Ivan Sirko

Ivan Dmytrovych Sirko
An imaginary representation of Sirko by Ilya Repin
Nickname(s)	Otaman Sirko Rus' Devil (Urus Shaitan) Kharakternyk [uk]
Born	1605/1610 Merefa, Sloboda Ukraine or Murafa, Bracław Voivodeship
Died	August 11,[1] 1680 Hrushivka, Zaporizhian Host
Allegiance	Zaporozhian Host Chortomlyk Sich Left-bank Ukraine
Years of service	1620–1680
Rank	Kosh Otaman Hetman (Honorary)[2][3]
Battles / wars	Polish–Ottoman War (1620–1621) Thirty Years' War Khmelnytsky Uprising Russo-Polish War (1654-1667) The Ruin Turkish-Cossack Conflict Russo-Turkish War (1676–1681)
Spouse(s)	Sofia
Children	Two sons (Peter and Roman) and two daughters

Ivan Dmytrovych Sirko (Ukrainian: Іван Дмитрович Сірко, IPA: [ɪˈwɑn dmɪˈtrɔwɪtʃ sɪrˈkɔ]; Russian: Иван Дмитриевич Серко, romanized: Ivan Dmitriyevich Serko, IPA: [ɪˈvan ˈdmʲitrʲɪjɪvʲɪtɕ sʲɪrˈko]; Polish: Iwan Sierko, IPA: [ˈivan ˈɕɛrkɔ]; Romanian: Ioan Sircu IPA: [jɔˈan sˈirku]; c. 1605 – August 11, 1680) was a Zaporozhian Cossack military leader, Koshovyi Otaman of the Zaporozhian Host and putative co-author of the famous semi-legendary Cossack letter to the Ottoman sultan that inspired the major painting Reply of the Zaporozhian Cossacks by the 19th-century artist Ilya Repin.

The first biography of Ivan Sirko, written by Dmytro Yavornytsky in 1890, gave Sirko's place of birth as the sloboda of Merefa near the modern-day city of Kharkiv. Historian Yuriy Mytsyik states that this could not be the case. In his book Otaman Ivan Sirko^[4] (1999) he writes that Merefa was established only in 1658 (more than 40 years after the birth of the future Otaman). 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 the Kalnyk Polk (a military and administrative division of the Cossack Hetmanate) in Podilia, a position usually awarded to the representative of a local population. The author also gives a reference to the letter of Ivan Samiylovych to kniaz G. Romodanovsky (the Tsar's voyevoda) in which the Hetman refers to Sirko as one born in Polish lands instead of in Sloboda Ukraine (part of Tsardom of Russia). Mytsyik also recalls that another historian, Volodymyr Borysenko, allowed for the possibility that Sirko was born in Murafa near the city of Sharhorod (now in Vinnytsia Oblast). The author explains during that time when people were fleeing the war (known as the Ruin, 1659–1686) they may have established a similarly named town in Sloboda Ukraine further east.

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Further, Mytsyik in his book states that Sirko probably was not of Cossack heritage, but rather of the Ukrainian (Ruthenian) Orthodox szlachta. Mytsyik points out that a local Podilian nobleman, Wojciech Sirko, married a certain Olena Kozynska sometime in 1592. Also in official letters the Polish administration referred to Sirko as urodzonim, 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 which Ilya Repin failed to depict in his artwork when he used General Dragomirov as a model of Otaman Sirko. Mytsyik also recalls the letter of the Field Hetman of the Crown John III Sobieski (later king of Poland) which referred to Sirko as:^{[citation needed]}

A very quiet, noble, polite [man], and has ... great trust among Cossacks.

