Battle of Konotop 1659: myths and facts

With the death of Bohdan Khmelnytsky, Ukraine was confronted with one of the most tragic moments in its history when the military operations were conducted throughout the territory, and Cossack troops, and the political elite was fragmented into several groups. The ruins was born as a result of objective processes, and to a greater extent because of short-sighted policy of the greater part of the Cossack elders, unable to choose a leader worthy of the spirit of the deceased Bogdan Khmelnitsky. One of those who could become the new head of Ukraine, Ivan Vyhovsky, military talent developed in one of the largest military conflicts on the territory of Ukraine - Konotop (Sosnowski) battle.

The battle of Konotop

The battle of Konotop 1659 happens in summer in the steppes between the village of Shapovalivka and Sosnovka. Her parties were: strategisation army led by Prince Trubetskoi, which has enlisted the support of the regiment of the Prince Romanovskogo, on the one hand, and Ukrainian Cossack army led by Hetman Ivan Vygovsky. The battles resulted in total losses of the two armies amounted to about 45000 dead: 30000 from Trubetskoy, and 15,000 from the Vygovsky.

Reflection of the battle in history

Konotop battle through the eyes of Russian historians appears as the catastrophic defeat of the Moscow troops. Information on this battle quite a bit since learning it was held at a minimum. In most historical books, this battle is not mentioned. Therefore, there are conflicting reports about how you did and what ended the battle of Konotop. Myths and facts mixed together, and to find the truth regarding this or that point, or minor events virtually impossible. In Soviet Union there were restrictions on public discussion of the separation of the Ukrainian people of the seventeenth century on Pro-Moscow and anti-Moscow course.

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Election of Vyhovsky Hetman

Ivan Vyhovsky officially came to power in Ukraine in mid-August, 1657. The title of General clerk Hetman Ivan Vygovsky took on petty Rada, in the city of Chyhyryn. The other candidate was Yuri Khmelnitsky, who was the younger son of Bohdan Khmelnytsky. However, in addition to kinship with the great Hetman Yurii other supernatural qualities necessary to govern the country, did not. Not in favor of his nomination spoke the young age of Khmelnytskyi, Jr.

Geopolitical views Vygovsky

The New Hetman not initially perceived by the rank and file Cossacks. One of the reasons is considered to be the origin of Vyhovsky and his past. Ivan comes from a kind of Volyn gentry. Initially was the title clerk at the Polish Commissioner, who spoke against the Cossacks in the Ukraine. Rod Vygovsky also had the roots of the Polish gentry. Also Cossacks, who fought for an independent Ukrainian state, was disturbed by the desire of the new Hetman to give Ruthenia protectorate of the Commonwealth. According to one unverified version, the Vygovsky said about his decision during the funeral of Bohdan Khmelnytsky. Ideas of rejection from Moscow, the Ukraine and the annexation of Ukrainian lands to Poland, he shared with the Ambassador of Poland Casimir Benevskoe. This fact became known to the Moscow Tsar Alexei Mikhailovich. However, the king of the accuracy of the facts of this conversation, questioned and ignored. On the contrary, he sent a letter addressed to Martin Pushkara, the Poltava Colonel, and Jacob Barabash, ataman of the Cossack troops. The dispatch Alexei Mikhailovich ordered to fully obey the orders of a new Hetman and avoid riots.

The Pereyaslav Rada and the army Vygovsky

Vyhovsky also showed their intentions in respect of the Polish vector. On the contrary, the new Pereyaslav Rada, in the presence of the arrived Russian Ambassador Bogdan Khitrov, Hetman Vyhovsky swore allegiance to the Moscow state and king. It is considered that this diplomatic gesture, he deliberately calmed the king. If looser control from Moscow, Ivan had established positive diplomatic relations with the Crimea and gained the loyalty of the Khan's army. He also began to strengthen the army. Part of the Cossack Treasury, left a legacy of Bohdan Khmelnytsky, he spent on the creation of a mercenary army. About one million rubles was spent on the recruitment of soldiers of German and Polish descent.

At the same time began to grow domestic protests in Ukraine. In the first year of the Hetman Vygovsky in the civil war, was killed about 50,000 civilians. The fighting took place in cities such as Gadyach, Lubny, Myrgorod and other towns of the left-Bank Ukraine.

