THE COSSACKS OF THE VELYKOBUDYSHCHANSKA SOTNIA OF THE POLTAVA REGIMENT (BASED ON RECORDS AND AUDITS FROM 1718–1735)

Abstract

Historical and demographic research is an important area of contemporary Ukrainian historiography, which has been developing since the early 2000s. The numerical and social composition of the population of the Hetmanate deserves special attention from scholars. At the same time, the population of the hundreds of the Poltava Regiment, in particular Velykobudyshche (Velykobudyshchanska), remains fragmentarily researched. Historians and local historians mostly focus on the etymology of the name of this sotnia, the time of its foundation, its administrative and territorial structure, and certain aspects of its socio-economic situation. However, the issues of the personal composition and number of Cossacks in the Velykobudyshchanska Sotnia are not sufficiently covered in scientific literature.The article analyses the personal composition of the hundred’s officers, the number of Cossacks, and their property differentiation as residents of the Velykobudyskyi Sotnia of the Poltava Regiment in 1718–1735.General scientific methods were used – analysis, generalisation and synthesis, as well as special historical methods – problem-chronological, problem-historical, historical-comparative and source criticism. The research is based on accounting sources, local history literature and historical works. The source base of the scientific research consists of computations and revisions of the Velykobudyskyi Sotnia for 1718, 1721, 1723, 1726, 1733, 1735, published in the seven-volume edition ‘Sources on the History of the Poltava Regiment (mid-17th – 18th centuries)’ compiled by Volodymyr Mokliak. From these sources, lists of Cossacks were selected with information about their financial status and place of military service.The scientific novelty lies in the fact that, for the first time, the numerical composition and financial status of the Cossacks have been comprehensively analysed. The dynamics of changes in the structure of mounted and unmounted armed, unarmed, present and absent in the sotnia are presented. Data on Cossacks who were ‘on dragoon duty’ at the sotnia town hall, on the Ukrainian defence line and in military campaigns in Poland were analysed, which made it possible to outline the geography of the military mobility of the hundred’s population. An increase in the proportion of armed Cossacks on horseback and a decrease in the proportion of unarmed foot soldiers at their place of service was revealed.