Abstract
The purpose of this paper is to analyze the image of foreigners in Moscovian texts written during the Time of Troubles in early 17th century. This study is based on two texts of different nature: "Novaya povest o preslavnom Rossiyskom tsarstve" ("New Tale of the Most Glorious Russian Kingdom", 1610-1611) and "Plach o plenenii i o konechnom razorenii Moskovskogo gosudarstva" ("Lament About the Capture and Final Destruction of the Muscovite State", 1612), both written in one of the most critical episodes of the Time of Troubles.
Both texts convey a general negative perception of foreigners and foreign influence that was typical for medieval Russian society. Foreigners were traditionally viewed as sinners and heretics if they did not adhere to Russia's strict Orthodox Christian faith.
Moreover, the country's vulnerability to a foreign invasion during this period exacerbated traditional xenophobia. However, the works incorporate new motives in style and content, making them particularly interesting for the respective analysis. "Novaya povest", for example, not only extensively reflects about God's will and punishment for numerous sins, but directly calls for the Russian people to take up arms against the Polish king, whom it accuses of trying to devastate the Muscovite state and Orthodox Church.
The image of Poles created in these texts can reflect, to a certain degree, the process of shaping ethnical stereotypes in case of foreign invasion.