irredentism began to gain activity already in the 50s of the nineteenth century. The study identifies that in the documents of the leaders of the Polish national movement, Southern Ukraine was included in the “poludenni lands” (“poludenni countries”), where a special leader-commissar was appointed. As a border territory that had a port in Odesa, the “poludenni lands” of Ukraine became a convenient center for the transportation, concentration, and distribution of literature, weapons, and finances for the organization of the January Uprising. It is shown what forms and methods were used by Polish figures for their activities in the “poludenni countries” (Southern Ukraine, Dobruja, Danubian principalities, Halychyna / Galicia). It is suggested that the Polish leaders could include the territory of Southern Ukraine in the territory of the future three-nation state.