Top 10 Facts about Bohdan Khmelnytsky (2024)

Bohdan Zinoviy Mykhaylovych Khmelnytsky was a leader of the Zaporozhian Cossacks from 1648 to 1657. He organized a rebellion against Polish rule in Ukraine. The rebellion resulted in the transfer of the Ukrainian lands east of the Dnieper River. The land moved from Polish to Russian control.

Born in 1595 and died on 6^th August 1657, Khmelnytsky was a Hetman and military commander of the Zaporozhian Host. From 1648 to 1654, Khmelnytsky headed an uprising against the Commonwealth and its magnates. This uprising created an independent Ukrainian Cossack state.

Khmelnytsky’s efforts allied the Cossack Hetmanate with the Tsardom of Russia. This was after the conclusion of the Treaty of Pereyaslav with the Russian Tsar in 1654. This gave Russia control over central Ukraine. In Jewish history, Khmelnytsky is remembered for murdering tens of thousands of Jews. In recent Jewish history, this is still considered one of the most traumatic events.

Below are ten amazing facts about Bohdan Khmelnytsky.

1. He was married to the sister of a rich Cossack and they had five children

Khmelnytsky married the sister of a rich Pereyaslavl Cossack. Khmelnytsky and Hanna Somkivna had three daughters by the second half of the 1620s. Their daughters were Kateryna, Olena, and Stepanyda. His two other children were boys. Tymish (Tymofiy) was born in 1632, and Yuriy was born in 1640.

2. He was captured by the Turks after his father was killed

In 1617, Khmelnytsky partnered with the Cossacks after completing his studies. Khmelnytsky and his father were sent to Moldavia in 1619. During this time the Polish–Lithuanian Commonwealth went to war against the Ottoman Empire.

His father was killed on 17 September 1620 during the battle of Cecora (Țuțora). He was later captured by the Turks. Alongside others including Stanisław Koniecpolski, they spend the next two years in captivity in Constantinople.

They were prisoners of the Ottoman Kapudan Pasha, presumably Parlak Mustafa Pasha. It is also said that he spent his servitude as an oarsman on galleys in the Ottoman Navy. He may have picked up his knowledge of the Turkish language at this time.

3. His father once served on the court of the Great Crown Hetman Stanisław Żółkiewski

It is thought that Khmelnytsky may have been born in Subotiv village near Chyhyryn. The place of his birth was his father’s estate in Poland. He was born into lesser Ukrainian nobility.

Initially a courtier Great Crown Hetman Stanisław Żółkiewski, his father later joined his son-in-law’s court. His son-in-law Jan Daniłowicz became starosta of Korsuń and Chyhyryn in 1597.

Daniłowicz appointed Mykhailo as his deputy in Chyhyryn. Daniłowicz apportioned Mykhailo a strip of land near the town for his service. Mykhailo then set up a khutor Subotiv.

4. He fell out with the Polish Governor and fled Poland in December 1647

Khmelnytsky studied in Poland and served with the Polish military forces against the Turks. He became chief of the Cossacks at Czyhryn but fell out with the Polish governor. This forced him to flee Poland in December 1647.

He fled to the Zaporozhian Cossacks’ fortress. This was a semi-military community that developed from traders, bandits, and, runaway serfs. They had settled along the Dnieper River.

5. He organized an uprising that enabled him to enter Poland

In April 1648, Khmelnytsky led a rebellion amongst the Zaporozhian Cossacks. He had the support of Crimean Tatars and together they marched against the poles.

He received additional support from the common folk, clergy, and townspeople. This was due to his initial victory. They joined him in an uprising and in October 1648 he entered Poland and seized Lwów (now Lviv).

6. He entered into a treaty that was considered dissatisfactory

Khmelnytsky won several victories in 1649. Concluding the Compact of Zborów on 18 August 1649, Khmelnytsky made peace with John Casimir, the new Polish king. The terms of the treaty allowed him to create an essentially independent Cossack territory in Ukraine

The treaty was dissatisfactory to his followers and the Polish working class. In the spring of 1651, Khmelnytsky went to war again. In June, he was however defeated at the Battle of Beresteczko.

The loss forced him to accept a less beneficial treaty. He allied with Moscow against Poland. Thereafter in 1654, he asked his Cossacks to swear allegiance to Alexis, the tsar of Russia.

7. He secretly negotiated with the Swedes leaving the Cossacks under Swedish rule

Eventually, the Russians invaded Poland. Khmelnytsky was not happy with his pact with Alexis. Secretly, he negotiated with the Swedes who were also at war with Poland. Just before he died, he nearly concluded a treaty placing the Cossacks under Swedish rule.

8. His images are on the Ukrainian bank notes but he also has critics

Khmelnytsky is mostly regarded as a hero in Ukraine. His image is on Ukrainian banknotes and there is a region in the country named after him. His monument stands in Kyiv and is a central figure in the capital.

In addition to these, several orders of Bohdan Khmelnytsky have been issued. This is one of Ukraine’s and the Soviet’s Union’s highest decorations. Despite these, he was criticized for being a Russian ally.

Among those who criticize him include Taras Shevchenko a prominent Ukrainian poet. In general, he is viewed positively in Ukraine. They acknowledge that the Russian union was necessary to survive the difficult times.

9. He is featured in a 1999 movie adaptation by Jerzy Hoffman

To the Polish people, Khmelnytsky is viewed in a negative light. The end of the Commonwealth is said to have come after the 1648 rebellion. He is the focus of several works of fiction. He is critiqued in ‘With Fire and Sword’ by Henryk Sienkiewicz. This was later adapted into a 199 movie adaptation by Jerzy Hoffman.

10. He suffered a cerebral hemorrhage and died a week later

After suffering a cerebral hemorrhage on 22 July, he became paralyzed. A week later on 27 July 1657, Bohdan Khmelnytsky died at 5 in the morning. On 23 August, his body was taken from Chyhyryn to his estate.

Mecelin

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