The “Eastern European Thirty Years’ War” from the Pereyaslav Agreement to the Truce of Andrusovo (1654–1667)

Abstract

In 1654, the so-called “Eastern European Thirty Years’ War” broke out between Russia and the Polish–Lithuanian Commonwealth (Rzeczpospolita) for the possession of Ukraine (1654–1686), which marked the beginning of Russia’s successful western expansion. The tsarist government justified Russian great power aspirations (“collecting Russian lands”) with the “Moscow, the Third Rome” theory, which left its mark on Russian foreign policy as well. The Truce of Andrusovo in 1667 was a turning point in the power relations of 17th century Eastern Europe, Russia began to establish its position as a great power. Finally, on May 6 1686, the Russo–Polish “Eternal Peace” was signed in Moscow, confirming the provisions of 1667 and ending the “Eastern European Thirty Years’ War”.