{{Italic title}} {{Short description|Uprising}} {{More citations needed|date=October 2010}} {{Infobox military conflict | conflict = Koliivshchyna rebellion | partof = [[Bar Confederation]] and [[Haidamaky#Haidamak uprisings|Haidamaky uprisings]] | image = Camp of haidamakas.PNG | image_size = 266px | caption = Camp of Haidamakas by [[Juliusz Kossak]] | date = {{OldStyleDate|6 June|1768|26 May}}<ref name=koliyiv/> — June 1769 | place = [[Right-bank Ukraine]] <small>([[Kyiv Voivodeship|Kyiv]] and [[Braclaw Voivodeship|Braclaw]] voivodeships)</small>, [[Polish–Lithuanian Commonwealth]] | result = Russian-Polish-Lithuanian victory | territory = | combatant1 = {{flagicon image|Royal Banner of Stanisław II of Poland.svg|border=no}} [[Polish–Lithuanian Commonwealth]]<br>{{flag|Russian Empire}} | combatant2 = [[Haidamak]]s | commander1 = {{flagicon image|Royal Banner of Stanisław II of Poland.svg|border=no}} [[Jan Klemens Branicki]]<br>[[File:Flag of Oryol ship (variant).svg|23px]] [[Mikhail Krechetnikov]] | commander2 = [[Melkhisedek Znachko-Yavorsky]]{{surrendered}}<br>[[Maksym Zalizniak]]{{POW}}<br>[[Ivan Gonta]]{{executed}} | strength1 = | strength2 = | casualties1 = | casualties2 = | casualties3 = 100,000 – 200,000 civilians killed }} {{Cossacks}} [[File:Гонта та Залізняк. Умань.PNG|thumb|260 px|Monument of Gonta and Zalizniak in Uman, Ukraine]] The '''Koliivshchyna''' ({{langx|uk|Коліївщина}}; {{langx|pl|koliszczyzna}}) was a major [[haidamaky]] rebellion that broke out in [[Right-bank Ukraine]] in June 1768,<ref name=koliyiv/> caused by the dissatisfaction of peasants with the treatment of [[Eastern Orthodoxy|Orthodox Christians]] by the [[Bar Confederation]] and [[serfdom]],<ref>{{Cite book|title=A History of Ukraine|last=P.R. Magocsi|pages=294, 296}}</ref> as well as by hostility of [[Cossacks]] and peasants to the local [[Polonisation|Polonized]] [[Ruthenian nobility]] and ethnic Poles.<ref>{{Cite book |title=Sprawy i rzeczy ukraińskie: materyały do dziejów kozaczyzny i hajdamaczyzny |trans-title=Ukrainian matters and things: materials for the history of Cossacks and Haidamaks |last=Franciszek Rawita-Gawroński |year=1914 |location=Lviv |pages=146, 147}}</ref><ref>{{Cite book|title=Wewnętrzne dzieje Polski za Stanisława Augusta (1764–1794) |trans-title=The internal history of Poland under Stanisław August (1764–1794) |last=Korzon|first=Tadeusz |year=1897 |location=Cracow-Warsaw |pages=200}}</ref> The uprising was accompanied by [[pogrom]]s against both real and imagined supporters of the Bar Confederation, particularly [[Poles in Ukraine|ethnic Poles]], [[Ukrainian Jew|Jews]], [[Catholic Church in Ukraine|Roman Catholic]]s, and especially [[Ukrainian Greek Catholic Church|Byzantine Catholic]] priests and laity. This culminated in the [[massacre of Uman]].<ref name=":0">{{Cite book |title=Wielka Historia Polski |trans-title=The Great History of Poland |last=Kazimierz Karolczak, Franciszek Leśniak |year=1998 |location=Cracow |pages=111}}</ref> The number of victims is estimated from 100,000<ref>{{Cite book |title=Dzieje Polski nowożytnej |trans-title=History of modern Poland |last=Konopczyński|first=Władysław |publisher=Instytut Wydawniczy Pax |year=1999 |pages=619}}</ref> to 200,000. Many communities of national minorities (such as [[Old Believers]], [[Armenians in Ukraine|Armenians]], Muslims and [[Greeks in Ukraine|Greeks]]) completely disappeared in the areas devastated by the uprising.<ref name=":0" /><ref name="Davies" /><ref>{{Cite book |title=Historia Polski w datach |trans-title=History of Poland in dates |author1=Stanisław Bogusław Lenard |author2=Ireneusz Wywiał |publisher=Wydawnictwo Naukowe PWN |year=2000 |location=Warsaw |pages=274–275}}</ref>
==Etymology== The origin of the word ''Koliivshchyna'' is not certain. [[Taras Shevchenko]], whose grandfather had participated in the uprising, wrote a poem, ''[[Haydamaky (poem)|Haydamaky]]'', in which ''kolii'' is described as a knife that is blessed in a church and used by Ukrainian villagers to kill animals humanely, according to the local understanding of [[animal rights]]. The blessing of knives had occurred two or three weeks before the uprising as a rule, so the members and supporters of the Bar Confederation and its military forces fled to the Ottoman Empire before the uprising. However, some fortresses such as Uman and [[Lysianka]] were still occupied by the members of the Bar Confederation.
