Ivan Vygovsky - hetman of Ukraine, a fighter for the liberation of his country from the oppression of foreign domination

Ivan Vygovsky - a well-known historical personality of the times of the independent Cossack state. Possessing the art of diplomacy and conducting military operations, this man, becoming a hetman after the death of Bogdan Khmelnitsky, tried with all his might to preserve the independence of Ukraine, to wrest his country from Moscow's custody. What was the hetman's policy? Why did the Cossack sergeant remove him from his post and thereby prevent Ukraine from becoming an independent country? We will try to find the answers in this article.

Vygovsky: before meeting Bogdan Khmelnitsky

The Vygovskiy clan originates from Ukrainian Orthodox gentry. The year of Vygovsky's birth is unknown, the history did not save any data about his parents.

However, it is known that Ivan Vygovsky was a very highly educated person for his time. After graduating from the Kyiv-Mohyla Academy, he spoke several languages.

Military service began to comprehend in the Polish army. And when in 1648, when they were defeated by the Yellow Waters of the Poles, he was captured by the Tatars.

From the captivity Vygovsky tried to escape 3 times, all 3 attempts were unsuccessful, he was returned back. For escapes, Ivan Vygovsky was sentenced to death by the Horde, but here a chance broke in his fate.

Ivan Vygovsky was spotted by Bogdan Khmelnitsky, whose troops were allies with the Tatars, he also bought out of captivity the Cossack he liked.

Service in the Cossack Host

Ivan Vygovsky immediately liked Khmelnitsky, he quickly won his trust, and in the course of time became general military clerk.

After taking up a new position in 1648, the clerk took up the arrangement of the diplomatic and administrative headquarters of the hetman. On his initiative, the Ministry of the Interior was organized, in other words, the General Military Chancellery. It was Vygovsky who compiled the Cossack registry in 1649, and he was also the co-author of many letters from Khmelnitsky and universals.

The military office of Ivan Evstafievich Vygovski headed until the death of the famous hetman. Compatriots noted that the trust between Vyhovsky and Khmelnytsky was so great that only the clerk knew all the most secret secrets of the hetman.

Death of Khmelnitsky

When Bohdan Khmelnytsky was still alive, the council of the Cossack sergeant decided after his death to hand over the mace to his son Yuri, who was only 16 years old.

However, after the death of the hetman, the decisive attitudes of the Cossacks changed. The fact is that by giving power to the son of the hetman, the Cossacks thereby adopted a law on the continuity of power, in other words, a monarchical form of government would be established in Ukraine.

Therefore, on August 23-26, 1657 at the council, which was held in the city of Chyhyryn, it was decided to elect Vygovsky by the hetman. With the amendment - until the age of majority Khmelnitsky's son.

Hetman of Ukraine

Vygovsky became hetman in a very difficult time for Ukraine. Only 2 years he was in this post and for this time he put all his strength to make Ukraine become autonomous. During this period, everything was in his life: large-scale wars, the signing of new treaties, diplomatic maneuvering between Moscow and Warsaw.

Ivan Vygovsky's foreign policy was completely continued by Bogdan Khmelnitsky. He sought to strengthen the international authority of his country and achieve independence.

In October 1657, the hetman signed an agreement with Sweden, which ensured the territorial integrity of Ukraine.

At the same time Vygovsky tried very hard to avoid all complications with Moscow.

Relations with Russia

In Russia Vygovsky was not recognized as a hetman for a long time and required certain concessions from him. Moscow wanted to limit Ukraine's independence by securing some major cities with voivodeships as collateral.

When Nezhin, Chernigov and Pereyaslav were transferred to Moscow, Moscow also demanded a new election for the hetman, where the representatives of the tsar would be involved.

Hoping for a settlement of the conflict, Vygovsky agreed to these demands and was recognized as a hetman.

Domestic policy

First and foremost, Ukraine's hetman tried to enlist the support of the elders' elite, so he supported her interests, gave gifts in the form of land allotments and new privileges. Such actions led to discontent among poor Cossacks.

Inside the country there was a conflict. This skillfully took advantage of Martyn Pushkar - a colonel from Poltava and Jacob Barabash - ataman of Zaporozhye.

Vygovsky was forced to speak out against the rebels. The Hetman's army defeated the rebels: Pushkar was killed, and Barabash was taken prisoner.

Moscow during this period intervened in the internal affairs of the country, supporting the rebels financially.

Vyhovsky against Moscow

Moscow's dishonest actions led to the fact that the hetman began to look for other allies. So, in September 1658 he signed the Treaty of Hadiach, in which Ukraine, Lithuania and Poland formed a federation of three independent states. The new union was united only by a jointly elected king.

The goal of Russia is to become the most powerful country in the east of Europe, Ukraine's goal is to gain independence. These contradictory goals led to the fact that in 1658-1659, a war broke out between Moscow and Ukraine.

The decisive battle took place on June 28, 1659 near Konotop. In this battle, Vygovsky won.

End of the Hetmanate

Ivan Vygovsky, biography Who got a new turn, could not fully enjoy the victory. The strife in Ukraine did not stop; The Ukrainians themselves were not united with regard to the further fate of their country. Everyone defended his own interests.

This led to a new uprising in the country - an anti-government one. At the head of this uprising stood the son of Khmelnitsky - Yuri.

Some Cossacks opposed the Vygotsky Gadyachsky agreement, others were afraid of war with Moscow.

At the Cossack Rada, which took place in September 1659, the Cossacks expressed their distrust of their hetman.

Vygovsky, in order to avoid the Civil War, renounced the hetmanship and went to Volyn, which at that time was under the power of the Polish king. The son of Khmelnytsky became the hetman of Ukraine.