It's generally accepted that Ivan Sirko was of Ukrainian ethnicity.^[4][5][6][7] However, Paul Robert Magocsi states in his book that Ivan Sirko was a Ukrainian Cossack of Romanian origin.^[8]

In 1620, Sirko held the rank of Sotnik, taking part in his first recorded campaign against the Ottomans. He led his detachment of Cossacks in a campaign against Varna, sacking it. Afterwards, he raided Prekop.^[9]

In 1621, Ukrainian Cossack Hetman, Petro Sahaidachny gathered an army of Zaporozhian Cossacks against the Ottoman army that threatened the Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth, along with other regions. Sirko with his detachment took part in the Battle of Khotyn, inflicting heavy losses on Ottoman Janissaries.^[10]

In 1629, Sirko took part in a raid on Istanbul organized by Bohdan Khmelnytsky, the future Ukrainian Cossack Hetman. Cossacks ravaged Turkish villages in vicinity of Istanbul and took large amount of loot during the raid.^[11]

In 1637, Sirko took part in the capture of Azov fortress by the Zaporozhian and Don Cossacks during Azov Campaigns [ru]. Cossacks defeated the Ottoman Janissaries and captured the Azov fortress. Don Cossacks remained in Azov, while Zaporozhian Cossacks returned to the Sich with loot.^[12]

In 1644, Sirko appears in historical sources as Polkovnyk (Colonel) of Vinnytsia.^[13] 17th century French historian Jean-François Sarasіn, when describing participation of Polish mercenaries on the side of French during the Siege of Dunkirk [fr] in 1646, noted that they were led by commander "Sirot".^[14] Some historians identify him as Ivan Sirko. Ukrainian and some French historians mention involvement of Ukrainian Cossacks led by Ivan Sirko during the siege.^[15][16]

Sirko supported Bohdan Khmelnytsky during the uprising against the Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth and took an active part in it. In 1653, he distinguished himself at the Battle of Zhvanets.^[13]

Sirko changed his political orientation several times. In 1654, he initially opposed the alliance with Moscow during the Pereyaslav Rada, departing to Chortomlyk Sich to protect the southern borders of Ukraine from Crimean-Nogai raids.

In 1655, Sirko launched a campaign into Crimea to thwart planned Tatar campaign into Ukraine. Together with the Don Cossacks, he captured Taman Peninsula, an important strategic point that controlled the Kerch Strait. Cossacks kept the Azov Sea locked for two months and the population in terror.^[13][17]

In 1659, he was elected as Kosh Otaman of the Zaporizhian Host, allying with Tsardom of Russia. Together with the Russian Prince Trubetski fought against the Crimean Khanate. In 1660, he launched two campaigns against the Turkish fortresses of Ochakiv and Aslam-Kermen. He took large number of captives during both campaigns.^[13] Sirko defeated Tatars in a major battle on Igren Peninsula [ru], freeing 15,000 Christian slaves.^[13]

In 1663, together with Tsarist and Kalmyk troops, he inflicted a heavy defeat on Tatars and Ottoman Janissaries during the Siege of Perekop [ru]. He ravaged many Tatar villages and took large number of captives, forcing the Crimean Khanate to reduce their support to Poland-Lithuania. This led to their defeat during the Siege of Hlukhiv and failure of Polish campaign in Left-bank Ukraine. In 1664, he was one of the inspirators of an uprising in Right-bank Ukraine against Poland which is known from his letter to the Czar.^[18]

Sirko is said to have been elected by the Cossacks as Kosh Otaman at least 12 times.^[6] He was the first Cossack Otaman to accept Kalmyks into his army.^[19] He saved Sobieski during the Polish War with Ottoman Ukraine and Crimean Khanate. In October, 1667, Sobieski has held a fortified position in the Pidhaitsi village, where he was besieged by Tatars and Doroshenko's Cossacks. Sobieski held out for weeks, but his strength was beginning to fade away, until the news came that Sirko raided Perekop, plundered northern Crimea, leaving behind nothing but “dogs and cats”. This news greatly upset the Tatars, and they no longer wished to continue the siege. Many deserted.^[20] Sirko launched another campaign against the Crimean Khanate, during which he sacked Kaffa. He freed 2,000 Christian slaves, while taking 1,500 Tatars as captives. This campaign caused so much panic in Crimea that Khan Adil Giray took refuge in Anatolia.^[21]

Despite his pro-Moscow orientation, he distrusted and hated pro-Russian Hetman Ivan Briukhovetsky, but at the same time married his son Roman to Briukhovetsky's daughter.^[22] In 1668, this rivalry even forced Ivan Sirko to switch sides again and briefly join Petro Doroshenko in his fight against "Muscovite boyars and Voivodes", but in 1670, once again Sirko pledged loyalty to Russian Tsar Alexei Mikhailovich. Afterwards, he besieged the Turkish strongholds of Ochakiv and Ismail, which he captured.