The term could also be an adaptation of the Polish words ''kolej'', ''kolejno'', ''po kolei'', which implies ''służba kolejna'' (patrolling service), designating [[Cossack]] militia in the service of aristocrats. That etymology is suggested by Polish historians such as [[Władysław Andrzej Serczyk]] and Ukrainian Volodymyr Shcherbyna.<ref>Chukhlib, T. ''[http://www.istpravda.com.ua/articles/2015/12/16/148812/view_pr/ Judge or understand haidamakas? Taras Chukhlib about Koliivshchyna (Судити чи розуміти гайдамаків? Тарас Чухліб про Коліївщину)]''. [[Ukrayinska Pravda]]. 16 December 2015</ref>
==Events== The rebellion was simultaneous to the [[Confederation of Bar]], which originated in an adjacent region in the city of [[Bar, Vinnytsia Oblast|Bar]] (historical [[Podolia]]) and was a ''[[de facto]]'' [[civil war]] in the [[Polish–Lithuanian Commonwealth]].{{Clarification needed|reason=for what reason did the rebellion break out? for this?|date=January 2025}} The Bar Confederation declared not only the Orthodox faith but the Uniate church to be pro-Russian. Later, the Polish government and Roman Catholic church accused both Eastern Churches of responsibility on the Uman massacre and the uprising because Russia supported the political rights of believers of both churches. Though almost all pupils of the Uman Uniate seminary had died in the massacre, they were accused of the fall of the city by the Polish government.<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://rgcc.narod.ru/most.htm |title=The bridge between west and east. Russian Greek Catholic church}}</ref>
The rebellion of peasants was fueled by ducats paid by Maxim Zalizniak for every killed Bar Confederate and by the circulation of a fictitious proclamation of support and call to arms by Russian Empress [[Catherine II]], the so-called "Golden Charter".<ref>{{Cite encyclopedia |url=http://www.encyclopediaofukraine.com/display.asp?linkpath=pages%5CG%5CO%5CGoldenCharter.htm |title=Golden Charter |encyclopedia=[[Encyclopedia of Ukraine]]}}</ref> Mostly based on rumours, the charter, however, had a real foundation and was connected with the [[Repnin Sejm|Repnin sejm]]'s decisions to give political freedoms to Uniates and Orthodox Christians. Catherine issued a rescript in 1765 to Archimandrite Melkhisedek and made the Russian ambassador in Warsaw facilitate assertion of the rights and privileges of the Orthodox in Right-bank Ukraine.<ref>{{Cite encyclopedia |url=http://resource.history.org.ua/cgi-bin/eiu/history.exe?Z21ID=&I21DBN=EIU&P21DBN=EIU&S21STN=1&S21REF=10&S21FMT=eiu_all&C21COM=S&S21CNR=20&S21P01=0&S21P02=0&S21P03=TRN=&S21COLORTERMS=0&S21STR=Zolota_gramota_Kateryny_II |title=Catherinian Golden Edict |encyclopedia=Encyclopedia of History of Ukraine}}</ref> In 1764, on the territory of the [[Zaporozhian Host]] and along the southern borders of the Polish–Lithuanian Commonwealth, the Russian Empire created the [[New Russia Governorate]] in place of the previously-existing [[New Serbia (historical province)|New Serbia]] province and intensively militarised the region.<ref>{{Cite encyclopedia |url=http://resource.history.org.ua/cgi-bin/eiu/history.exe?Z21ID=&I21DBN=EIU&P21DBN=EIU&S21STN=1&S21REF=10&S21FMT=eiu_all&C21COM=S&S21CNR=20&S21P01=0&S21P02=0&S21P03=TRN=&S21COLORTERMS=0&S21STR=Novorosijska_huberniia |title=First New Russia Governorate |encyclopedia=Encyclopedia of History of Ukraine}}</ref>
