The art of being an apologist for the foreign policy of the state: P.P. Shafirov’s treatise “Reasoning…” is the main initial milestone in the history of the Russian science of International Law
- Autores: Batyr V.A.1,2
-
Afiliações:
- Institute of State and Law of the Russian Academy of Sciences
- Kutafin Moscow State Law University
- Edição: Nº 1 (2025)
- Páginas: 104-117
- Seção: Discussions and debates
- URL: https://gynecology.orscience.ru/1026-9452/article/view/678455
- DOI: https://doi.org/10.31857/S1026945225010093
- ID: 678455
Citar
Resumo
The article presents a scientific analysis and modern interpretation of the work of P. P. Shafirov “Reasoning, what legitimate reasons Peter I, tsar and ruler of All Russia, had for starting the war against Charles XII, King of Sweden, in 1700”, which is rightfully considered the best description and original source of information about the Russian-Swedish Northern War of 1700–1721, its causes and atrocities related to Sweden’s numerous violations of international legal obligations and the “right of peoples”. The clear structure of the work leaves no doubt about the evidentiary nature of the argumentation of the reasons for the outbreak of war. The role of Peter the Great in the drafting of the text is shown, the spheres of his managerial activity are indicated. The origins of the prototypes of certain branches and institutions of modern International Law, primarily International Humanitarian Law, are revealed. Referring to the events of more than 300 years ago allows us to better understand the origins of humanism as the moral code of Russians, defending state interests.
Texto integral

Sobre autores
Vyacheslav Batyr
Institute of State and Law of the Russian Academy of Sciences; Kutafin Moscow State Law University
Autor responsável pela correspondência
Email: batyr_62@mail.ru
PhD in Law, Professor, Leading Researcher, Institute of State and Law of the Russian Academy of Sciences; Professor of the Department of International Law, Kutafin Moscow State Law
Rússia, 10 Znamenka str., 119019 Moscow; 9 Sadovaya-Kudrinskaya str., 123995 MoscowBibliografia
- Butler W. E. Russia and the legal map of the world // Herald of Kutafin University (MSAL). 2015. No. 5. P. 87 (in Russ.).
- Butler W. E. The tercentenary of the publication of the first Russian original book on Public International Law // Herald of Kutafin University. 2017. No. 4. Pp. 41–55 (in Russ.).
- Batyr V. A. Integrative features of the system of International Humanitarian Law // Law in the Armed Forces – Military Legal Review / Military-industrial complex: Management, Economics and Finance Law. 2022. No. 12. Pp. 13–23 (in Russ.).
- Bekyashev K. A., Starodubtsev G. S. History of the science of International Law // Herald of Kutafin University. 2015. No. 6. Pp. 15, 16 (in Russ.).
- Bogdanova O. V. Dedication as a strategy and code of a cultural text // Human. Culture. Education. 2019. No. 1 (31). Pp. 34–49 (in Russ.).
- Butrim I. I., Chuchaev A. I. The use of prohibited means and methods of warfare as a crime against the peace and security of mankind // State and Law. 2023. No. 12. Pp. 156–170 (in Russ.).
- Vasiliev I. V. A discussion on the laws of the Russian State, published from its foundation to the present time: With an indication of the reasons for the periodic change of these laws and the gradual education in which they are now / composed by the Imperial Moscow University of Moral and Political Sciences Candidate Hilarion Vasiliev, for obtaining a master’s degree. M., 1823. P. 56 (in Russ.).
- Military Law: in 3 vols. / under the general ed. of A. N. Savenkov, A. V. Kudashkin. Vol. II: The current state of Military Law (institutes of Military Law). M., 2021. Pp. 712–746 (in Russ.).
- The history of the Northern War (A daily note by Peter the Great) / comp. T. S. Maikova; under the general ed. of A. A. Preobrazhensky: in 2 iss. M., 2004 (in Russ.).
- Grabar V. E. Materials on the history of literature of International Law in Russia (1647–1917) / scientific ed., author the biographer. essays and comp. bibliographies by W. E. Butler; ed. and author’s preface by V. A. Tomsinov. M., 2005. Pp. 88, 89 (in Russ.).
- Grabar V. E. The first Russian book on International Law // Herald of the Moscow University. 1950. No. 7. Pp. 101–110 (in Russ.).
- Demkova N. S. Letters of Ivan the Terrible to the Swedish Kings Eric XIV and John III (According to the manuscripts of the Swedish State Archive) // Proceedings of the Department of Ancient Russian Literature. M., 1997. Vol. L. Pp. 488–500 (in Russ.).
- Zabotkin A. S. The first Russian book on International Humanitarian Law // Herald of the RUDN University. Ser.: Legal sciences. 2007. No. 3. Pp. 86–90 (in Russ.).
- Zakharov A. V. The manuscript of P. P. Shafirov’s “Dedications” and Peter the Great’s state propaganda // Herald of the Chelyabinsk State University. 2014. No. 22 (351). History. Vol. 61. Pp. 172–181 (in Russ.).
- Kolb R. On the origin of the terminological pair jus ad bellum / jus in bello // International the Red Cross Journal. Special issue 320, October 1997. Pp. 80–88 (in Russ.).
- Lappo-Danilevsky A. S. The idea of the state and the most important moments of its development in Russia from the time of the troubles to the era of transformations // Voice of the past. 1914. No. 12. Pp. 5–38 (in Russ.).