Turkish-Cossack Conflict (1654-1679)
Part of the Turkish-Cossack Conflict
Date c. 1654–1680 Location Sich, Crimean Khanate, Nogai Horde, Ottoman Empire Result Cossack victory Heavy civilian and economic losses of the Crimean Khanate, Nogai Horde and Ottoman Empire[21] Ottoman-Crimean invasions of Sich repelled
Belligerents
Zaporozhian Cossacks	Crimean Khanate Nogai Horde Ottoman Empire
Commanders and leaders
Ivan Sirko Mykhailo Khanenko Ivan Zhdan-Rih [uk]	Mehmed IV Giray Adil Giray Selim I Giray Murad Giray Mehmed IV
Strength
20,000 (1675 Crimean Campaign)[23]	300,000 (1672 Podolia Campaign)[24]
Casualties and losses
Unknown	Heavy Tens to hundreds of thousands captured

Sirko played an important role in Cossack campaigns and raids against the Crimean Khanate, Nogai Horde and Ottoman Empire.^[25] Cossack raids devastated Crimea, Anatolia, Trebizond, along with other areas and took many captives.^[26] The level of devastation caused by Cossack raids isn't measurable, but comparable to those wrought by the Crimean-Nogai raids in Eastern Europe.^[27] Explorer Evliya Çelebi later noted the signs of significant depopulation of many towns and villages, which he attributed to Cossack raids.^[21] Crucial difference between Cossack and Tatar raiders was that the Cossacks successfully adapted gunpowder weaponry, which gave them an advantage over the nomadic peoples of the steppe, and even allowed them to face up the Ottomans.^[28] Italian Dominican missionary Emidio Portelli d’Ascoli describes the brutality of Cossack campaigns and raids:^[29]

The Cossacks destroy, rob, burn, lead off into slavery, kill; often they besiege fortified cities, take them by storm, devastate, and burn them down.

Sirko put emphasis on taking Turks, Tatars and other Muslim peoples as captives during Cossack campaigns and raids.^[30] Jews were also recorded to have been targeted by Cossack raids.^[31] Captives taken during their campaigns and raids could be used for ransom or sold into slavery to various states.^[30][32] The amount of captives taken during Cossack campaigns and raids is unknown, but during Sirko's career at Chortomlyk Sich could've ranged from tens to hundreds of thousands, mainly Turk or Tatar Muslim. Sirko's campaigns and raids were so problematic, that Ottoman Sultan issued a firman to the mosques to pray for the death of Ivan Sirko.^[33]

Following the death of Demian Mnohohrishny in 1672, Sirko entered the struggle for the Hetman title, but was exiled by the Russian Tsar to Tobolsk, Siberia. However, Mehmed IV took advantage of the absence of Ivan Sirko, in spring the 300,000-strong Ottoman army crossed the Danube and invaded Podolia. Ottomans threatened to devastate not only Ukraine, but also the Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth and Tsardom of Russia.^[24] Sirko's absence eased the pressure of the Turkish-Tatar aggression to such an extent that they felt permissive.

In 1673, Russian Tsar returned Sirko back to Ukraine, reportedly at the request of John III Sobieski and other European states concerned about the growing Ottoman threat.^[6] Sirko once again fought against Tatars and Turks. He captured the Arslan fortress, and for the second time captured Ochakiv. He sacked Tighina, massacring or enslaving all inhabitants.^[34] Same year, he devastated the lands of Nogai Horde, sacked Bilhorod-Dnistrovskyi and launched a campaign into Crimea. George Konissky described his campaign:^[35]

Landing on the shores of Karasubazar, he captured and ravaged all the coastal cities, and then, having passed through the whole Crimea to the city of Or [Qapı] or Perekop, 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 the Sich with countless loot.

