THE CONSTRUCTION OF THE «UKRAINIAN» LEGEND IN THE BIOGRAPHY OF WILHELM VON HABSBURG

Abstract

Summary. The purpose of the research – is to demonstrate how the historiographic image of Wilhelm von Habsburg, known as Colonel Vasyl Vyshyvanyi, was constructed on the basis of sources of personal origin and historiographic materials that were deposited during the XX century. The methodology of the research is based on the general scientific and special historical methods application. The principles of historicism, the objectivity and the value approach concerning the studied phenomena have been observed. The study source base has been covered and ensured by the heuristic method application. The use of the historical-genetic, historical-typological and historical-systemic methods has made it possible to reproduce and follow precisely the scientific discussions unfolding and to obtain the correct conclusions. The scientific novelty is that for the time in historiography shown as the as the story of the Austrian archduke, who decided to change his national identity and chose for himself the image of a fighter for the will of Ukraine, unfolded and mythologized. Conclusions. The history of the life of the Austrian Archduke Wilhelm von Habsburg-Lötringen has in recent years been enriched by a number of thorough studies. The main issue of this research was the question of choosing a Ukrainian national identity. This is where the construction of the Ukrainian legend Vasyl Vyshyvany in the historiography began, based on his own autobiography. As the accumulation of source and scientific material, the question of the vision of the hero evolved: from explaining the circumstances of change of national self-identification to exploring the motives of this step. Changes in the interpretation of this issue were also outlined and brought to the cultural and philosophical research field.