- Lentin E. The authorship of “The Truth of the Monarch’s Will”: Feofan Prokopovich, Afanasy Kondoidi, Peter I // XVIII century: collection of art and materials. Collection 21: In memory of Pavel Naumovich Berkov (1896–1969) / ed. by N. D. Kochetkov. SPb., 1999. Collection 21. Pp. 33–39 (in Russ.).
- Lvova I. P. From the history of Enlightenment in Russia in the era of Peter the Great (Fyodor Polikarpovich Polikarpov-Orlov) // Herald of SPbU. Ser. 2: History. 2008. Iss. 2. Pp. 36–43 (in Russ.).
- Martens F. F. Modern International Law of civilized peoples: in 2 vols. Vol. 1 / ed. and with a biographer an essay by V. A. Tomsinov. M., 2008. Pp. 88, 94, 95 (in Russ.).
- Matveev E. M. Church panegyric in Russian oratorical prose of the middle of the XVIII century // Herald of St. Petersburg University. Ser. 9. 2007. Iss. 2. Part II. Pp. 35–41 (in Russ.).
- Moiseeva G. N. “The History of Russia” by Fyodor Polikarpov as a literary monument // XVIII century: collection of articles and materials. Collection 9: Problems of literary development in Russia in the first third of the XVIII century / ed. by G. P. Makogonenko, G. N. Moiseeva; preface ed. L., 1974. Pp. 81–92 (in Russ.).
- Pekarsky P. P. Baron Huyssen, a scientific and literary agent of the Russian government at the beginning of the XVIII century // Domestic notes. 1860. Vol. 129. Pp. 49– 72 (in Russ.).
- Pekarsky P. P. Science and literature in Russia under Peter the Great. Vol. I. Introduction to the history of Enlightenment in Russia of the XVIII century. St. Petersburg, 1862. P. 393 (in Russ.).
- Pavlov-Silvansky N. P. Reform projects in the notes of Peter the Great’s contemporaries: The experience of studying Russian projects and their unpublished texts. St. Petersburg, 1897. P. 6 (in Russ.).
- Letters and papers of Emperor Peter the Great. Vol. 11. Issue 2 (July–December 1711). M., 1964. P. 134 (in Russ.).
- Detailed chronicle from the beginning of Russia to the Battle of Poltava: in 4 parts / ed. by I. N. Boltin and N. A. Lvov. St. Petersburg, 1798–1799 (in Russ.).
- Pokhlebkin V. V. Relations between the Swedish state (Svetiode, Svearike, Sveiskaya zemlya, Svitskoe Kingdom, Swedish Crown, Sweden) and the Russian state (Novgorod Republic, Moscow Grand Duchy, Moscow Tsardom, Russian Empire) in the XIII–XIX centuries (1142–1874) // Fo-reign policy of Russia, Russia and the USSR for 1000 years in names, dates and facts. IX–XX centuries. Vol. II. Wars and peace treaties. Book 1: Europe and America. M., 1995 (in Russ.).
- The law of military conflicts: basic concepts and paradigmatic genesis in the name of victory / ed. by R. H. Tsalikov. M., 2024. Pp. 187–190 (in Russ.).
- Richter V. F. A refresher course in International Law: a short course in International Law / comp. apply it to the program of the Legal Commission according to Martens, Stoyanov, and others; comp. V. Richter. Kiev, 1891. P. 181 (in Russ.).
- Savenkov A. N., Kudashkin A. V. Military Law: problem statement and solutions // State and Law. 2021. No. 4. P. 13 (in Russ.).
- Serov D. O. Empire Builders (Essays on the state and criminal activities of the associates of Peter the Great). Novosibirsk, 1996. P. 47 (in Russ.).
- Dictionary of literary terms / ed.-comp.: L. I. Timofeev and S. V. Turaev. M., 1974. P. 258 (in Russ.).
- Solovyov K. A. P. P. Shafirov on the goal-setting of public administration (the concept of “benefit” in the text of the “Deduction” of 1716) // Historical Journal: scientific research. 2020. No. 3. Pp. 131–143 (in Russ.).
- Solovyov S. M. The history of Russia since ancient times. M., 1993. Book VIII. Vol. 16. Pp. 321, 523 (in Russ.).
- Tolstykh V. L. Course of International Law: textbook. M., 2022. Pp. 124, 125 (in Russ.).
- Feofan (Prokopovich Elezar, Archbishop. Novgorod and Narva; 1681–1736). The truth of the Monarch’s will. M., 1726 (in Russ.).
- Chirkin V. E., Krylova N. S., Khazova O. A., Dozhdev D. V. The Jubilee of Professor William Elliot Butler // Proceedings of the Institute of Physics and Technology of the Russian Academy of Sciences. 2019. Vol. 14. No. 4. Pp. 190–202 (in Russ.).
- Shafirov P. P. Reasoning, what are the legitimate reasons for Peter I, Tsar and Ruler of the All-Russian, to the outbreak of the war against Charles XII, King of Sweden, in 1700, had / intro. by W. E. Butler; ed. and with a preface by V. A. Tomsinov. M., 2008. Pp. IX, XIII–XLVI, 3–122 (in Russ.).
Arquivos suplementares