The Emperor, acquainted with this course of Affairs, sent to Ukraine Governor Gregory Romanovskogo, at the head of a considerable Russian army. Moscow's presence in Kiev was strengthened, as was ordained of the Pereiaslav agreement. In Kiev, was stationed a detachment of Vasily Shemetava.

Gadyatskaya Treaty with Poland and the beginning of the first clashes

Open confrontation against Moscow began in the earlythe autumn of 1858, when he was signed a peace Treaty with the poles, in the city of Hadiach (Gadyach so-called peace Treaty). The agreement involves the transfer of Ukraine into the power of the Commonwealth, and Vyhovsky began to prepare for war against Russia. About betrayal Vygovsky says the chronicler samoilo Velichko. He directly calls the Hetman culprit of ruin, and a long war in Ukraine.

First, they decided to do was the "liberation" of Kyiv garrison Sheremet. But those sent to accomplish this task, the brother of Daniel Vyhovsky failed. Come to the aid of Ivan Vyhovsky himself was captured. Under the pressure of captivity, he re-assured all the loyalty in relation to Moscow, promising to disband the army of mercenaries and Tatars. Believing this statement, the king pardoned Vygovsky and released.
Very soon, Ivan launched an attack on army Romodanovsky. Learning of these plans, it was decided to send for help Romodanovsky fifty thousand reinforcements led by Prince Trubetskoi. Trubetskoy army made in the direction Konotop fortress, capturing on the way a Silver.

The Siege of Konotop

Trubetskoy has teamed up with shelves Romodanovsky and thumbs in February 1659. In mid-April, the Moscow army went to Konotop, and on April 21 was started and the shelling and the siege. Konotop battle of 1659 was described by contemporaries as a fratricidal battle. Moreover, the army that fought from both sides, consisted mainly of Russian and Ukrainians in approximately equal proportions.
Old map of the battle of Konotop gives the concept on the field of battle. The Konotop at that time was a fortress with four gates. She was surrounded by a moat on two sides. Also next to it was another fortification, surrounded on three sides by a rampart and moat and on the fourth zasidannia river Konotop. The garrison consisted of four thousand Cossacks of several regiments.

Battle of Konotop

June 27, 1659, near the village of Shapovalivka, began the first clashes between the army Vygovsky and the Moscow army. In these collisions the Moscow forces suffered serious damage. However, this information is contradictory and contradicted by other contemporaries. It is believed that after the battle of Moscow army ran in pursuit of the cavalry Vygovsky and 29 June in the morning, near the village of Sosnovka and Shepetivka, the battle began which went down in history as the battle of Konotop in 1659.

The Troops under the control of Pozharsky were driven into a trap between two rivers. This area is characterized by a large number of wetlands. Therefore, the permeability of the troops was difficult. Fatal to Pozharsky became the shock troops of the Crimean Khan from the rear. The result of this attack, according to various estimates, the cavalry of Russians have lost from five to thirty thousand people killed. Arrogance Pozharsky played a trick on him. The start of the attack was not prepared. Pozharsky did not even bother to conduct reconnaissance. The result of the poor leadership he was captured by Khan, and was executed.

The Withdrawal of Moscow's troops

Moscow army under the leadership of Trubetskoy carried out organized waste to Putivl. Konotop defeat was unexpected for Moscow. It was expected that troops of the Crimean Khan after this victory go to her. However, the Tatars had a quarrel with Vygovsky and began to plunder the city of the Ukraine. So ended the battle of Konotop. Who won this battle? The victory won by the army of Hetman Vygovsky, however, the consequences of this victory led to the looting of the country by the Tatars.

It was thought that after this defeat Alexis will not be able to collect a strong army, but it was not so. July 28, 1659, the Crimean Khan was expelled from the Ukraine by efforts of the Don Cossacks Yakovlev, ataman Sirko and former colleagues of Bogdan Khmelnitsky. It is worth noting that the consequences of "management" of the Crimean Khan have considerably weakened Ukraine. This is the fault of the Hetman Vygovsky.

Battle of Konotop. History of the Cossacks and the Hetman

In mid-November, instead of Ivan, was elected the new Hetman Yuriy Khmelnytsky, who was given Alexei Trubetskoi. Vyhovsky five years after the battle was accused by poles of treason and executed.