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Ivan Sirko | |
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.png) An imaginary representation of Sirko byIlya Repin | |
| Nicknames | Urus Shaitan (Rus' Devil) Kharakternyk ZaporozhianBogatyr |
| Born | 1605 (1605) |
| Died | August 11, 1680(1680-08-11) (aged 74–75)[1] |
| Allegiance | |
| Years of service | 1620–1680 |
| Rank | Kosh Otaman Hetman (Honorary)[2][3] |
| Battles / wars | |
| Spouse | Sofia |
| Children | 4 |
Ivan Dmytrovych Sirko[a] (c. 1605 – August 11, 1680) was aZaporozhian Cossack military leader,Koshovyi Otaman of theZaporozhian Sich and putative co-author of the famous semi-legendaryCossack letter to the Ottoman sultan that inspired the major paintingReply of the Zaporozhian Cossacks by the 19th-century artistIlya Repin.[4] He was undefeated in battle and duringhis career gained fame all overEurope for his exploits against theOttoman Empire andCrimean Khanate.[5]
The first biography of Ivan Sirko, written byDmytro Yavornytsky in 1890, gave Sirko's place of birth as thesloboda ofMerefa near the modern-day city ofKharkiv. HistorianYuriy Mytsyik states that this could not be the case. In his bookOtaman Ivan Sirko[6] (1999) he writes thatMerefa was established only in 1658 (more than 40 years after the birth of the futureOtaman). The author also notes that Sirko later in his life did actually live in Merefa with his family on his own estate, and according to some earlier local chronicles there even existed a small settlement called Sirkivka. However, Mytsyik also points out that in 1658–1660 Sirko served as a colonel of theKalnyk Polk (a military and administrative division of theCossack Hetmanate) inPodilia, a position usually awarded to the representative of a local population. The author also gives a reference to the letter ofIvan Samiylovych tokniazG. Romodanovsky (theTsar'svoyevoda) in which theHetman refers to Sirko as one born in Polish lands instead of inSloboda Ukraine (part ofTsardom of Russia). Mytsyik also recalls that another historian,Volodymyr Borysenko, allowed for the possibility that Sirko was born inMurafa near the city ofSharhorod (now inVinnytsia Oblast). The author explains during that time when people were fleeing the war (known astheRuin, 1659–1686) they may have established a similarly named town inSloboda Ukraine further east.
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Further, Mytsyik in his book states that Sirko probably was not of Cossack heritage, but rather of theUkrainian (Ruthenian)Orthodoxszlachta. Mytsyik points out that a localPodilian nobleman,Wojciech Sirko, married a certain Olena Kozynska sometime in 1592. Also in official letters the Polish administration referred to Sirko asurodzonim, implying a native-born Polish subject. Mytsyik states that Sirko stood about 174–176 cm tall and had a birthmark on the right side of the lower lip, a detail whichIlya Repin failed to depict in his artwork when he used GeneralDragomirov as a model ofOtaman Sirko. Mytsyik also recalls the letter of the FieldHetman of the CrownJohn III Sobieski (later king of Poland) which referred to Sirko as:[citation needed]
A very quiet, noble, polite [man], and has ... great trust amongCossacks.
According toIvan Sobchenko, Sirko's father wasDmitry Sirko, which correlates with Ivan Sirko'spatronymic name (Dmytrovych). Sobchenko states that Dmitry Sirko was aUkrainian Cossack fromMurafa, elected asataman of Murafasotnia of the Bratslav regiment.[7] Ivan Sirko was born in nobility before his family lost its right togentry.[8]
It's generally accepted that Ivan Sirko was ofUkrainian ethnicity.[6][7][9] However,Paul Robert Magocsi states in his book that Ivan Sirko was aUkrainian Cossack ofMoldavian origin.[10] Sirko's father is identified as a Ukrainian of eitherRuthenian or CossackOrthodox nobility. Sirko's mother is identified as a native ofPodolia, but information about her exact ethnic background is scarce, possibly having Moldavian origin.
