“In this house in 1920 lived…” These words grace the Mychajlo Hruševskyj Plaque. It is a memorial to a significant figure in Ukrainian history. We are standing before the Mychajlo Hruševskyj Plaque in Prague. It commemorates a man who once resided here.
The Mychajlo Hruševskyj Plaque marks the temporary home of Mychajlo Serhijovyč Hruševskyj. He was a prominent Ukrainian historian, publicist, and politician. He even served as the first head of the Ukrainian People’s Republic.
Born in 1866, Hruševskyj’s life spanned significant political upheaval. He died in 1934. Hruševskyj studied in Kyiv. From 1894 to 1914, he was a professor at Lviv University. There, he worked on his monumental ten-volume “History of Ukraine-Rus'”.
In March 1917, Hruševskyj became the first president of the Ukrainian People’s Republic. As a moderate socialist, he faced challenges from both ultranationalists and Bolsheviks. In April 1918, he left Kyiv. He resided in several Central European cities, including Prague in 1920. This Mychajlo Hruševskyj Plaque marks his stay.
The plaque features a relief likeness of Hruševskyj. The text is bilingual, in Czech and Ukrainian. It honors him as a statesman, scholar, and honorary member of the Czech Academy of Sciences.
Hruševskyj’s connection to Prague extends beyond his brief residence. In 1914, he became an honorary member of the Czech Academy of Sciences and Arts. This reflects his significant contribution to scholarship. Two of his works were published in Czech. “Ukraine and Ukrainians” appeared in 1918. “Ukraine and Russia” was published in 1919.
The Mychajlo Hruševskyj Plaque serves as a reminder of the interconnectedness of Ukrainian and Czech history. It highlights a period of immense change in Eastern Europe. Hruševskyj’s presence in Prague underscores the city’s role as a haven for political figures.