Battle of Żurawno

In late August 1676, a large Ottoman-Tatar army of some 20-50,000 entered the southern Polish province of Pokucie.^[2][3] Invaders were faced by Jan III Sobieski, who had 15-30,000 soldiers.^[2][3][1]

Grand Vizier’s illness hindered the peace negotiations. In August, the Turkish army crossed the Dniester via the reconstructed Khotyn-Kamianets bridge. After securing provisions, the Ottoman forces merged with the Crimean army and encamped near Bari River [uk]. Ibrahim Shaitan Pasha placed the lands of Pokuttya and Podolia under the administration of Voivode Duca, bringing the local Orthodox population under Ottoman rule. Meanwhile, discontent grew among the Janissaries, who complained that while they were on campaign, the Sultan was occupied with hunting and the Grand Vizier remained in Constantinople.^[2] During negotiations with Polish envoys, whose delegation had changed six times, Ibrahim Pasha received word that Jan Sobieski’s army had routed a thousand-strong Tatar detachment near Mogilev, putting them to flight. Following this, Ibrahim lashed out at the envoys with reproaches, and it became evident that no peace agreement would be reached. He ordered his cavalry to pursue the Polish forces and engaged in battle on September 27.^[2]

The Polish camp was protected from two sides by the Dniestr river, while in its front was the Krechowka river. Tatar forces under Selim I Giray concentrated around it by 26 September, while Ottoman units under Ibrahim Shishman arrived there on 28–29 September. On September 28, an inconclusive battle took place between the Polish-Lithuanian and Ottoman-Tatar forces. From late September until October 7, Ottoman batteries advanced daily toward the Polish camp, inflicting significant casualties. A fierce cavalry engagement occurred on October 8 between the Polish hussars and the Ottoman cavalry; as a result, the Ottomans advanced further, forcing the Poles to retreat into new trenches and destroy their old fortifications on October 12–13.^[3]

Polish army found itself in a dire situation: forage and food supplies were nearly exhausted, desertion was widespread, and troop morale had weakened. Nevertheless, the commander remained optimistic and encouraged his men. The situation shifted due to heavy rain and hail, which forced the Ottomans to halt their offensive. Krekhivka River [uk] rose continuously, eventually threatening the Ottoman camp itself. Both sides compelled to conclude a peace treaty.^[3] Siege of Zurawno continued until 14 October. Although the Ottomans suffered great losses, the Polish side was also severely affected. The effectiveness of the Ottoman tactics led to a twenty-day blockade, after which the Polish forces, having suffered losses, were forced to conclude the Treaty of Zurawno.^[1]

On 14 October a truce was signed, and three days later the Treaty of Zurawno was signed, ending the second phase of the Polish–Ottoman War (1672–76). Under the peace treaty, the ailing Ahmed Pasha succeeded in securing favorable terms. All of Podolia, including Kamenets-Podolsky, was ceded to the Ottoman Empire, while Right-bank Ukraine was to remain independent of both the Polish King and the Sultan. However, Ukraine maintained its pro-Turkish orientation, a status that was later contested during the War with Russia. The Poles also agreed to recognize the Sultan's sovereignty over the Zaporozhian territories beyond the rapids. This final condition solidified the Sultan's policy toward Ukraine. Ahmed Pasha Köprülü, in his final days, was deeply satisfied with the outcome of this, his last treaty.^[1]

In 1876, on the 200th anniversary of the battle, the Polish population of Zurawno founded a commemorative monument to celebrate the halt of the Ottoman advance into Eastern Europe.