Mykola Mikhnovsky
Mykola Mikhnovsky | |
---|---|
Микола Міхновський | |
Personal details | |
Born | Mykola Ivanovich Mikhnovsky 31 March 1873 Turivka, Russian Empire (now Ukraine) |
Died | 3 May 1924 Kyiv, Ukrainian SSR, Soviet Union (now Ukraine) | (aged 51)
Nationality | Ukrainian |
Political party | Revolutionary Ukrainian Party |
Alma mater | Kyiv University |
Occupation |
|
Military service | |
Allegiance | Russian Empire |
Branch/service | Imperial Russian Army |
Years of service | 1914–1919 |
Rank | Lieutenant |
Battles/wars | World War I |
Mykola Ivanovych Mikhnovsky (Ukrainian: Мико́ла Іва́нович Міхно́вський; 31 March [O.S. 19 March] 1873 – 3 May 1924) was a Ukrainian independence activist, lawyer and journalist who was one of the early leaders of the Ukrainian nationalist movement in the late 19th and early 20th centuries. Mikhnovsky was the author of the pamphlet Independent Ukraine, one of the organisers of the Ukrainian People's Army, and co-founder of the first political party in eastern Ukraine, the Revolutionary Ukrainian Party, as well as the co-founder and leader of various other parties, including the Ukrainian People's Party, the Ukrainian Democratic Party, and the Brotherhood for Self-Determination.[1]
Early life and education
Mykola Mikhnovsky was born in the village of Turivka on 31 March 1873. The son of a priest, Mikhnovsky's family was primarily Cossack, with roots going back to the 17th century.[2] He spent his childhood in the countryside, listening to folk songs, stories and songs. His world views were influenced by his father, who shaped his "spirit of independence". His father held church services in the Ukrainian language.[1] Mykola was educated in the town of Pryluky. After graduating from high school in 1890, he studied Law at Kyiv University.[2]
Student independence activism
The growth of Ukrainian national consciousness in the late 19th century led to a rift among the Ukrainian intelligentsia. The older generation approached the "Ukrainian question" through culture and education, limiting their demands to moderate reforms that would have abolished the national-cultural restrictions for Ukrainian within the
As a freshman at the
Mikhnovsky, though he was not among the founders, soon became the ideologue and leader of the fraternity. As a law student, he developed an ideological platform, known as the "Credo of a Young Ukrainian." The Taras Fraternity declared its goal to fight for "an independent sovereign Ukraine, united, whole and undivided, from the San to the Kuban rivers, from the Carpathians to the Caucasus, between the free-free, with no master and no boor, without the class struggle within the federation".
The case of the Taras Fraternity seemed almost hopeless, but Mikhnovsky spread their views.
Mikhnovsky was lucky to escape arrest. He graduated and began working in one of the lawyers' offices in Kyiv. However, Mikhnovsky did not abandon his social activities. In 1897, he travelled to the city, which had established close relationships with western leaders and purchased a large number of illegal publications, including works by Mykhailo Drahomanov and Ivan Franko. Police believed that he was an anti-government figure.
Political activities
In 1898, Mikhnovsky moved to
Mikhnovskyy's "Ten Commandments" for the Ukrainian People's Party labelled Jews, Poles, Russians, Hungarians, Romanians enemies "for as long as they ruled and exploited us [Ukrainians]." He condemned intermarriage with foreigners.[4] The Ukrainian People's Party did not become popular, and existed for 5 years before dissolving.[2]
Ukrainian Revolution
After the outbreak of the
After the October Revolution in Russia, he returned to Ukraine and entered the Ukrainian Democratic Peasant Party (UDKhP), founded by Vyacheslav Lypynsky. When German armies occupied Ukraine and installed the Hetmanate regime, Mikhnovsky opposed the rule of hetman Pavlo Skoropadskyi, but refused to take part in a coup to topple him.[2] Skoropadskyi contemplated offering Mikhnovsky the post of Prime Minister of Ukraine, but instead offered him the position of personal adviser.[2] Mikhnovsky refused this offer.[2]
In late 1918 the socialist Directorate took power in Kyiv.[2] Mikhnovsky considered the new government to be extremist and incompetent, and his party plotted to replace its leadership either with colonel Petro Bolbochan or Sich Riflemen leader Yevhen Konovalets.[2] However, in 1919 Mikhnovsky contracted typhus.[2] After being temporarily arrested by the Bolsheviks, he left politics and next year left Ukraine for Kuban.[2] As he was unable to be evacuate together with the White forces, Mikhnovsky settled in Poltavskaya, working as a teacher.[2]
Return to Ukraine and death
In 1924 Mikhnovsky returned to Kyiv, where he was arrested by GPU, but released in a short time.[2] On 3 May 1924, Mikhnovsky was found hanged in a garden belonging to his long-time political ally Volodymyr Shemet.[2] Officially his death was ruled a suicide, however, there were rumours of Soviet secret services' involvement.[2]
Legacy
During the era of
In December 2022 the Druzhby Narodiv (or Friendship of Peoples) boulevard in Kyiv was renamed to Mykola Mikhnovsky boulevard.[5]
References
- ^ a b "Рідна віра - Микола Міхновський". svit.in.ua. Retrieved 18 June 2017.
- ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p q r s t u v w x y z aa ab ac ad (in Russian) Ukrainian nationalism was born in Kharkiv, Status Quo (26 August 2020)
- ^ 100 видатних українців. — К.: Видавництво Арій, 2006. — с. 325
- ^ Internet Encyclopedia of Ukraine, "Ukrainian People's Party."
- Ukrayinska Pravda(in Ukrainian). Retrieved 8 December 2022.