The German and Austrian Historiography on Russia's Participation in the Holy League War

Abstract

German and Austrian historiography of the Holy League war is an essential source because German and Austrian historians have analyzed Russia's participation in this war since the 18th century. The discussion revolves around three main questions: about the moment of Russia's accession to the Holy League de jure and de facto; about the qualification of the Holy League as an international anti-Turkish and anti-Crimean alliance; finally, about the peculiarities of social and technological cooperation between the Venetian Republic, the Holy Roman Empire, and Russia. The German and Austrian historiography on Russia's role in the war with the Ottomans began to form at the end of the 17th century when Austrian diplomats started issuing pamphlets spreading the pan-European Christian idea. Leopold I acted in accordance with this idea as the defender of the European order on the Rhine and the defender of the entire Christian civilization from the Islamic Empire and its vassal of the Crimean Khanate. Russia was trying to secure its national interests in dealings with the European partners, which did not fit well with the relations between Vienna and Constantinople, Venice, and Constantinople, as well as the plans of Jan III Sobieski to compensate for the loss of Ukraine at the expense of the Danube lands. The assessments of German and Austrian historiography make sense if we regard Russia as a part of the European Christian civilization, sharing common cultural values and geopolitical challenges.

Keywords

• peter i
• leopold i
• jan iii
• the war of the holy league
• the war of the augsburg league
• eternal peace
• the azov campaigns of peter i
• i. korb
• o.a. play
• karlovytsky congress
• i.h. von gvarient
• i. kurtz