Preparations for the uprising against the [[Bar Confederation]] and the initial raid of the Cossack detachment of Maksym Zalizniak started at the Motronynskyi Holy Trinity Monastery (now a convent in [[Cherkasy Raion]]), the [[hegumen]] of which was Archimandrite Melkhisedek (Znachko-Yavorsky), who also served as the director of all Orthodox monasteries and churches in Right-bank Ukraine in 1761–1768.<ref name=koliyiv>[http://resource.history.org.ua/cgi-bin/eiu/history.exe?&I21DBN=EIU&P21DBN=EIU&S21STN=1&S21REF=10&S21FMT=eiu_all&C21COM=S&S21CNR=20&S21P01=0&S21P02=0&S21P03=TRN=&S21COLORTERMS=0&S21STR=Koliivshchyna Koliyivshchyna] at Encyclopedia of History of Ukraine</ref>
In 1767 a group of [[Zaporozhian Cossacks]] headed by Yosyp Shelest settled in a number of monasteries in the vicinity of the Dnieper. Posing as monks, they agitated the inhabitants of surrounding villages to start a rebellion against Polish [[szlachta|nobility]], using a fake letter from [[Kish otaman]] of [[Zaporozhian Sich]] [[Petro Kalnyshevskyi]], which supposedly allowed them to expel and disown Poles and Jews living in the area. The rebels also created a fortification ([[sich]]) in the [[Kholodnyi Yar]] ("Cold Ravine") area not far from the [[Motronynskyi Monastery]], which included two big stables and contained cauldrons for cooking. In spring of 1768 Shelest was killed in a quarrel with one of his companions, and after that the rebels were headed by [[Maksym Zalizniak]], a native of the neighbouring village of Ivkivtsi. On 26 May Zalizniak and his men had their weapons [[blessing|blessed]] in the monastery and started their uprising.<ref>{{Cite web|title=Гайдамаки з Мотриного лісу|date=2024-06-24|url=https://localhistory.org.ua/texts/statti/gaidamaki-z-motrinogo-lisu/|access-date=2025-07-12}}</ref>
The peasant rebellion quickly gained momentum and spread over the territory from the right bank of the [[Dnieper River]] to the river [[San (river)|Sian]]. The [[Massacre of Uman]] had many Poles, Jews, and Uniates herded into their churches and synagogues and killed in cold blood, but Uniates were not among the victims in other places:<ref>{{Cite book |title=Hajdamacy |last=Serczyk|first=Władysław |year=1972 |location=Cracow |pages=325–326}}</ref>
{{Blockquote|text=Crowds of insurgents broke into the city [...] Most of the nobles and Jews gathered in the churches, synagogue and town hall. Catholic priests communicated and gave absolution [...] the slaughter initiated, most likely by vengeful peasants, began. According to modern testimonies, about three thousand Jews died in the synagogue alone. Killed and tormented. Jews had their hands and ears cut off. They were pulled out of cellars, houses and even ditches, where they sought shelter in vain. Catholic and Uniate priests became the next victims of the hatred of the insurgent crowd.|sign=|source=}}
After advancing to Uman, Zalizniak's forces were joined by [[Ivan Gonta]], who commanded the private militia serving the owner of [[Uman]], Polish count [[Franciszek Salezy Potocki]]. The governor of Uman and other Polish nobles supporting the Bar Confederation capitulated since they believed that Gonta had been dispatched by Potocki to protect Uman in a secret mission and mistakenly thought that the rebels supported the Polish king, as did Potocki. Upon the capture of the city Zalizniak was proclaimed [[hetman]] by his supporters. On the order of Zalizniak, a haidamak band led by Semen Nezhyvyi captured [[Kaniv]].<ref>{{Cite web|title=Гайдамаки з Мотриного лісу|date=2024-06-24|url=https://localhistory.org.ua/texts/statti/gaidamaki-z-motrinogo-lisu/|access-date=2025-07-12}}</ref> There were rumours that [[Don Cossacks]] participated in fighting against the Bar Confederation supporting Zaporozhian Cossacks. Some were seized by Polish government forces and tried in [[Kodnya]].
