Papers by Oleg Yevstratyev
Colonial Reality and Postcolonial Instrumentalization of the Overseas Expansion of the Duchy of Courland, 2020
The article is devoted to the theoretical understanding of the history of colonial policy of the ... more The article is devoted to the theoretical understanding of the history of colonial policy of the Duchy of Courland in 1645–1731 through the prism of the phenomenon of a “colonial reality” based on Fernand Braudel’s concept of three levels of historical time and Immanuel Wallerstein’s world-systems analysis. The article also examines with the help of the postcolonial approach the practice of applying a colonial episode of the history of Courland by some modern nations in the context of “postcolonial instrumentalization” of this issue. The following conclusions are as made: 1) at the level of “event history”, colonialism of Courland organized in a typical way of the 17th century in the form of “point” settlements in Gambia and on Tobago (it included also iron mines in Norway leased from Denmark) was part of Jacob Kettler’s (years of reign 1642–1681) project of turning his state into a “second Holland”; 2) within the “time of very long duration”, Courland had convenient geographic but unfavorable geopolitical conditions for the overseas expansion; 3) within the “time of long duration”, colonial policy of the Duchy faced insurmountable obstacles connected with its ethnosocial structure and its peripheral position within the 17th century world economy; 4) from 1698 to 1731, Duke Jacob’s heirs contested vainly the Island of Tobago as part of the “Courland inheritance”; 5) at the present stage, we can see how some modern nations use this episode to overcome their “postcolonial syndrome” (Latvians, Belarusians) and justify their “imperial” ambitions (Poles). At both levels (“colonial reality” and “postcolonial instrumentalization”), attempts to escape from the periphery into the core are evident.
The "Couronica" in the Estonian Historical Archives in Tartu, 2019
The article completes the series comprised of three publications, aiming to analyse the sources o... more The article completes the series comprised of three publications, aiming to analyse the sources on the history of the Duchy of Courland from the archives of Germany, Poland and Estonia. It is an overview of documents on the "Couronica" in the Estonian Historical Archives in Tartu. The analysis of the materials from this archival repository, most of which are dated back to the mid and the third decade of the seventeenth century, reveals its contents dealing mainly with military, trade and property issues. The article contains a table with the signatures, descriptions and chronological frames of the documents under investigation. Therefore, it might be useful while conducting research on the history of Courland and its relations with modern Estonian territories in the second half of the sixteenth and late eighteenth centuries and related topics. Moreover, the article contains a reference to a document, dated 1601, from the Estonian Historical Archives in Tartu, which mentions the demonym "a white Rus" and therefore might be of interest to Belarusian scholarship.
"Couronica" in the Central Archives of Historical Records in Warsaw (Poland), 2018
The article is the second part of a series of publications on the documents on the “Couronica” pr... more The article is the second part of a series of publications on the documents on the “Couronica” preserved in a number of foreign archives. It contains an overview of sources on the history of the Duchy of Courland kept at the Central Archives of Historical Records in Warsaw (Poland). It pays particular attention to the examination of the material on the history of relations between the rulers of Courland from the House of Kettler and the Polish crown, a suzerain of the Duchy, as well as representatives of the noble families of the Grand Duchy of Lithuania. The article includes a table with the signatures, descriptions and chronological frames of the historical sources under investigation. In this regard, it may serve as a basis for conducting research on the history of Courland and its relations with the Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth in 1569–1795 as well as on a number of related topics.
Did Rzeczpospolita have the overseas colonies? On the issue of the Polish- Lithuanian vector of the colonial policy of the Duchy of Courland in the 17th century, 2018
The issue of the attitude of the Rzeczpospolita (or its authorities) to the colonial campaigns of... more The issue of the attitude of the Rzeczpospolita (or its authorities) to the colonial campaigns of the Duke of Courland Jakob von Kettler is analyzed.
Chronological Dating of the Duchy of Courland’s Colonial Policy, 2018
The article considers versions of chronological dating of the history of Courland’s colonialism, ... more The article considers versions of chronological dating of the history of Courland’s colonialism, widespread in historiography. Sources of these versions were found and analysed. It is concluded that an overwhelming majority of assumptions about the time of beginning and end of the history of the Duchy of Courland’s colonial policy are imaginary, and rely on questionable secondary historical sources. At the same time, their predominance in relevant historical and popular literature contributes to mythologization of this issue which still takes an important place in the historical memory of the Latvians.
Keywords: Duchy of Courland, colonial policy, chronological dating.
"Couronica" in the Prussian Privy State Archives of the Prussian Cultural Heritage Foundation in Berlin (Germany), 2017
The article examines the documents that reveal the history of the Duchy of Courland and Semigalli... more The article examines the documents that reveal the history of the Duchy of Courland and Semigallia, available in the Prussian Privy State Archives in Berlin (Germany). It includes a description of the contents of the archival fonds, concerning various aspects of the history of the Duchy of Courland. The article contains the signatures of the historical records of the abovementioned archives relating to the history of the Duchy of Courland and Semigallia. From a scholarly perspective, it can serve as a valuable tool for studies on the history of the East Baltic region in the early modern period.
The Duchy of Courland in the political system of the Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth (second half of the 16th century — end of the 17th century), 2017
The article contains an analysis of the situation of the Duchy of Courland and Semigallia in th... more The article contains an analysis of the situation of the Duchy of Courland and Semigallia in the Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth in military, political, socio-economic, religious and cultural terms. It is concluded that Courland’s vassalage from the Polish-Lithuanian state was moderate in character. The author proposes a periodization of the history of mutual relations between the socio-historical entities in question, focusing on the weakening of the influence of the dominant state upon the vassal state.
"We promise to go to Norway": details contained in a labor contract on the territorial mobility of "Rusacy" in the 17th century, 2017
The article analyzes the labor contract of the Courlandian Duke Jacob with the group of "Rusacy" ... more The article analyzes the labor contract of the Courlandian Duke Jacob with the group of "Rusacy" concluded in 1666. This document is kept in the Latvian State Historical Archives in Riga. The source is considered in the context of the history of the colonial policy of the Duchy of Courland, especially in Norway. As a result, a number of assumptions that allow us to expand our understanding of the territorial mobility of Belarusian peasants in the early modern period are made. The original text of the analyzed contract is also shared.
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Papers by Oleg Yevstratyev
Keywords: Duchy of Courland, colonial policy, chronological dating.
Keywords: Duchy of Courland, colonial policy, chronological dating.