Ivan Vyhovsky
Ivan Vyhovsky | |
---|---|
Іван Виговський | |
Hetman of Zaporizhian Host | |
In office 21 October 1657 – 17 October 1659 | |
Preceded by | Yurii Khmelnytsky |
Succeeded by | Yurii Khmelnytsky |
Personal details | |
Born | beginning of the 17th century Vyhiv, Polish–Lithuanian Commonwealth |
Died | Korsun, Cossack Hetmanate | 16 March 1664
Spouse | Olena Vyhovska |
Children | Mariana, Ostap |
Parent | Ostap Vyhovsky |
Alma mater | Kyiv-Mohyla Academy |
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Ivan Vyhovsky (Ukrainian: Іван Виговський; Polish: Iwan Wyhowski / Jan Wyhowski; date of birth unknown, died 1664), a Ukrainian military and political figure and statesman, served as hetman of the Zaporizhian Host and of the Cossack Hetmanate for three years (1657–1659) during the Russo-Polish War (1654–1667). He succeeded the famous hetman and rebel leader Bohdan Khmelnytsky (see Hetmans of Ukrainian Cossacks). His time as hetman was characterized by his generally pro-Polish policies, which led to his defeat by pro-Russian elements among the Cossacks.
Vyhovsky belonged to the Orthodox noble family of the Vyhovsky coat of arms Abdank.
Origin and family
Vyhovsky was born in his family estate of
Education
Vyhovsky studied at the Kyiv Brotherhood Collegium and excelled in languages (including Church Slavonic, Polish, Latin and Russian, in addition to Ukrainian) and calligraphy. He later was the main financial supporter of the Collegium.
Military service
In Polish military service, Vyhovsky was captured by Khmelnystsky's rebel Cossack forces at the Battle of Zhovti Vody in May 1648, he was freed on account of his education and experience and rose to become secretary-general or chancellor (Ukrainian: генеральний писар, romanized: heneralnyi pysar) of the Cossacks and one of Khmelnytsky's closest advisors.
Elected hetman upon the death of Khmelnytsky, Vyhovsky sought to find a counterbalance to the pervasive Russian influence, which was in Ukraine after the 1654 Treaty of Pereiaslav. While the Cossack elite and the ecclesiastical authorities supported his pro-Polish orientation, the masses and the Cossack rank-and-file remained deeply suspicious and resentful of the Poles by whom they had long been forced into serfdom. As a result, some Cossacks, led by Yakiv Barabash, put forward an alternative candidate for the hetmancy in Martyn Pushkar, the colonel of the Poltava regiment of Cossacks. The rebellion against the hetman grew and came to a head when Vyhovsky's forces clashed with the pro-Russian Cossacks in June 1658. Vyhovsky's forces prevailed, killing Pushkar and forcing Barabash to flee (he would later be captured and executed). However, it had clearly been a fratricidal conflict, resulting in some 50,000 deaths.
After his consolidation of power within Ukraine, Vyhovsky attempted to reach an acceptable agreement with the Poles. Encouraged by his aristocratic friend
However, the Treaty of Hadiach was never implemented. After its signing came a massive Russian army (according to some sources up to 150,000 soldiers). About 100,000 of them were occupied by the siege of
Unfortunately for Vyhovsky, his service on behalf of the Polish–Lithuanian Commonwealth and his willing surrender of power did not protect him, and in 1664, another Cossack hetman, Pavlo Teteria, seeing in Vyhovsky a potential rival, accused him of treason and betrayal (reconciliation with Russia and Russian followers amongst the Cossacks) before the Polish authorities. Consequently, Vyhovsky was charged with treason, arrested and executed without trial by a Polish commander colonel, Sebastian Machowski, making him another victim of the fratricidal power struggles that devastated Ukrainian territory in the latter half of the 17th century.
Legacy
Many Ukrainian cities like Kyiv have a street named after Vyhovsky.
See also
- List of Ukrainian rulers
References
- ISBN 5940381111.