Ісак Прохорович Мазепа (1884 – 1952)

Abstract

Стаття присвячена Ісаку Прохоровичу Мазепі – українському політичному і громадському діячеві, голові уряду Директорії та одночасно міністру внутрішніх справ цього уряду. Завдяки своїм здібностям він з міщанської сім’ї козацького походження зміг закінчити семінарію і Санкт-Петербурзький університет, а в часи Української Центральної Ради і Директорії активно працювати на революцію.

Статья посвящается Исаку Прохоровичу Мазепе – украинскому политическому и общественному деятелю, председателю правительства Директории и одновременно министру внутренних дел этого правительства. Благодаря своим способностям, он из мещанской семьи казацкого происхождения смог окончить семинарию и Санкт-Петербургский университет, а во время Украинской Центральной Рады и Директории активно работать на революцию.

Issac Prokhorovych Mazepa was born on 16 August 1884 in the village of Kostodobriv, Novhorod-Siverskyi Uyezd (District), Chernihiv Governate (Region). The family was large and had many children. This petty bourgeois family was of Cossacks descent. The father worked hard in his wealthy household. Isaac’s elder brother Karpo helped the father. Younger brother Kalenik immigrated to America before the break of the World War I. No information is available on the lives of Issac’s younger brothers and his sister. Upon graduation from the bursa, Isaac studied at Chernihiv seminary. In 1904, he became a student of Saint-Petersburg University. Although he studied at the natural sciences faculty, he also was interested in philosophy, history, and economic sciences. During his study at the university, Isaac became an activist of the Ukrainian Social Democratic Party that involved him in revolutionary events of 1917-1921. Issac Mazepa was the Internal Minister in the Directoria government. In 1919, by the order of the Directoria, he was appointed the Prime Minister while at the same time keeping the position of the Internal Minister. Under the Bolsheviks’ pressure, however, the Directoria actually fell. I.Mazepa stayed in the office of the Prime-Minister till 28 May 1920. After resignation, he left for abroad. He worked as a lecturer at the Ukrainian Free University in Prague, and as a professor at the Technical Economic Institute in Bavaria. I.Mazepa died on 18 March 1952 and was buried in Augsburg, Germany. His legacy of licentiate agronomist includes also a collection of interesting historical and political works on national liberation struggle of the Ukrainian people during the period of Central Rada and Hetmanate.