Helena Czaplińska (died 1651), was the second wife of

Bohdan Khmelnytsky Zynoviy Bohdan Mykhailovych Khmelnytsky of the Abdank coat of arms (Ruthenian language, Ruthenian: Ѕѣнові Богданъ Хмелнiцкiи; modern , Polish language, Polish: ; 15956 August 1657) was a Ruthenian nobility, Ruthenian noble ...

Hetman of Zaporizhian Host The Hetman of the Zaporozhian Host (, ) was the head of state of the Cossack Hetmanate. The office was abolished by the Russian government in 1764. Brief history The position was established by Bohdan Khmelnytsky during the Cossack Hetmanate in ...

(r. 1648–1657). She was an influential figure among the

Zaporizhian Cossacks The Zaporozhian Cossacks (in Latin ''Cossacorum Zaporoviensis''), also known as the Zaporozhian Cossack Army or the Zaporozhian Host (), were Cossacks who lived beyond (that is, downstream from) the Dnieper Rapids. Along with Registered Cossac ...

and known as "Helen of the Steppe". Initially married to Daniel Czapliński, her influence was seen as a threat as she was suspected to betray her second husband the hetman in favor of her loyalties of her former marriage. She was famously executed for treason by her stepson

Tymofiy Khmelnytsky Tymofiy Bohdanovych Khmelnytsky or Tymish Bohdanovych Khmelnytsky (; 1632 — 15 September 1653) was a Zaporozhian Cossack military commander. He was the eldest son of the Ukrainian Cossack Hetman Bohdan Khmelnytsky. He was married to the Mol ...

during the absence of her spouse.

References

1651 deaths Year of birth missing 17th-century Ukrainian people People from the Cossack Hetmanate 17th-century executions {{Ukraine-bio-stub