Ivan Zolotarenko
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Ivan Zolotarenko | |
|---|---|
.jpg) 18th century depiction of Ivan Zolotarenko | |
| Native name | Іван Золотаренко[1] |
| Nickname | Werewolf |
| Born | Unknown |
| Died | 17 October 1655 |
| Allegiance |  Cossack Hetmanate (1652–1655) Tsardom of Russia (1654–1655) |
| Service years | 1652–1655 |
| Rank | Acting hetman |
| Commands | Nizhyn Regiment |
| Conflicts | |
Ivan Nikiforovich Zolotarenko (Ukrainian: Іван Никифорович Золотаренко; Russian: Иван Никифорович Золотаренко; Belarusian: Іван Нічыпаравіч Залатарэнка; Polish: Iwan Mykyforowycz Zołotarenko; Lithuanian: Ivanas Nikiforovičius Zolotarenko; died 1655) was a Zaporozhian Cossack acting hetman[2] of Belarus and polkovnyk (colonel) of the Nizhyn Regiment. A close associate and brother-in-law of Bohdan Khmelnytsky, he fought against the Polish–Lithuanian Commonwealth and supported alliance with Tsardom of Russia during the Pereiaslav Rada in 1654.
Zolotarenko's date of birth is unknown, but he is believed to have come from an Orthodox Ruthenian Cossack noble family with origins in Korsun-Shevchenkivskyi (present-day Cherkasy Oblast, Ukraine) and was a close associate of Bohdan Khmelnytsky.[3] He was a brother-in-law to Bohdan Khmelnytsky due to Khmelnytsky's marriage to Hanna Zolotarenko.
Career
In 1646, Zolotarenko potentially took part in the Siege of Dunkirk alongside Ivan Sirko during the Thirty Years' War.[4] In August–November 1651, he was entrusted by Bohdan Khmelnytsky to go on diplomatic missions to the Tsardom of Russia. In 1652, he was appointed as the new polkovnyk (colonel) of Nizhyn Regiment and took part in the Battle of Batih.[3]
In 1654, he led 15,000–20,000 Cossacks in alliance with the Russian army during his successful campaign into Belarus and parts of Lithuania.[3][5][6] He also assisted the Russian army in recapture of Smolensk during the Tsar Alexei's campaign.[7] Zolotarenko's Cossacks and his Russian allies captured Minsk and Vilnius during the campaign.
Zolotarenko and his Cossacks established their administration in the occupied southern parts of Belarus, which also led to dispute with Russian authorities over control of these lands.[7][8] Zolotarenko promoted cossackization of the Belarusian lands he governed and managed to assert his authority in disputes with the Russian officials. Tsar Alexei Mikhailovich granted Zolotarenko the right to own Baturyn and Hlukhiv for his exploits in the Belarusian campaign.[3]
Death and burial
In 1655, Zolotarenko was wounded in the leg from a musket gun fire during the Siege of Polish-controlled Stary Bykhaw, which led to his death. He was buried in Korsun at the end of December.[3]