Kurin
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Kurin (Ukrainian: курінь) has two definitions: a military and administrative unit of the Zaporozhian Cossacks,[1] Black Sea Cossack Host, and others; and of a type of housing (see below).
In the administrative definition, a kurin usually consisted of a few hundred Cossacks, with their own land, treasury and flag, and around a hundred houses.[2][3] The number of kurins was not permanent, and varied throughout time: during the 16th century, there were 8 kurins in the Zaporozhian Sich and 38 during the first half of the 18th century.[4][5] All Cossacks had to be part of a kurin and were listed on the so-called "kurin komput" (a register of Cossacks in the kurin), and were subject to the kurin otaman.
In the other definition, a kurin is a type of housing, sometimes temporary, which can vary in size and purpose: from a small tent made of leaves, to a large wooden house for permanent occupation.[6]
The kurin was the lowest administrative division in the Cossack Hetmanate. According to a Ukrainian historian Adrian Kashchenko, there were 38 kurins.
| Subdivisions of the Cossack Hetmanate
| ||
|---|---|---|
| First | Regiment | Ukrainian: полк, romanized: polk, pl. Ukrainian: полки, romanized: polky |
| Second | Sotnia | Ukrainian: сотня, romanized: sotnia, pl. Ukrainian: сотні, romanized: sotni |
| Third | Kurin | Ukrainian: курінь, romanized: kurin, pl. Ukrainian: курені, romanized: kureni |
