Danylo Nechay | |
|---|---|
 Nechai as depicted on the obelisk on his grave | |
| Native name | Данило Нечай |
| Born | (1612-11-01)1 November 1612 |
| Died | 20 February 1651(1651-02-20) (aged 38) |
| Buried | |
| Allegiance | Cossack Hetmanate |
| Battles / wars | |
Danylo[a]Nechai[b] (Ukrainian:Дани́ло Неча́й[c];Polish:Danylo Nieczaj or Neczaj; 1 November 1612 – 20 February 1651) was aUkrainian Cossack military commander during theCossack-Polish War. He served asColonel ofBratslav inPodolia from 1648 to 1651 and became known as a leader in the fight for Ukrainian independence. His brother wasIvan Nechai.
Nechai is thought to have been born in the Podolian town ofBar to a noble family. His father was likely Stefan (Stepan), aRuthenian Orthodox nobleman fromMstsislaw region (easternBelarus), who had moved to Kyiv region and then to Bratslav. Stefan was married to Anna Nevmyritska, daughter of Peter Fedorovich Gridkovich Nevmyritsky from Berkovets in the outskirts ofKyiv. However, some sources name Danylo's father as Nicholas. Records indicate a connection between the Nechai and Nevmyritsky families in Berkovets, including court cases and joint land holdings. Danylo had brothers named Ivan, Matwey (Matthew), and Yuri (Jurgis), all of whom served in the Cossack military. It is believed that Danylo's father was also a Cossack knight who died when Danylo was very young. Danylo himself had at least two sons, Ivan and Yurii. One son perished inSiberia, likely sent there by CzarAlexis of Russia, while the other (likely Yurii) escaped toVoloshchyna and then toBukovina (modern-day theChernivtsi region) before 1647. Danylo's wife was also named Anna.
Some historians claim that Nechai studied at theKyiv-Mohyla Academy, which he graduated from in 1647, that is, at the age of 35. His attendance at the academy was greatly encouraged by his grandfather Omelko, who campaigned withPetro Konashevych-Sahaidachny in the Black Sea region. According to other sources, in his youth Danylo Nechai lived at theZaporozhian Sich and probably even among theDon Cossacks, where he studied the art of war. According to Cossack legends, Danylo Nechai was an associate ofPavlo Pavlyuk-But, andYakiv Ostryanyn, and a twin ofIvan Bohun.
In response to Polish-Lithuanian encroachments, Nechai participated in theKhmelnytsky Uprising that sought to secure independent Cossack rule over Ukraine. This rebellion was directed against Polish magnates, their representatives and supporters (including the Catholic church and Jewish communities), and other vassals of the Polish king. In 1647 Nechai accompaniedBohdan Khmelnytsky to Mykytyn Sich. Nechai participated in the capture of theFortress of Kodak by the Cossacks, and in the battles of theYellow Waters andKorsun. He organized and led the Bratslavregiment, becoming one of the associates ofMaksym Kryvonis, and distinguished himself in the battles inVinnytsia and nearMedzhybizh. In the latter episode, on 20 July 1648 2,500 Jewish residents of Medzhybizh were killed by troops under the command of Kryvonis, with the Jewish population of the town being virtually eradicated, as there were no burials recorded for several years after 1648, consistent with the depopulation.[1][2] Nechai participated in the battles ofStarokostiantyniv, andPylyavtsi. The Polish memoirist Stanisław Oswięcim in his "Diariusz" called Nechai "one of the most important among the rebels, a rebel to whom the Cossacks themselves gave the first place after Khmelnytsky." Contemporaries respectfully recognized his "extraordinary courage and intelligence". Nechai participated in the campaign of the Cossack army inGalicia, where on behalf of Khmelnytsky they seized theBrody Castle and, together with other commanders,besieged Lviv, andstormed Zamość. After return to Kyiv, from December 1648 he commanded the city's garrison. In the winter of 1649 Nechai led negotiations with Polish representatives in Kyiv andPereyaslav, and in the following year he was honoured for his role in theZbarazh and in theBattle of Zboriv. He was opposed to the signing of theTreaty of Zboriv by Bohdan Khmelnytsky as he believed it compromised the position of the Cossacks.
During Khmelnytskyi's invasion ofMoldavia, together with Matviy Gladky Nechai tookSoroca, and in September 1650 captured the Moldavian capital ofIaşi, forcing its rulerVasile Lupu to agree to an alliance withTymish Khmelnytsky. In 1651 Nechai commanded the south-western front of Cossack troops. While celebratingShrovetide, he was ambushed and died in abattle with numerically superior Polish forces led by field hetmanMarcin Kalinowski, who captured Nechai's coat of arms. This happened in the town ofKrasne [uk] in Podolia.
In 1954 a granite obelisk was erected on Nechai's supposed grave, located northeast of the town in today'sVinnytsia Oblast. Local lore purports that the hill on the grave was built by Nechai's loyal troops, with each Cossack carrying a hatful of soil to the site. Another legend claims that his body was carried to Kyiv and interred in a monastery. According to a different version, the Poles cut up Nechai's body and scattered it: presumably it was gathered by his loyal forces, and then buried or possibly carried to Kyiv (either in part or together) or elsewhere. It has also been postulated that Nechai's alleged grave is in reality a set of ancient Scythian Mounds. According to Soviet archives, prior to the erection of the obelisk, around 1951 an excavation performed on the site discovered a single skeleton, but without a head.
Perhaps the best theory as to where Nechai's body was buried states that he was beheaded after death. Ukrainian historianMykhailo Hrushevsky presented this theory, based on an account written by a Polish historian, who stated that after a three-day battle, Polish troops entered the church where Danylo's body was laid, killed the four priests and one monk present, and then took Danylo's head. The body was possibly also taken, but if so, it was rescued by loyal troops who then carried it to the existing Scythian mound complex and buried it within. As to where the head went there remain at least three theories: 1) taken by the Poles as a war trophy, 2) taken by loyal troops to a Kyiv monastery, or 3) presented as a gift (presumably by the Poles) to theCrimean Khan. That said, other scholars maintain that his body was, in fact, taken entirely to a Kyiv monastery.
In Ukraine Nechai is considered to be a folk hero, with folk songs often depicting him as an ideal Cossack knight. Considered to be second only to Khmelnytsky, he is a hero of the fight for Ukrainian independence and is honored to this day by an annual procession to his burial mound (mohyla) on the date of his death.40th Regiment of theUkrainian army is also named in honour of Nechai.
