Goryaga O. Social-legal status of Cossack foremen in the Hetman state during the second half of XVII-XVIII centuries

The thesis examines the process of formation and further evolution of the social - legal status of a new Ukrainian elite generation - Cossack foremen !°in the second half of XVII-XVIII centuries. The genesis of Cossack elite, its inner structure and the origin of formation are studied in detail as well as the problems of social - political orientations of Cossack foremen and the process of monopolization of political power in the state by Cossack leaders. The author analyses and describes the changes in the system of social relations and in the mechanism and principals of state gov-ernment caused by this process. Based on numerous scientific sources, the thesis shows the transformation of Cossack foremen into a separate privileged stratum of Ukrainian society ("new nobility") through obtaining various rights and privileges passed exceptionally within this exclusive corporation.