Eventually, the uprising was crushed by Russian troops, registered Cossacks of [[Left-Bank Ukraine]] and the [[Zaporozhian Host]], aided by the Polish army. The two leaders were arrested by Russian troops on 7 July 1768.<ref name="koliyiv" /> Ivan Gonta was handed over to Polish authorities, who tortured him to death, and Maksym Zalizniak was exiled to Siberia.<ref name="Koliivshchyna rebellion">{{Cite web |url=http://www.encyclopediaofukraine.com/display.asp?linkpath=pages%5CK%5CO%5CKoliivshchynarebellion.htm |title=Koliivshchyna rebellion |website=Internet Encyclopedia of Ukraine |publisher=Canadian Institute of Ukrainian Studies}}</ref> The rebellion was suppressed by the joint forces of Polish and [[Russian Empire|Russian]] armies, with numerous hangings, decapitations, quarterings and impalings of Polish subjects and of the Russian subjects who were captured by governmental Polish forces themselves.<ref name="Davies">{{cite book |author=Norman Davis |title=God's playground. A history of Poland, vol 1 |year=1982 |publisher=Columbia University Press |isbn=0-231-05350-9}}</ref> In Kholodnyi Yar, which served as the base of the rebellion, sporadic fighting against Russian troops sent to subdue the rebels continued until the end of the year.<ref>{{Cite web|title=Гайдамаки з Мотриного лісу|date=2024-06-24|url=https://localhistory.org.ua/texts/statti/gaidamaki-z-motrinogo-lisu/|access-date=2025-07-12}}</ref>
==In popular culture== [[Taras Shevchenko]]'s epic poem ''[[Haidamaky (poem)|Haidamaky]]'' (''The Haidamakas'') chronicles the events of the Koliivshchyna. The event also inspired recent artwork during the [[Revolution of Dignity]].<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://www.artnews.com/2014/03/31/icons-on-the-barricades-2/ |title=ICONS ON THE BARRICADES: INCREDIBLE UKRAINIAN PROTEST ART |work=ArtNews |date=31 March 2014 |access-date=2015-08-23}}</ref>
== Controversy == On 17 May 2018 the [[Kyiv City Council]] voted to hold events marking 250 years since Koliivshchyna; the proposal was put forward by two deputies of the ultranationalist [[Svoboda (political party)|Svoboda]] party. The decision received strong criticism from the Ukrainian Jewish community and the Kharkiv Human Rights Protection Group.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Coynash |first=Halya |date=29 May 2018 |title=Ukrainian Jewish associations outraged by Kyiv Council plans for bloodstained anniversary |url=https://khpg.org//en/1527470970 |access-date= |website=Kharkiv Human Rights Protection Group}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |date=2018-05-25 |title=Заява керівництва основних єврейських об'єднань України з приводу урочистих заходів в ознаменування 250-річчя Коліївщини |trans-title=Statement of the leadership of the main Jewish associations of Ukraine regarding the solemn events commemorating the 250th anniversary of the Koliivshchyna |url=https://vaadua.org/news/zayava-kerivnictva-osnovnih-ievreyskih-obiednan-ukrayini-z-privodu-urochistih-zahodiv-v |access-date= |website=Асоціація єврейських організацій та общин України (Ваад) - Association of Jewish Organizations and Communities of Ukraine (Vaad) |language=ru}}</ref>
==References == {{Reflist}}
==Further reading== * {{cite book | first = Paul Robert | last = Magocsi | author-link = Paul Robert Magocsi | year = 1996 | title = A History of Ukraine | publisher = University of Toronto Press | location = Toronto | isbn = 0-8020-0830-5 }} * [[Henryk Stanisław Mościcki|Henryk Mościcki]], [https://archive.org/stream/zdziejwhajdamac03mogoog#page/n6/mode/1up "Z dziejów hajdamacczyzny"], Warszawa 1905 * [[Władysław Andrzej Serczyk]], "Koliszczyzna", Kraków 1968 * [[Władysław Andrzej Serczyk]], "Hajdamacy", Wydawnictwo Literackie, Kraków 1972 * [[Karol Grünberg|Karol Grunberg]], Bolesław Sprengel, ''Trudne sąsiedztwo'', Warszawa 2005 * [[Władysław Wielhorski]], Ziemie ukrainne Rzeczypospolitej: Zarys dziejów, Londyn 1959 * [[Kazimierz Karolczak]], Franciszek Leśniak, "Wielka Historia Polski", Kraków 1998 * "Dzieje Polski. Kalendarium", pod red. Andrzeja Chwalby, Kraków 1999 * "Kronika Polski", praca zbiorowa, Warszawa 200 * [[Stanisław Bogusław Lenard]], [[Ireneusz Wywiał]], Historia Polski w datach, wyd. PWN, Warszawa 2000 * [[tomasz bohun and dariusz milewski]]: https://www.mowiawieki.pl/images/fundacja/wojny-polsko-kozackie.pdf
{{Zaporozhian Cossack uprisings}} {{Medieval and Early Modern European Peasant Wars}} {{Authority control}}
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