The Capture of Kyiv in 1651 took place during the Khmelnytsky Uprising under the command of Janusz Radziwiłł on August 4.[1][2][3]

Prelude

In 1651, the Lithuanian forces marched toward Kyiv, and after the Battle of Loyew, they approached the city on August 3.[1]

Capture

On August 3, 1651, Janusz Radziwiłł's forces approached the Kyiv. Leading an army of 6,000 soldiers, the prince began preparations for an assault. He planned to launch the main attack from the direction of St. Sophia's Cathedral, encircling the city from the south, as this was the most accessible route to the fortifications. Two additional units were to carry out supporting attacks from the north, approaching Kyiv from the direction of Vyshhorod.[4]

Kyiv Pechersk Lavra near Kyiv in 1651, by Abraham van Westerveld

The cavalry, under the command of Aleksander Hilary Połubiński and Teofil Schwarzhoff (15 banners), was to advance along the banks of the Dnieper, while the infantry, led by Bogusław Przypkowski, was to approach the fortifications by river and conduct an amphibious landing. However, the assault proved unnecessary, as during the night, the city's garrison, commanded by Anton Zhdanovych, unexpectedly began evacuating in haste. The colonel Anton Zhdanovych decided to take this step because he could not count on any help from Khmelnytsky, and he was also well aware that he did not have the forces necessary for an effective defense of the city, whose fortifications were in a deplorable state. The pressure exerted on the colonel by the townspeople and clergy was also significant, as they feared that Kyiv would suffer serious damage during the siege and insisted that the city be surrendered without a fight.[4]

Lithuanian army at the foot of the ruins of the Golden Gate in Kyiv in 1651, by Abraham van Westerveld

The following day, the Field Hetman triumphantly entered Kyiv through the Golden Gate. He was ceremoniously welcomed by the Orthodox clergy, led by Metropolitan Sylwester Kossów and Archimandrite of Pechersk, Józef Tryzna, as well as the local magistrate, who presented the prince with the keys to the city and swore allegiance to the king and the Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth.[4][2]

Aftermath

The Cossacks, of course, did not accept the loss of Kyiv and tried to take advantage of every available opportunity to attempt to reclaim the city.[4]

Meanwhile, from the south, forces sent by Bohdan Khmelnytsky from the Korsun Regiment began approaching Kyiv. They reportedly numbered 3,000 Cossacks and 2,000 Tatars, commanded by Lukian Mozyria. On August 17 (according to other sources, two days later) they were already clashing near the city with the Lithuanians, led by Aleksander Hilary Połubiński. However, attempts to lure Radziwiłł's subordinates into an ambush failed, and the battle ultimately ended in a crushing defeat for the Cossacks and Tatars. They suffered very heavy losses.[4]

References

  1. ^ a b Podhorodecki, Leszek (1982). Dzieje Kijowa (in Polish). Książka i Wiedza. p. 106.
  2. ^ a b Wisner, Henryk (2000). Janusz Radziwiłł: 1612-1655: wojewoda wileński, hetman wielki litewski. Warszawa: Wydawn. MADA. p. 145. ISBN 978-83-86170-48-7.
  3. ^ Serczyk, Władysław A. (1998). Na płonac̨ej Ukrainie: dzieje Kozaczyzny 1648-1651 (Wyd. 1, dodruk ed.). Warszawa: "Książka i Wiedza". p. 347. ISBN 978-83-05-12969-5.
  4. ^ a b c d e Konrad Bobiatyński, W cieniu Beresteczka : działania militarne armii litewskiej przeciwko Kozakom w 1651 roku p. 24-27.
Allikas: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Capture_of_Kyiv_(1651)
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