Maksym Kryvonis ( uk, Максим Кривоніс) ( "Crooked-nose", or Perebyinis) (d. 1648) was one of the
Cossack
The Cossacks , es, cosaco , et, Kasakad, cazacii , fi, Kasakat, cazacii , french: cosaques , hu, kozákok, cazacii , it, cosacchi , orv, коза́ки, pl, Kozacy , pt, cossacos , ro, cazaci , russian: казаки́ or ...
leaders of
Khmelnytsky Uprising
The Khmelnytsky Uprising,; in Ukraine known as Khmelʹnychchyna or uk, повстання Богдана Хмельницького; lt, Chmelnickio sukilimas; Belarusian language, Belarusian: Паўстанне Багдана Хмяльніц ...
.
Origins
The question about his origins remains unresolved. A Polish pamphlet published in 1648 states that he was a serf of the
Nemyrych family (a hypothesis favoured by Soviet historiography). However, a German source about a meeting with Kryvonis in 1648 says that he is of
Scottish origin ("ein gebohrenen Schott")
[Дмитро НАЛИВАЙКО "ОЧИМА ЗАХОДУ: Рецепція України в Західній Європі XI-XVIII ст.", КИЇВ — «Основи» — 1998, http://litopys.org.ua/ochyma/ochrus4.htm. German anonymous pamphlet "On the new rebellion of Cossacks against Poland", 1649, possibly by polish general of German origin Christopher Houvaldt. D.Nalyvayko, however, is skeptical on the matter of Scottish origins of Kryvonis.] In this case his real name may well have been not a nickname based on his crooked or broken nose, but a translation of his Scottish family name
Cameron.
Khmelnytsky Uprising
Kryvonis was one of the most effective generals of the Uprising. He was awarded the rank of
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 of ...
of
Cherkasy Regiment
Cherkasy ( uk, Черка́си, ) is a city in central Ukraine. Cherkasy is the Capital city, capital of Cherkasy Oblast (Oblast, province), as well as the administrative center of Cherkasky Raion (Raion, district) within the oblast. The c ...
. His actions in
Korsun and
Pylyavtsi battles in 1648 led to crushing Cossack victories over the Polish armies. His actions against prince
Jeremi Wiśniowiecki
Prince Jeremi Wiśniowiecki ( uk, Ярема Вишневецький – Yarema Vyshnevetsky; 1612 – 20 August 1651) nicknamed ''Hammer on the Cossacks'' ( pl, Młot na Kozaków), was a notable member of the aristocracy of the Polish–Lith ...
at
Makhnivka
Makhnivka ( uk, Махнівка; russian: Махновка; yi, מאכניווקא - ''Makhnivka'') is a village in Khmilnyk Raion of Vinnytsia Oblast, Ukraine, located on the west bank of the Hnylopiat River. It was named Komsomolske (russian: ...
and
Starokostiantyniv
Starokostiantyniv ( uk, Старокостянтинів; pl, Starokonstantynów, or ''Konstantynów''; yi, אלט-קאָנסטאַנטין ''Alt Konstantin'') is a city in Khmelnytskyi Raion, Khmelnytskyi Oblast (province) of western Ukraine. I ...
were less successful.
Also there are different accounts of Kryvonis's demise: killed (shot) during the siege of
Lviv
Lviv ( uk, Львів) is the largest city in western Ukraine, and the seventh-largest in Ukraine, with a population of . It serves as the administrative centre of Lviv Oblast and Lviv Raion, and is one of the main cultural centres of Ukraine ...
, assassinated (poisoned) by Jesuits, killed by orders of
Bohdan Khmelnytsky
Bohdan Zynovii Mykhailovych Khmelnytskyi ( Ruthenian: Ѕѣнові Богданъ Хмелнiцкiи; modern ua, Богдан Зиновій Михайлович Хмельницький; 6 August 1657) was a Ukrainian military commander and ...
who loathed him, or perished of plague during the
siege of Zamość in 1648.
In literature
Kryvonis (Polish: ''Maksym Krzywonos'') was also a character in
With Fire and Sword
''With Fire and Sword'' ( pl, Ogniem i mieczem, links=no) is a historical novel by the Polish author Henryk Sienkiewicz, published in 1884. It is the first volume of a series known to Poles as The Trilogy, followed by '' The Deluge'' (''Potop'' ...
, a novel by
Nobel-winning 19th-century Polish author
Henryk Sienkiewicz
Henryk Adam Aleksander Pius Sienkiewicz ( , ; 5 May 1846 – 15 November 1916), also known by the pseudonym Litwos (), was a Polish writer, novelist, journalist and Nobel Prize laureate. He is best remembered for his historical novels, especi ...
. In
the 1999 movie based on the novel he was played by
Maciej Kozłowski
Maciej Kozlowski (8 September 1957 – 11 May 2010) was a Polish actor, mostly known for his roles in ''Kingsajz'', ''Psy'', ''Kiler'', '' With Fire and Sword'' and ''Schindler's List'' and the TV series '' M jak miłość''.
Kozlowski was ...
.
References
* , location=Kviv, publisher=Видання Івана Тиктора
External links
Article on the Ukrainian Government Portal
{{DEFAULTSORT:Kryvonis, Maxym
Ukrainian Cossacks
Colonels of the Cossack Hetmanate
1648 deaths
Zaporozhian Cossack military personnel of the Khmelnytsky Uprising
Ukrainian people of Scottish descent
Year of birth unknown