Siege of Bratslav (1654)
| Siege of Bratslav | |||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Part of the Khmelnytsky Uprising and Russo-Polish War (1654–1667) | |||||||||
 Stefan Czarniecki on horseback by Józef Brandt | |||||||||
| |||||||||
| Belligerents | |||||||||
 Cossack Hetmanate |
.svg){kind=small} Crimean Khanate | ||||||||
| Commanders and leaders | |||||||||
|
Ivan Bohun Vasyl Tomilenko † Mykhailo Dubina |
 Stefan Czarniecki Stanisław Lanckoroński Stanisław Potocki | ||||||||
| Strength | |||||||||
| 10,000–15,000[1][2] | 28,000[1] | ||||||||
| Casualties and losses | |||||||||
| 2,000+ killed[3][4] | Unknown | ||||||||
The siege of Bratslav took place during the Polish-Lithuanian invasion of Bracław Voivodeship under control of the Cossack Hetmanate, 28 November – 8 December (O.S.)/8 December – 18 December (N.S.) 1654.[1]
Prelude
[edit]In the autumn of 1654, the Polish army 20,000 cavalry and 8,000 infantry was concentrated in the area of Ternopil in order to, together with the Crimean Khan, deliver a decisive defeat to the Ukrainian Cossacks. In October 1654, the interregnum in the Crimean Khanate ended, and Mehmed IV Giray ascended the throne. He decided to support the Polish–Lithuanian Commonwealth in its war against the Russian state and the Zaporozhian Host. The meeting place for the Crimean Tatars and the Polish army was designated as Sharhorod.[1]
Czarniecki was the first to set out, attempting on his own to capture the town of Busza. The defenders repelled the first attack but succumbed after the arrival of additional Crown troops. Busza was burned, and its inhabitants were massacred. Then, the forces marched toward Tymanivka, which surrendered. Following these successes, further important decisions were made regarding operations in the theater of war. According to King John II Casimir's recommendations, the army was to march toward Kyiv. However, the hetmans deemed this too risky. Ultimately, it was decided to remain in the Bracław region and clear the local areas of Cossack garrisons.[4]
Siege
[edit]Czarniecki moved towards Bratslav, strongly occupied by Khmelnytsky's troops. It can be assumed that there were about 15,000 soldiers there, including the Bratslav and Kalnitsky regiments. The Cossacks did not shy away from fighting. They formed an army in front of the city, taking up the challenge. Clashes with Czarniecki's and Potocki's regiments did not bring any results. After the arrival of the remaining regiments, the Crown army prepared for a general assault. The Polish command was strengthened by the incoming reinforcements. In the meantime, on December 18, the Cossacks left the city and fled to Uman.[2] The Cossacks who remained in the city burned most of Bratslav, destroyed the moats and ramparts, sank the cannons, and when escaping they threw down the bridge to make it difficult for the Polish soldiers to cross.[4] The Poles occupied Bratslav, but did not leave a garrison there. The troops were deployed in nearby towns.[2]
Aftermath
[edit]Cossacks initially repelled Czarniecki’s assaults, but withdrew upon arrival of Polish-Crimean reinforcements.[1] Cossacks used scorched earth strategy to slow down Polish-Crimean army and buy themselves time to reach Uman.[3] On 14 January, Polish-Crimean army reached Uman and besieged it, where Cossacks organised a defense.[5]
See also
[edit]References
[edit]- ^ a b c d e Курбатов, Олег (2019). Русско-польская война 1654–1667 гг (in Russian). Runivers. p. 50. ISBN 978-5905719196.
- ^ a b c Maciej Adam Pieńkowski (2015). "Bitwa pod Ochmatowem 29 stycznia – 1 lutego 1655". histmag.org. Retrieved 2025-04-29.
- ^ a b Krajewski, Michał Dymitr (1869). Historyi Stefana Czarnieckiego (in Polish). Vol. 1.
- ^ a b c Baliński, Michał; Balinskis, Mykolas (1845). Starożytna Polska: pod względem historycznym, jeograficznym i statystycznym (in Polish). Wydawnictwa Artystyczne i Filmowe. p. 1340.
- ^ "УМАНСЬКІ ОБОРОНИ 1654, 1655, 1674". resource.history.org.ua. Retrieved 2025-02-14.