Translating Alternate Histories: Kniga istoriografija and the Justification of Russian Expansion into the Slavic South

• In Event: Reshaping Memory: Instrumentalization of History and Protest Discourse Narratives

Abstract

The translation of Mauro Orbini’s Il Regno degli Slavi into Russian (Kniga Istoriografija) by Savva-Vladislavič Raguzinskij in 1722 was a strategic ideological project under Peter the Great. By presenting Russia as the rightful leader of Slavdom, the text reinforced narratives of historical continuity, divine legitimacy, and territorial expansion. Mythological and genealogical claims—such as the connection between Russians, the Roxolani, and Attila the Hun—served to justify Russian dominion over all Slavs. Published a year after Peter’s imperial proclamation, the translation functioned as both a historiographical and ideological instrument, positioning Russia as the leader of the Slavic world. This study explores how Kniga Istoriografija was not just a translation but an instrumentalization of history that served Russian imperial interests. Through textual analysis and historical context, this paper demonstrates how translation was used to legitimize Russian expansion, in accordance with Russian South Slavic politics.

Author

• Patrick Oberstolz, U of Vienna (Austria)