Evolution of Image of the Moscow State in Historical Works of Jan Dlugosh and Matvey Mehovsky: Second Half of XV - First Third of XVI Centuries

The article is devoted to the evolution of the image of the Moscow principality, and then the state in the works of Polish chroniclers of the XV-XVI centuries Jan Dlugosh and Matvey Mekhovsky. Attention is paid to the characteristics of Moscow, and how these characteristics changed as it strengthened. Particular attention is paid to the assessments of J. Dlugosh and M. Mekhovsky regarding their contemporary Moscow princes and rulers of Poland and Lithuania, as well as the expansion of the territory of the Moscow principality. Respect for Moscow princes and criticism of Polish rulers are especially noted. Based on a comparative analysis of the news of J. Dlugosh and M. Mekhovsky, a growing interest in the Moscow state is shown, a geographical description of which is given by M. Mekhovsky. The work shows that the Polish chroniclers have not yet been interested in the internal political history of Moscow - all references were exclusively related to Polish or Lithuanian events. The relevance of the study is due to the role played by Polish historiography of the XV-XVI centuries in shaping the image of the Moscow state, Russia in Europe, in particular, M. Mekhovsky’s Treatise on the Two Sarmatians.