Battle of Korsun: a stunning victory of the Cossack army
On this day 374 years ago, a famous battle took place near the city of Korsun, which became one of the most striking historical moments of the National Liberation War of 1648–1657. As a result of this war, the Commonwealth ceased to control the lands of Central Ukraine, where a Cossack state was formed - the Hetmanate. Thanks to skillful command, the army of Bogdan Khmelnitsky with allied detachments of the Crimean Tatars managed to lure the army of Nikolai Pototsky into a trap.
Two days before the battle, Khmelnitsky sent forward a detachment of Maxim Krivonos, who was supposed to delay the enemy and prepare a site near Korsun for the arrival of the main army. The next day, the main forces came to Korsun: about 15 thousand Cossacks and 3 thousand Tatar horsemen. 26 guns were used as fire support. To distract the Cossacks, Pototsky ordered the estates to be set on fire, and the fire soon spread to Korsun. The forces of the Commonwealth retreated, heading towards Boguslav. Trying to protect their army from the cavalry, the Polish command sent an army through the thickets of the forest. As a result, the army was blocked: on the left there was a large swamp, on the right, the advance of the soldiers was hampered by a steep descent, and in front they could not pass through the rubble on the road. It was at this moment that Krivonos with his Cossacks attacked from the flank. A volley of cannons sowed panic, and Potocki's army immediately lost the ability to fight. Four hours later, it was all over: most of the enemy soldiers were destroyed, and Pototsky, more than a hundred officers and several thousand soldiers were captured. There were only minor losses on the part of the Ukrainians.
The Battle of Korsun took place a few days after the death of the Polish Vladislav IV. The control of the Commonwealth over the Ukrainian territory began to weaken, riots began to ripen throughout Ukraine. The rebellious villagers joined Bogdan Khmelnitsky. As for the representatives of the Polish administration in Kyiv, they had to leave for Lithuania. The subsequent war was so successful for the Ukrainians that some Cossack troops reached the Polish and Belarusian borders.
[foto4]
Two days before the battle, Khmelnitsky sent forward a detachment of Maxim Krivonos, who was supposed to delay the enemy and prepare a site near Korsun for the arrival of the main army. The next day, the main forces came to Korsun: about 15 thousand Cossacks and 3 thousand Tatar horsemen. 26 guns were used as fire support. To distract the Cossacks, Pototsky ordered the estates to be set on fire, and the fire soon spread to Korsun. The forces of the Commonwealth retreated, heading towards Boguslav. Trying to protect their army from the cavalry, the Polish command sent an army through the thickets of the forest. As a result, the army was blocked: on the left there was a large swamp, on the right, the advance of the soldiers was hampered by a steep descent, and in front they could not pass through the rubble on the road. It was at this moment that Krivonos with his Cossacks attacked from the flank. A volley of cannons sowed panic, and Potocki's army immediately lost the ability to fight. Four hours later, it was all over: most of the enemy soldiers were destroyed, and Pototsky, more than a hundred officers and several thousand soldiers were captured. There were only minor losses on the part of the Ukrainians.
The Battle of Korsun took place a few days after the death of the Polish Vladislav IV. The control of the Commonwealth over the Ukrainian territory began to weaken, riots began to ripen throughout Ukraine. The rebellious villagers joined Bogdan Khmelnitsky. As for the representatives of the Polish administration in Kyiv, they had to leave for Lithuania. The subsequent war was so successful for the Ukrainians that some Cossack troops reached the Polish and Belarusian borders.
Photo ©
Photo ©
[foto4]
