All-Russian nation

The All-Russian nation is an idea about how Russian identity can include three groups of people: Great Russia, Little Russia, and White Russia. These groups are often linked today with Russians, Ukrainians, and Belarusians. This idea comes from a belief that all East Slavs should be part of one big Russian family.

This idea became very important during the time of the Tsardom of Russia and the Imperial Russian Empire. Many people, even from other backgrounds like Jews and Germans, felt connected to this idea. It helped shape how the Russian Empire saw itself and its people.

Etymology

English-language scholars use words like Greater Russia, All-Russian, pan-Russian, or triune Russian nation to talk about this idea.

In Russian, it is called the Triyedinyi russkii narod. In the 19th century, it was also called obshcherusskii nationality. Ukrainian calls it Tryiedynyi rosiiskyi narod or pan-ruskyi narod, and Belarusian uses Tryjadziny ruski narod. All these words mean “people” and refer to a group sharing culture and history.

Further information: Names of Rus', Russia and Ruthenia

The word “Little Rus” came from Greek speakers, who used it to describe lands of Rus. They called the northern areas Greater Rus and the southern areas Little Rus. These were geographic labels, not value judgments.

In Russian, the word “Russian” described all East Slavic peoples during the Russian Empire, not just ethnic Russians. Over time, the idea of an “All-Russian” identity mixed with the identity of ethnic Russians.

In the West, “Ruthenia” was used for lands where East Slavs lived, including modern Ukrainians and Belarusians. The term Malorossiya entered Russian in the 17th century and is often translated as Little Russia. Some Ukrainians called themselves Ruthenians or Little Russians, while others used the word khokhol to describe themselves, distinct from Great Russians.

History

The idea of an "All-Russian nation" began when Kievan Rus' broke apart in the 11th century. This caused big changes in where people lived and how they grouped together. Over time, new groups formed, including Ukrainians, Belarusians, and Russians. Leaders in Moscow claimed they were the true successors to Kievan Rus' and used titles like " ruler of all Rus'" to show this.

In the 18th century, leaders like Catherine II promoted the idea that these groups were one nation. This helped Russia grow its influence into areas that were once part of the Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth. By the 19th century, many Russian leaders thought Ukrainians and Belarusians spoke versions of Russian and should be one nation. The government pushed this idea hard, even banning Ukrainian language books and performances to spread Russian culture.

In the 20th century, Soviet leaders kept promoting the idea of a united Russian nation. After the Soviet Union broke apart, the idea of a single "All-Russian" nation became less popular, but some Russian leaders still use it today, especially when talking about Ukraine and Belarus. This idea is still debated, especially between Russia and Ukraine.

Status of the Rusyns

The idea of an all-Russian nation sometimes included the Rusyns. They speak an East Slavic language and live in Carpathian Ruthenia. Some Rusyn writers in the United States thought of their group as part of the larger Russian nation. However, many Rusyns still felt close ties to the Ukrainians. Those who supported the all-Russian idea were called "Russophiles".