Ukrainians and Poles did not just compete, they literally fought for the right to this city and province. The former claimed that Lviv was "the city of Prince Leo, the ancient capital of Galician Rus", while the latter declared it "the capital of the freest part of divided Poland."
During the period of Galician autonomy in Austria-Hungary, Polish elites learned to use the imperial ritual to promote their "national agenda." Acting as power (in the symbolic field), they seemed to become power themselves.
Many of the mass events held by Ukrainians in Lviv during the period of autonomy were called viche (assembly). It was a kind of response to the numerous Polish demonstrations and historical celebrations.
What in the late 19th century looked like a demand by Ruthenian students at Lviv University to study in their native language evolved in a few years into a nationwide struggle to open a Ukrainian university.
The 1869 events are mainly associated with the beginning of raising the mound at the Vysokyi Zamok Hill. However, there was also another important aspect of the anniversary, namely, holding, or rather an attempt at holding a mass commemoration.
To honour Otto Hausner, Lviv youth decided to organize a torchlight procession, something that had only been done before in honour of the Emperor's visit.
It was the first time the event was celebrated in this format and interpretation. It demonstrated the growing popularity of nationalist ideas and the loss of the conservatives' ideological monopoly in Galicia.