False son of Tsar Alexi, "Tsarevich" Simeon, came to Sich in 1673, after the defeat of Razin's Revolt. Simeon told Ivan Sirko, that after he escaped from a plot against him in Moscow, he had joined Stenka Razin's Cossacks and had participated incognito in their rebellion, before coming to Sich with Ataman Ivan Miiuska. Thereafter he planned to go in secret to Kyiv, and than to the Polish King. However, Sirko later sent the impersonator to Moscow, where he was executed a year later.^[36]

In 1674, when the rivers froze, Turkish-Tatar forces launched a campaign into Ukraine. The campaign was unsuccessful, Turkish-Tatar troops were forced to retreat after suffering heavy losses. Sirko wanted revenge for the attack, this inspired his Crimean Campaign in 1675.^[23] During the campaign, he sacked the capital of the Crimean 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 to Crimea, a lot of whom actually converted to Islam, so he ordered their execution. After execution, Sirko is quoted to have said:^[37]

Brothers, forgive me, but it is better that you should lie here awaiting the terrible judgment of God than go back to Crimea to help them [Tatars] increase in numbers and risk the eternal damnation of your souls.

In 1675/1676, the Zaporozhian Cossacks defeated Ottoman army in a major battle, however, the Ottoman Sultan Mehmed 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 of a painting by Ilya Repin.

In 1676, Doroshenko resigned and offered the Hetman's insignia to Sirko, which he accepted.^[2] Sirko launched frequent attacks on Turkish-Tatar forces during the Russo-Turkish War, which helped to halt Turkish-Tatar advance into Right-Bank Ukraine in 1678. Despite capturing Chyhyryn during the Chyhyryn Campaigns [uk], Turkish-Tatar forces were soon forced to abandon it, after being weakened by the fighting and constant raids of Ivan Sirko.^[5][38] On July 12, 1678, Sirko’s Cossacks attacked Ottoman fleet carrying supplies to Ochakiv in the Dnieper–Bug Canal, wiping out nearly every Ottoman ship.^[39]

In 1679, after a series of defeats suffered by the Turkish-Tatar forces against Zaporozhian Cossacks, Sirko with Cossacks sent a reply to Crimean Khan Murad Giray. They wrote:^[39]

Do not bother to attack us again. This time, you are not coming to us, we are coming to you. We captured Trabzon and Sinop, we turned the Asian coast upside down; we cauterized the flanks of Belgrade, we wiped out Varna, Izmail and many Danube 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.

In 1680, together with the Don Cossacks, Sirko won his last battle against the Turkish-Tatar army, repelling the invasion of Sich.^[25] Returning from the battle, he fell ill and retired from Sich to the village of Hrushivka.

Sirko died at his estate Hrushivka (today Soloniansky Raion, Dnipropetrovsk Oblast) on August 11 [Julian August 1], 1680.^[5] Next day he was buried near the Chortomlyk Sich. In 1709 the Moscow Army totally destroyed the Sich and the grave of the Otaman 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, the Kakhovka Reservoir was threatening the Otaman Sirko's burial site, causing him to be reburied near the village of Kapulivka, Nikopol Raion, but without his skull.^[40] Sirko's skull was sent to the Moscow laboratory of the sculptor Mikhail Gerasimov, who aimed to recreate the portrait of the legendary Otaman.^[40][3] It was not until 1987 when writer Yuriy Mushketyk remembered the 'Beheaded Otaman' and wrote a letter to the Association for Preservation of History and Culture of Ukraine. On July 15, 1990 the member of parliament from Rukh, Volodymyr Yavorivsky called for Sirko's skull to be brought back from Moscow.^[3] The journal Pamyatky Ukrainy (Attractions of Ukraine) responded to the calls in 1990 and after 23 years with the help of anthropologist Serhiy Seheda the remains of Ivan Sirko were returned to his native land.^[40][41]