In 1620, Sirko held the rank ofSotnik, taking part in his first recorded campaign against theOttomans. He led his detachment ofCossacks in a campaign againstVarna, sacking it. Afterwards, he raided Crimean city ofPerekop.[11]
In 1621,Ukrainian Cossack Hetman,Petro Sahaidachny gathered an army ofZaporozhian Cossacks against theOttoman army that threatened thePolish-Lithuanian Commonwealth, along with other regions. Sirko with his detachment took part in theBattle of Khotyn, inflicting heavy losses onOttomanJanissaries.[12]
In 1629, Sirko took part in a raid onIstanbul organized byBohdan Khmelnytsky, the futureUkrainian Cossack Hetman.Cossacks ravagedTurkish villages in vicinity ofIstanbul and took large amount of loot during the raid.[13]
In 1637, Sirko took part in the capture ofAzov fortress by theZaporozhian andDon Cossacks.Cossacks defeated theOttomanJanissaries and captured theAzov fortress.Don Cossacks remained inAzov, whileZaporozhian Cossacks returned to theSich with loot and captives.[14][15]
Sirko later joined theAzov garrison which had 700Zaporozhian Cossacks among them, which later grew to 1,000 Zaporozhians. Zaporozhian andDon Cossacks defended Azov fromOttoman attacks in 1641.[16]
In 1644, Sirko appears in historical sources asPolkovnyk (Colonel) ofVinnytsia.[17] Ukrainian and some French historians mention involvement of 2,000–2,500Zaporozhian Cossacks led by Ivan Sirko during theSiege of Dunkirk in 1646.[18][19]
Sirko supportedBohdan Khmelnytsky duringthe uprising against thePolish-Lithuanian Commonwealth and took an active part in it. He distinguished himself at theBattles of Zhovti Vody,Korsun,Pyliavtsi,Zboriv,Batih andZhvanets.[20][17][21]
Sirko changed his political orientation several times. In 1654, he initially opposed the alliance with Moscow during thePereyaslav Rada, departing toChortomlyk Sich to protect the southern borders ofUkraine fromCrimean-Nogai raids.
In 1655, Sirkolaunched a campaign intoCrimea to thwart plannedTatar campaign intoUkraine. Together with theDon Cossacks, he capturedTaman Peninsula, an important strategic point that controlled theKerch Strait. Cossacks kept theAzov Sea locked for two months and the population in terror.[17][22]
In 1659, he was elected asKosh Otaman of theZaporizhian Host, allying withTsardom of Russia. Together with the Russian PrinceTrubetski fought against theCrimean Khanate. In 1660, helaunched a major campaign against the Ottoman fortresses ofOchakiv andAslam-Kermen. He took large number of captives during both campaigns.[17] Sirko defeatedTatars in amajor battle onIgren Peninsula [ru], freeing 15,000 Christian slaves.[17]
In 1663, together withTsarist andKalmyk troops, he inflicted a heavy defeat onTatars andOttoman Janissaries during theSiege of Perekop, ravaging many Tatar settlements and taking large number of captives, forcing theCrimean Khanate to reduce their support toPoland-Lithuania. In 1664, he was one of the inspirators of anuprising inRight-bank Ukraine against Poland which is known from his letter to the Tsar.[23]
Sirko has been elected by theCossacks asKosh Otaman 8 times.[5] He was the first CossackOtaman to ally withKalmyks against Tatars. Sirko was respected by Kalmyks, stating they only wanted to participate in his campaigns.[24] In October 1667, Sirkolaunched a campaign against theCrimean Khanate, during which he sackedKaffa. He freed 2,000 Christian slaves, while taking thousands of Tatars as captives. This campaign caused so much panic inCrimea thatKhan Adil Giray took refuge inAnatolia.[25]
Despite his pro-Moscow orientation, he distrusted and hated pro-RussianHetman Ivan Briukhovetsky, but at the same time married his son Roman to Briukhovetsky's daughter.[26] In 1668, this rivalry even forced Ivan Sirko to switch sides again and briefly joinPetro Doroshenko in his fight against "Muscoviteboyars andVoivodes" duringLeft-Bank Uprising, where he notably fought the Russian Tsarist forces duringhis campaign, but in 1670, once again Sirko pledged loyalty to the Tsar. Sirkobesieged Ochakiv andIsmail, capturing these Ottoman strongholds.
Sirko played an important role in Cossack campaigns and raids against theCrimean Khanate,Nogai Horde andOttoman Empire. Sirko put emphasis on taking Turks, Tatars and otherMuslim peoples as captives during Cossack campaigns and raids.[27]Jews were also recorded to have been targeted by Cossack raids.[28] Captives taken during their campaigns and raids could be used forransom or sold intoslavery to various states.[27][29] Sirko's campaigns and raids were so problematic, thatSultan Mehmed IV issued afirman to themosques to pray for the death of Ivan Sirko.[30]
Following the death ofDemian Mnohohrishny in 1672, Sirko entered the struggle for theHetman title, but was exiled by the RussianTsar toTobolsk,Siberia. However,Mehmed IV took advantage of the absence of Ivan Sirko, in spring the 300,000-strongOttoman army crossed theDanube and invadedPodolia.Ottomans threatened to devastate not onlyUkraine, but also thePolish-Lithuanian Commonwealth andTsardom of Russia.[31] Sirko's absence eased the pressure of the Turkish-Tatar aggression to such an extent that they felt permissive.
