казаки

The article describes the unknown pages of the left bank of Saratov connected with voivode’s the Big Ivan Fedorovich Shahovskoy staying in the city, and Holstein embassy, whose secretary was Adam Oleary. These ambassadors returned from Persia to Moscow in 1638 through Astrakhan and Saratov.

First is a detailed biography of prince Ivan Shahovskoy who was voivode in many cities in Russia (Tsarevosanchursk, Ryl'sk, Tomsk, Saratov and Nizhny Novgorod).

The article highlights political confrontation between the Hetmanate and the Zapoorozhian Sich and an important role of Russian diplomacy, which sought to limit the autonomy of Ukraine. The author shows that political orientation of the hetmans could vary depending on the political environment. The Russian government skillfully used contra- dictions between different political forces and Moscow diplomats in order to eliminate the Hetmanate autonomy.