Sirko's military career is legendary. Over his life, Sirko is said to have participated in over 65 battles, and he reportedly did not lose a single one, making him one of the most successful Cossack leaders in history.^[4] According to some sources, Ivan Sirko won 244 battles.^[6]

Turks and Tatars named Sirko the "Rus' Devil" (Urus Shaitan), signifying his reputation as an invincible Cossack leader.^[6][7]

Sirko's reputation as undefeated, invincible Cossack leader made him a subject of Ukrainian folk legends. He's one of the most famous Kharakternyks [uk] of Ukrainian mythology. Cossacks 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 a wolf or hawk, conjuring the enemy army.^[33] Ukrainian writer Adrian Kashchenko wrote about Sirko:^[33]

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 30,000 Janissaries, like sheep, between the Sich Kurins? And who, if not Kharakternyk [uk], could jump with a handful of men into Crimea, 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?.

Otaman Sirko is widely remembered in numerous literary works of Ivan 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.^[42] George Konissky wrote about him:^[35]

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 become Tamerlane or Genghis Khan, that is, a great conqueror.

Sirko's involvement in anti-Russian uprisings complicates his legacy in the Russian history, but nonetheless he's still respected for his military talent and support for Tsardom of Russia in various wars.^[35] His reply to Ottoman Sultan was important in shaping both Ukrainian and Russian nationalism.^{[43][44]: 14:38}

Field Marshal Kutuzov used Sirko's relics before the Battle of Borodino in 1812, to inspire the Russian Imperial Army.^[6]

Sirko's reply to Ottoman Sultan became extremely popular at the beginning of the Russo-Turkish War (1877–1878).^{[44]: 14:38} 12 years after the war ended, Ilya Repin made one his most famous pieces of artwork, Reply of the Zaporozhian Cossacks, inspired by the reply.

During the Ukrainian War of Independence in 1917–1921, the 4th Cavalry Regiment of the Ukrainian People's Army was named after Ivan Sirko.^[45]

In 1966 when the President of France Charles de Gaulle was visiting the Soviet Union, he personally requested to bring him to the burial location of Ivan Sirko. Gaulle laid flowers to Sirko's monument in Kyiv and reportedly called him the "National Hero of France".^[6][46]

In 1979, Valentyn Moroz made his first public appearance in New York, in a rally for defense of Soviet political prisoners and Ukrainian national rights. During the rally, he told his Ukrainian audience the tale of Otaman Sirko, who executed 3,000 freed captives who wanted to go back to Crimea after Sirko's Crimean Campaign. Moroz believed the execution was justified, saying:^[47]

A true Ukrainian would not remain in the Crimea if given the chance to return to Ukraine.

In August 2019 the 92nd Separate Mechanized Brigade of the Armed Forces of Ukraine was renamed after Ivan Sirko by a decree of President Volodymyr Zelensky.^[48]

Wikimedia Commons has media related to Ivan Sirko.

• Mytsyik, Yuriy. Otaman Ivan Sirko. Zaporizka Spadschyna (Zaporizhian Heritage), Ed.11. Zaporizhia: RA "Tandem-U", 1999.
• Evarnitsky, D. Ivan Dmitrievich Sirko, glavnyi koshevoi ataman zaporozhskikh nizovykh kazakov (Ivan Sirko, The Chief Kosh Otaman of Zaporizhian Cossacks). Saint-Petersburg, 1894. Archived 2013-12-02 at the Wayback Machine

• Ivan Sirko at the Encyclopedia of Ukraine
• Mysyk, Yu. Legendary Kosh Otaman Ivan Sirko. Krymska Svitlytsia (from "Ukrayina Kozatska"). 17 August 2007
• Seheda, S. The skull of the Kosh Otaman Ivan Sirko two years was laying in my apartment. Gazette in Ukrainian. 29 January 2010.
• Ivan Sirko
• biography of Serko Ivan Dmitrievich (Sirko) - in Russian.