Poltava's Consequences: Local Autonomy in the Russian Empire during the Reign of Peter I.

The article discusses the way in which Russia's 1709 victory over Sweden at the Battle of Poltava, Ukraine, during the Great Northern War impacted local and regional autonomy within the Russian Empire under the rule of Russian Emperor Peter I. Focus is given to the decreased autonomy of the Hetmanate, or Cossack state, following the battle, as its leader, Hetman Ivan Mazepa, chose to ally with King Charles XII of Sweden during the war, along with increased autonomy for Russia's Baltic states. The Russian government's involvement in the appointment of military leaders in the Hetmanate's administrative divisions is outlined, as is Peter's role in having Ivan Skoropads'kyi elected as Hetman.