«Orthodox Greek Emperors have had this many times»: Byzantine Example in legislative acts, panegyric and historical-political writings in Russia, late 17th – first quarter of the 18th century

Abstract

The article examines the use of examples from Byzantine history to explain current and historical events in Russia at the end of the 17th – first quarter of the 18th century. The usage of historical examples to clarify the meaning of events is one of the most common explanatory strategies. The source base of the research is mainly composed of panegyric literature, legislative acts, preparatory legislative documents, works of a historical and political nature. The history of Byzantium was well known in Russia at the end of the 17th century, however, the frequency of examples from Byzantine history was much inferior to the biblical and ancient ones. The article shows that in the studied chronological period, Byzantium was known to Russian authors mainly under the name «Greek Tsardom», the history of which dates back to the era of Emperor Constantine the Great. The name of this emperor and other emperors of early Byzantium (late Rome) were often mentioned as an example in the texts of the late 17th – first quarter of the 18th century. The article analyzes the use of facts from Byzantine history to clarify legislative acts, build historical analogies for Russian tsars, primarily Peter I. The role of the Byzantine example in the situation of Peter’s acceptance of the imperial title is also shown, as well as the application of the fall of Byzantium as political notation.