In 1673, RussianTsar returned Sirko back toUkraine, reportedly at the request ofJohn III Sobieski and other European states concerned about the growingOttoman threat. Sirko once again fought against Tatars and Turks. He captured theArslan fortress, and for the second time capturedOchakiv. He sackedTighina, massacring or enslaving all inhabitants.[32] Same year, helaunched a campaign against theCrimean Khanate,Nogai Horde andOttoman Empire. Author ofHistory of Ruthenians described his campaign inCrimea:[33]
Landing on the shores ofKarasubazar, he captured and ravaged all the coastal cities, and then, having passed through the wholeCrimea to the city of Or [Qapı] orPerekop, he joined with his cavalry there and continued the devastation of the Tatars in their villages. This way, taking revenge on the Tatars for their offenses in a hundredfold manner, he returned to theSich with countless loot.
False son ofTsarAlexi, "Tsarevich" Simeon, came toSich in 1673, after the defeat ofRazin's Revolt. Simeon told Ivan Sirko, that after he escaped from a plot against him inMoscow, he had joinedStenka Razin's Cossacks and secretly supported their rebellion, before coming toSich withAtaman Ivan Miiuska. Thereafter he planned to go in secret toKyiv, and then to the Polish King. However, Sirko later sent the impersonator toMoscow, where he was executed a year later.[34]
In 1674, when the rivers froze, Turkish-Tatar forceslaunched a campaign intoUkraine. The campaign was unsuccessful, Turkish-Tatar troops were forced to retreat after suffering heavy losses. Sirko wanted revenge for the attack, this inspired hisCrimean campaign in 1675.[35] During the campaign, he sacked the capital of theCrimean Khanate,Bakhchysarai. He freed 7,000 Christian slaves, while taking thousands of Tatars and Turks as captives. However, Sirko discovered that 3,000 of the freed Christian slaves wanted to go back toCrimea, a lot of whom actually converted toIslam, so he ordered their execution. After execution, Sirko is quoted to have said:[36]
Brothers, forgive me, but it is better that you should lie here awaiting the terrible judgment of God than go back toCrimea to help them [Tatars] increase in numbers and risk the eternal damnation of your souls.
Despite Sirko's brutality during warfare and towards those he viewed as traitors; Tatars respected him for his fairness during the times of peace.Hetman Samoylovych complained to Otaman Sirko for allowing Tatar herds to graze on Cossack land. Ivan Sirko replied to Samoylovych:[37]
Lord Hetman, if myself would help people in their dire need, it is not well to look down on that. There is a saying that need changes law. We and the Tartars are neighbours and help each other in a neighbourly way.
In 1676, theZaporozhian Cossacks defeatedOttoman army in a major battle, however, theOttomanSultanMehmed IV still demanded that the Cossacks submit to Turkish rule.Cossacks led by Ivan Sirko replied in an uncharacteristic manner: they wrote a letter, replete with insults and profanities, which later became the subject ofa painting byIlya Repin.Doroshenko resigned and offered theHetman's insignia to Sirko, which he accepted.[2]
Sirko launched frequent attacks on Turkish-Tatar forces, which helped to halt Turkish-Tatar advance intoRight-Bank Ukraine in 1678. Despite capturingChyhyryn duringthe campaign, Turkish-Tatar forces were soon forced to abandon it, after being weakened by the fighting and constant raids of Ivan Sirko.[9][38]
In 1679, he set out to "scare the entire Crimea". The brave men then devastated a number of settlements and reached as far as Bakhchiserai. The Khan apparently escaped to the mountains. Having freed many prisoners, the Cossacks returned with the loot to Zaporozhye.[39] After a series of defeats suffered by the Turkish-Tatar forces againstZaporozhian Cossacks, Sirko withCossacks sent a reply toCrimeanKhanMurad Giray. They wrote:[40]
Do not bother to attack us again. This time, you are not coming to us, we are coming to you. We capturedTrabzon andSinop, we turned the Asian coast upside down; we cauterized the flanks ofBelgrade, we wiped outVarna,Izmail and manyDanube fortresses from the map. As the heirs of the old Zaporizhians, we follow their footsteps. We do not want to argue with you, if we see your provocations again, we will not hesitate to come again.
