Labor I.-H. Engel (1770-1814), an outstanding historian of the Enlightenment, is devoted to the history of Ukraine from 1320 to the end of the XVIII century. with an emphasis on the political and military history of the Cossacks. Written in a wide range of written sources and publications in different languages, mainly of Polish origin, concentrated in Viennese archives and libraries, as well as Russian-language manuscripts from the library of the last Cossack hetman K.G. Razumovsky, the study will interest both professional historians and a wide readership. TsS edition is the first translation of the work of I.-H. Engel in German.