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Abstract

The author of the article investigates the problem of transformation of the concept translatio imperii in F. Tyutchev’s poems of the late 1840's – early 1850's. There is reasoning about the Eastern Orthodox empire and an attempt to choose the symbolic capital of this empire. The author concludes that this choice depends on the historical situation and on the issue that is raised in the poems (Polish Question, Eastern Question). "Capital" cities are the symbols of different features of the image of Russia that are significant in a certain context. This conclusion disputes the traditional view of Constantinople as the capital of the Eastern empire in Tyutchev's historiosophy.

Keywords

Historiosophical poems, concept translatio imperii, Eastern Orthodox empire, Byzantium, Rome, Constantinople, Kiev, St. Petersburg, Moscow