Sirko repelled thesecond invasion of Sich of Turkish-Tatar army. Later, he fell ill and retired fromSich to the village of Hrushivka.
Sirko died at his estate Hrushivka (todayDnipro Raion,Dnipropetrovsk Oblast) on August 11 [Julian August 1], 1680.[9] Next day he was buried near theChortomlyk Sich. In 1709 the Moscow Army totally destroyed theSich and the grave of theOtaman Sirko was not fixed until 1734. The Cossacks replaced the broken cross with a memorial rock that has survived to the present, but they erroneously marked the date of his death as May 4. On November 1967, theKakhovka Reservoir was threatening theOtaman Sirko's burial site, causing him to be reburied near the village ofKapulivka,Nikopol Raion, but without his skull.[41] Sirko's skull was sent to theMoscow laboratory of the sculptorMikhail Gerasimov, who aimed to recreate the portrait of the legendaryOtaman.[41][3] It was not until 1987 when writerYuriy Mushketyk remembered the 'BeheadedOtaman' and wrote a letter to the Association for Preservation of History and Culture of Ukraine. On July 15, 1990 the member of parliament fromRukh,Volodymyr Yavorivsky called for Sirko's skull to be brought back fromMoscow.[3] The journalPamyatky Ukrainy (Attractions of Ukraine) responded to the calls in 1990 and after 23 years with the help of anthropologistSerhiy Seheda the remains of Ivan Sirko were returned to his native land.[41][42]
Sirko's military career is legendary. According toDmytro Yavornytsky, Sirko took part in 55Cossack campaigns and never lost a battle.[5] With new information available, Sirko's record could be increased to over 65 victories in battles.[43] New sources reveal a larger number of campaigns in which Sirko was involved during his career, but so far, Sirko wasn't proven to have definitely lost any battle. Sirko's exploits gained the attention ofEurope, with chroniclers such asWespazjan Kochowski writing about him.[5]
Sirko became infamous among Turks and Tatars, installing fear.[5] They reportedly named Sirko the "Rus' Devil" (Urus Shaitan), signifying his reputation as an invincible Cossack leader.[44] Polish chroniclerWespazjan Kochowski characterised Sirko the following way:[45]
He was terrible in the Horde, for he was experienced in military campaigns and a brave cavalier, surpassing Doroshenko in this. And in the Crimea, his name inspired such fear that the Horde was on guard every day and was ready for battle, as if Sirko had already attacked. The Tatars quite seriously considered him a shaitan and even their children, when they cried and could not calm down, frightened Sirko, saying: 'Sirko is coming', after these words the crying immediately died down. Sirko was a handsome man, of a fighting character, he was not afraid of slush, frost, or heat. He was sensitive, cautious, patiently endured hunger, was decisive in military dangers and always sober. In the summer he was at the rapids (Dnieper), and in the winter - on the Ukrainian border. He did not like to waste time or court women, and was constantly fighting with the Tatars, against whom he had a natural and implacable hatred.
Author ofHistory of Ruthenians gave the following impression of Sirko:[33]
Sirko was an amazing man of rare qualities in the discussion of courage, enterprise and all military successes, and, with a sufficient number of troops, he could easily becomeTamerlane orGenghis Khan, that is, a great conqueror.
Monuments were built to Ivan Sirko inKharkiv,Merefa,Pokrov, and Torhovytsia. His image is displayed on Ukrainian currency and his name is tied withPokrovske city.[46] Sirko's reputation as undefeated, invincible Cossack leader made him a subject of Ukrainian folk legends. He's one of the most famousKharakternyks of Ukrainian mythology.Cossacks and Tatars believed that Ivan Sirko knew in advance against who and where he was going to battle, allowing him to win. They also believed that during the battle he turned into awolf orhawk, conjuring the enemy army.[30][7] According to a legend, Sirko’s right hand was cut off at his posthumane request, saying that it will bring Cossacks luck in battle wherever they brought it with them.
Sirko is widely remembered in numerous literary works ofIvan Nechuy-Levytsky,Adrian Kashchenko,Volodymyr Malyk,Mykola Zerov,Borys Modzalevsky, and many others.[specify] He is the Urus-Shaitan in Malyk's Ambassador of Urus-Shaitan.[47] Adrian Kashchenko wrote about Sirko:[30]
Could an ordinary man, with a handful of comrades, be able to fight off a much larger, better-armed Turkish and Tatar armies on his own, without anyone else's help, and slaughter over 30,000Janissaries, like sheep, between theSichKurins? And who, if notKharakternyk, could jump with a handful of men intoCrimea, the nest of the great horde, destroy its cities, save the [Christian] slaves who were driven off their [native] land, and take a great amount of loot?.
