Hetman Bohdan Khmelnytsky

Bohdan Zenoviy Khmelnytsky was one of the most influencial rulers of Eastern Europe, but not known as well as other great leaders such as Napoleon, because of the way he led the great Ukrainian uprising, or The Great Revolt of 1648 (Subtelny, 123).

Born about 1595, though the exact date and place is unknown, Khmelnytsky was the son of a minor Ukrainian nobleman named Mykhaylo Khmelnytsky. Mykhaylo served the royal Hetman Stanislaw Zolkiewski and his son-in-law, Jan Danilowicz of Poland. For his good services, Mykhaylo obtained an estate in Subotiv. Bohdan was educated at a Jesuit College in Yaroslav where he studied the Polish and Latin languages. It was thought he also studied French. In 1620, his father was killed in the battle against the Poles at Cecora. Bohdan was taken captive by the Turks and held for two years until his mother collected enough ransom money. During these two years he mastered the Turkish and Tatar languages. This proved to be helpful to him later in his relations with Turkey and Tatary. Bohdan returned to Subotiv to follow in his father's footsteps by becoming a Cossack (an idealistic, freedom-loving, gallant and independent man who fights for the well being of U

. . .

View the whole essay, without interruption

Ukraine needed an overlord and it was decided upon to be ruled by the Muscovite tsar. This meeting was held at Pereiaslav, near Keiv. It was explained to the townspeople that this was decided upon at the prior meeting and that the Muscovite tsar was the best choice. New York: The Publishers Guild, Inc. Toronto: University of Toronto Press, 1988.

The Bila Tserkva (White Church) agreement on September 28th of 1651 had to do with the lessening of the Hetman's authority, forbidding him to have foreign contacts, and the reduction of Cossack forces to 20,000 troops. Most Ukrainian peasants and Cossacks were forced to deal with serfdom one more time.

On the January 18th in 1654, Khmelnytsky called a meeting with the Cossack elite and a decision was made. Soon after, he was elected as Hetman (highest military, administrative, and judicial office among Ukrainian Cossacks). The timing was right, and an alliance against the Poles was formed.

Approximate Word count = 858
Approximate Pages = 3 (250 words per page double spaced)

Simply subscribe to view this paper, and 100,000 others.