Battle of Korsuń ( uk, Корсунь, pl, Korsuń), (May 26, 1648) was the second significant battle of the Khmelnytsky Uprising. Near the site of the present-day city of
Korsun-Shevchenkivskyi
Korsun-Shevchenkivskyi ( uk, Ко́рсунь-Шевче́нківський, ; pl, Korsuń Szewczenkowski; russian: Корсунь-Шевченковский) is a small city located in Cherkasy Raion of Cherkasy Oblast (province) in centra ...
in central Ukraine, a numerically superior force of Cossacks and
Crimean Tatars
, flag = Flag of the Crimean Tatar people.svg
, flag_caption = Flag of Crimean Tatars
, image = Love, Peace, Traditions.jpg
, caption = Crimean Tatars in traditional clothing in front of the Khan's Palace ...
under the command of
Hetman
( uk, гетьман, translit=het'man) is a political title from Central and Eastern Europe, historically assigned to military commanders.
Used by the Czechs in Bohemia since the 15th century. It was the title of the second-highest military co ...
Tugay Bey
Mirza Tughai Bey, Tuhay Bey ( crh, Toğay bey; pl, Tuhaj-bej; Cyrillic: ''Тугай-бей'') sometimes also spelled as Togay Bey (died June 1651) was a notable military leader and politician of the Crimean Tatars.
Biography
Toğay descended ...
attacked and defeated
Polish–Lithuanian Commonwealth
The Polish–Lithuanian Commonwealth, formally known as the Kingdom of Poland and the Grand Duchy of Lithuania, and, after 1791, as the Commonwealth of Poland, was a bi- confederal state, sometimes called a federation, of Poland and Lithuania ru ...
forces under the command of
Hetman
( uk, гетьман, translit=het'man) is a political title from Central and Eastern Europe, historically assigned to military commanders.
Used by the Czechs in Bohemia since the 15th century. It was the title of the second-highest military co ...
s
Mikołaj Potocki
Mikołaj "Bearpaw" Potocki (; 1595 – 20 November 1651) was a Polish nobleman, magnate and Field Crown Hetman of the Polish–Lithuanian Commonwealth from 1637 to 1646, Grand Hetman of the Crown from 1646 to 1651, governor of Bracław Voivodes ...
and
Marcin Kalinowski
Marcin Kalinowski (c. 1605 – 1652) was a Polish magnate and nobleman ( szlachcic), Kalinowa coat of arms, Field Crown Hetman. He was the son of Walenty Aleksander Kalinowski who fell at the Battle of Cecora (1620).
He began his studies in ...
. As in the previous battle at Zhovti Vody, the outmanned Commonwealth forces took a defensive position, retreated, and were thoroughly routed by the opposing force.
Before the battle
On May 16, 1648, Bohdan Khmelnytsky's forces overwhelmed and defeated Commonwealth forces under the command of Stefan Potocki at the
Battle of Zhovti Vody
Battle of Zhovti Vody ( uk, Жовтi Води, pl, Żółte Wody - literally 'yellow waters': April 29 to May 16, 1648 .Last a ...
. Stefan's father, Grand Crown Hetman
Mikołaj Potocki
Mikołaj "Bearpaw" Potocki (; 1595 – 20 November 1651) was a Polish nobleman, magnate and Field Crown Hetman of the Polish–Lithuanian Commonwealth from 1637 to 1646, Grand Hetman of the Crown from 1646 to 1651, governor of Bracław Voivodes ...
, was unable to send reinforcements in time to relieve him; however, with the number of defections from the force that was sent to fight Khmelnytsky (over 5,000
registered Cossacks
Registered Cossacks (, , pl, Kozacy rejestrowi) comprised special Cossack units of the Polish–Lithuanian Commonwealth army in the 16th and 17th centuries.
Registered Cossacks became a military formation of the Commonwealth army beginni ...
switched their allegiance), it is doubtful that the reinforcements could have helped defeat the combined Cossack and Tatar army of 15,000.Bitwa pod Żółtymi Wodami -sprostowanie do filmu Jerzego Hoffmana . Last accessed on December 23, 2006. From his fortified position beyond
Chyhyryn
Chyhyryn ( uk, Чигирин, ) is a city and historic site located in Cherkasy Raion of Cherkasy Oblast of central Ukraine. From 1648 to 1669 the city was a Hetman residence. After a forced relocation of the Ruthenian Orthodox metropolitan see ...