Sirko’s legacy was also met with controversy and criticism among some Ukrainian historians. Dmytro Doroshenko blamed Sirko for having "unprincipled politics", "demagogic tendencies" and even "absence of rational reasoning" in his actions. That is, blocking actions ofCossack Hetmans to form a Cossack state independent fromTsardom of Russia andPolish-Lithuanian Commonwealth.[48]History of Ruthenians gives an extreme assessment of Sirko: "Sirko was a remarkable man and of rare qualities as far as courage, discrimination, and military successes were concerned . . . and yet he was also a Zaporozhian, and therefore a species of clown or madman".[49] However, Ivan Sirko remained an advocate of autonomous Cossack Ukraine, despite changing his political views many times.[50] After a popular book, Iak kozaky voiuvaly (How the Cossacks Fought) was published in 1990, Ivan Sirko began to be viewed in a more positive and idealistic image. According to this book: "the famed Cossack leader was a deeply religious man, an altruistic ascetic who almost never consumed alcohol and was known for his strength, valour, and high moral standards".[48]
During theUkrainian War of Independence in 1917–1921, the4th Cavalry Regiment of theUkrainian People's Army was named after Ivan Sirko.[51]
In 1979, Soviet dissidentValentyn Moroz made his first public appearance inNew York, in a rally for defense of Sovietpolitical prisoners and Ukrainian national rights. During the rally, he told his Ukrainian audience the tale ofOtaman Sirko, who executed 3,000 freed captives who wanted to go back toCrimea after Sirko'sCrimean campaign.Moroz believed the execution was justified, saying: "A true Ukrainian would not remain in the Crimea if given the chance to return to Ukraine."[52]
In August 2019, the92nd Separate Mechanized Brigade of theArmed Forces of Ukraine was renamed after Ivan Sirko by a decree ofPresidentVolodymyr Zelensky.[53]
Sirko is credited as the co-author ofthe mocking reply to Ottoman Sultan, which created a basis forthe painting that was important in shaping bothUkrainian andRussian nationalism.[54][55]: 14:38
Sirko'sreply to Ottoman Sultan became extremely popular at the beginning of theRusso-Turkish War (1877–1878).[55]: 14:38 Ilya Repin made one his most famous pieces of artwork,Reply of the Zaporozhian Cossacks, inspired by the reply.
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In 1952,KPU's Central Committee's inspector V. Stetsenko informed First Secretary Melnikov that the construction of hydroelectric dam inNikopol will get Sirko's grave underwater. Stetsenko claimed that Sirko supportedKhmelnytsky's policy on "reunion withGreat Russian people". Stetsenko also mentioned Sirko'smocking reply to Ottoman Sultan which created a basis for the most popular painting in Ukrainian-Russian history,Ilya Repin'sReply of the Zaporozhian Cossacks. As a result, Soviet authorities moved Sirko's grave to another location in Nikopol. In 1955, they built a small monument to Sirko.[56]
In 1966, when thePresident of France,Charles de Gaulle was visiting theSoviet Union, he personally requested to bring him to the burial location of Ivan Sirko.Gaulle laid flowers to Sirko's monument inKyiv and reportedly called him the "National Hero of France".[57] On June 17, 2017, a commemorative plaque dedicated to Cossacks led by Ivan Sirko during the capture of Dunkirk was unveiled in presence of the Mayor ofDunkirk,Patrice Vergriete.[58]
In 2011, David Bolgiano and James Patterson used Ivan Sirko’s reply to Ottoman Sultan in their book as an example of howZaporozhian Cossacks dealt with "Islamists of theOttoman Empire" in their clashes and underlined the strong use of language in the letter. This was used as an example to criticise the appeasement and soft approach of U.S. policy in Muslim countries.[59]
{{cite book}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link){{cite book}}:ISBN / Date incompatibility (help){{cite web}}: CS1 maint: bot: original URL status unknown (link)Адже тільки Яворницький установив 55 вдалих походів Сірка проти ворогів, а джерела, що їх ми виявили, дають змогу збільшити кількість перемог принаймні на 10.[After all, Yavornytsky alone established 55 successful campaigns of Sirko against enemies, and the sources we discovered allow us to increase the number of victories by at least 10.]
{{cite book}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)| International | |
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