Századok – 2012

KÖZLEMÉNYEK AZ 1711. ÉVI SZATMÁRI BÉKE TÖRTÉNETÉRŐL - Baráth Julianna: A külpolitikai lehetőségek megítélése a Rákóczi-szabadságharc második felében. Az orosz reménység IV/815

822 BARÁTH JULIANNA ASSESSING THE POSSIBILITIES OF FOREIGN POLICY IN THE SECOND PART OF THE RÁKÓCZI REVOLT. THE RUSSIAN HOPE by Julianna Barát h (Summary) The foreign policy of Ferenc Rákóczi II was determined by the War of the Spanish Inheritance and the Northern War. Its basis was constituted by the French connection. After the end of French military superiority, however, the prince turned his attention towards the Russian relations. The codirector of foreign policy alongside Rákóczi himself was Miklós Bercsényi, who took part to all important negotiations, and sometimes pursued them alone. He was also put in charge of the direction of Russian affairs by the prince. Although the belief of Bercsényi in Hungarian victory had been seriously undermined by 1707, he continued to believe in the willingness of Peter I to confront Vienna in an armed conflict. His view was opposed by Sándor Károlyi, who criticised the Russian policies of Bercsényi and urged for an agreement with the Habsburgs. The majority of historians blamed Bercsényi for having deterred Rákóczi from the possibility of a peaceful settlement with the emperor. In the summary of his academic inaugural, published by István Czigány, Gyula Szekfu emphasised that the Russian plan was a diplomatic misconception and foreign political mistake, which, fortunately, failed to influence the subsequent history of the nation. The views of Bercsényi were adopted by Rákóczi as well, whose personality was able to give momentum even to manifest failures.