, fifteen miles from Zhovti Vody, Mikołaj Potocki signaled a retreat on 13 May to the north.Hrushevsky, M., 2002, History of Ukraine-Rus, Volume Eight, The Cossack Age, 1626-1650, Edmonton: Canadian Institute of Ukrainian Studies Press, Near
Cherkasy
Cherkasy ( uk, Черка́си, ) is a city in central Ukraine. Cherkasy is the capital of Cherkasy Oblast ( province), as well as the administrative center of Cherkasky Raion (district) within the oblast. The city has a population of
C ...
, the lone survivor from the battle at Zhovti Vody reached Potocki on 19 May with news of the disastrous defeat. Two days later, Potocki had only made it as far as the present-day city of
Korsun-Shevchenkivskyi
Korsun-Shevchenkivskyi ( uk, Ко́рсунь-Шевче́нківський, ; pl, Korsuń Szewczenkowski; russian: Корсунь-Шевченковский) is a small city located in Cherkasy Raion of Cherkasy Oblast (province) in centra ...
when he decided to wait for Jeremi Wisniowiecki's army of six thousand.
With combined forces of about 5,000 men, Field Crown Hetman Marcin Kalinowski and Great Crown Hetman Mikołaj Potocki awaited Khmelnytsky's advance parties who were soon seen crossing the
Tiasmyn River
The Tiasmyn () is a right tributary of the Dnieper River in Ukraine. It is long, and has a drainage basin of .Тясмин
. Soon they were crossing the
Ros River
The Ros (; ''Ros’'') is a river in Ukraine, a right tributary of the Dnieper. The Ros finds its source in the village of Ordyntsi in Pohrebyshche Raion, Vinnytsia Oblast. It is long, and has a drainage basin of .Stebliv. During a council of war, given the superior forces of the enemy, Potocki decided to retreat along the road to
Bohuslav
Bohuslav ( uk, Богуслав, yi, באָסלעוו or ''Boslov'') is a city on the Ros River in Obukhiv Raion, Kyiv Oblast (province) of Ukraine. Population: . It hosts the administration of Bohuslav urban hromada, one of the hromadas of Uk ...
The retreat started at dawn, during which the Cossack and Tatar armies allowed Potocki's forces to pass until they reached Horokhova Dibrova, about a mile and a half from Korsun, at noon. This proved to be disastrous, as Khmelnytsky had ordered his First
Polkovnyk
''Polkovnik'' (russian: полковник, lit=regimentary; pl, pułkownik) is a military rank used mostly in Slavic-speaking countries which corresponds to a colonel in English-speaking states and oberst in several German-speaking and Scandin ...
(
colonel
Colonel (abbreviated as Col., Col or COL) is a senior military officer rank used in many countries. It is also used in some police forces and paramilitary organizations.
In the 17th, 18th and 19th centuries, a colonel was typically in charge o ...
)
Maxym Kryvonis
Maksym Kryvonis ( uk, Максим Кривоніс) ( "Crooked-nose", or Perebyinis) (d. 1648) was one of the Cossack leaders of Khmelnytsky Uprising.
Origins
The question about his origins remains unresolved. A Polish pamphlet published in 16 ...
( aka "Crooked-nose" or ''Perebyinis'') to prepare a trap in this "swampy valley between two precipices", including trenches and a barricaded road. The resulting chaos as the Commonwealth's forces entered an impenetrable valley allowed Khmelnytsky's Cossack forces to flank them from both sides, quickly slaughtering whole divisions. Only about 1,000-1,500 of the Commonwealth forces (under a Colonel Korycki) managed to escape. Both Hetmans were taken
prisoner
A prisoner (also known as an inmate or detainee) is a person who is deprived of liberty against their will. This can be by confinement, captivity, or forcible restraint. The term applies particularly to serving a prison sentence in a prison. ...
, and the rest of the army was either captured or killed.
Aftermath
The Polish–Lithuanian Commonwealth was left without a military commander,Terletskyi, Omelian: "History of the Ukrainian Nation, Volume II: The Cossack Cause", page 76. 1924. and Khmelnytsky continued his uprising, marshaling his forces towards Bila Tserkva.