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{{Short description|1620 battle of the Polish-Ottoman War of 1620-21}}
{{Short description|Part of the Polish-Ottoman War of 1620–21}}
{{Distinguish|Battle of Cecora (1595)}}
{{Distinguish|Battle of Cecora (1595)}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=June 2013}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=January 2023}}
{{Infobox military conflict
{{Infobox military conflict
|conflict =Battle of Cecora
| conflict = Battle of Cecora
|partof =the [[Moldavian Magnate Wars]]<br>and [[Polish–Ottoman War (1620–1621)]]
| partof = the [[Moldavian Magnate Wars]] and the [[Polish–Ottoman War (1620–1621)]]
| image = Cecora 1620 111.JPG
| image = Cecora 1620 111.JPG
| image_size = 300
| image_size =
|caption =''Death of Hetman Stanislaw Żółkiewski with his confessor, Father Szymon Wybierski, in the Battle of Cecora (1620)'',<br>by [[Walery Eljasz-Radzikowski]]
| caption = ''Death of Hetman Stanislaw Żółkiewski with his confessor, Father Szymon Wybierski, in the Battle of Cecora (1620)'', painting by [[Walery Eljasz-Radzikowski]]
|date =17 September – 7 October 1620
| date = 17 September – 7 October 1620
|place =near [[Țuțora]] and the [[Prut River]], [[Moldavia]]
| place = Near [[Țuțora]] and the [[Prut River]], [[Moldavia]]
|coordinates =
| coordinates =
|map_type =
| map_type =
|latitude =
| latitude =
|longitude =
| longitude =
|map_size =
| map_size =
|map_marksize =
| map_marksize =
|map_caption =
| map_caption =
|map_label =
| map_label =
|territory =
| territory =
|result = Ottoman victory<ref>''Battle of Cecora (1620)'', [[Alexander Mikaberidze]], '''[[Conflict and Conquest in the Islamic World: A Historical Encyclopedia]]''', Vol. I, ed. Alexander Mikaberidze, (ABC-CLIO, 2011), 237.</ref>
| result = [[Ottoman Empire|Ottoman]] victory<ref>''Battle of Cecora (1620)'', [[Alexander Mikaberidze]], ''[[Conflict and Conquest in the Islamic World: A Historical Encyclopedia]]'', Vol. I, ed. Alexander Mikaberidze, (ABC-CLIO, 2011), 237.</ref>
|status =
| status =
|combatant1 =[[File:Chorągiew królewska króla Zygmunta III Wazy.svg|23px]] [[Polish–Lithuanian Commonwealth]]<br>[[File:Flag of Moldavia.svg|23px]] [[Moldavia]]
| combatant1 = [[Polish–Lithuanian Commonwealth]]<br>[[Moldavia]]
|combatant2 =[[File:Ottoman red flag.svg|23px|border]] [[Ottoman Empire]]<br>[[File:Gerae-tamga.svg|15px]] [[Crimean Khanate]]<br>{{flagicon|Principality of Transylvania|1596}} [[Principality of Transylvania (1571–1711)|Transylvania]]
| combatant2 = [[Ottoman Empire]]<br>[[Crimean Khanate]]<br>[[Principality of Transylvania (1571–1711)|Transylvania]]
|commander1 =[[File:Chorągiew królewska króla Zygmunta III Wazy.svg|23px]] [[Stanisław Żółkiewski]] {{KIA}}<br>[[File:Chorągiew królewska króla Zygmunta III Wazy.svg|23px]] [[Stanisław Koniecpolski]]<br>[[File:Flag of Moldavia.svg|23px|border]] [[Gaspar Graziani]]
| commander1 = [[Stanisław Żółkiewski]] {{KIA}}<br>[[Stanisław Koniecpolski]]{{POW}}<br>[[Gaspar Graziani]]
|commander2 =[[File:Ottoman red flag.svg|23px|border]] [[Iskender Pasha (governor of Ozi)|Iskender Pasha]]<br>[[File:Gerae-tamga.svg|15px]] [[Khan Temir]]<br>[[File:Transsylvanian Banner.svg|25px]] [[Gabor Bethlen]]
| commander2 = [[Iskender Pasha (governor of Ozi)|Iskender Pasha]]<br>[[Khan Temir]]<br>[[Gabor Bethlen]]
|units1 =
| units1 =
|units2 =
| units2 =
|strength1 =9,000 Commonwealth troops<ref name="Cecora 1620">''Battle of Cecora (1620)'', Alexander Mikaberidze, '''Conflict and Conquest in the Islamic World: A Historical Encyclopedia''', Vol. I, 237.</ref><br>600-1000 Moldavian troops
| strength1 = 9,000 Commonwealth troops<ref name="Cecora 1620">''Battle of Cecora (1620)'', Alexander Mikaberidze, ''Conflict and Conquest in the Islamic World: A Historical Encyclopedia'', Vol. I, 237.</ref><br>600–1,000 Moldavian troops
|strength2 =20,000 Ottoman troops<ref name="Cecora 1620"/> to 60,000<ref name=Hrushevsky/>{{rp|344}}
| strength2 = 20,000 Ottoman troops<ref name="Cecora 1620"/> to 60,000<ref name=Hrushevsky/>{{rp|344}}
|casualties1 =entire army <ref name=R.Maddock>Robert Maddock, The 1300 Year's War: Volume 2.</ref>
| casualties1 = Majority killed or captured
|casualties2 =Unknown
| casualties2 = Unknown
|notes =
| notes =
|campaignbox = {{Campaignbox Polish–Ottoman War (1620–21)}}
| campaignbox = {{Campaignbox Polish–Ottoman War (1620–21)}}
{{Campaignbox Polish-Ottoman Battles}}
}}
}}


The '''Battle of Cecora''' (also known as the ''Battle of Țuțora'') was a battle during the [[Polish–Ottoman War (1620–21)]] between the [[Polish–Lithuanian Commonwealth]] (aided by rebel [[Moldavia]]n troops) and [[Ottoman Empire|Ottoman]] forces (backed by [[Nogais]]),<ref name=Hrushevsky/>{{rp|344}} fought from 17 September to 7 October 1620 in Moldavia, near the [[Prut River]].<ref>Tucker, S.C., editor, 2010, A Global Chronology of Conflict, Vol. Two, Santa Barbara: ABC-CLIO, LLC, {{ISBN|9781851096671}}</ref>{{rp|568}}
The '''Battle of Cecora''' (also known as the ''Battle of Țuțora'') took place during the [[Polish–Ottoman War (1620–21)]] between the [[Polish–Lithuanian Commonwealth]] (aided by rebel [[Moldavia]]n troops) and [[Ottoman Empire|Ottoman]] forces (backed by [[Nogais]]),<ref name=Hrushevsky/>{{rp|344}} fought from 17 September to 7 October 1620 in Moldavia, near the [[Prut River]].<ref>Tucker, S.C., editor, 2010, ''A Global Chronology of Conflict'', Vol. Two, Santa Barbara: ABC-CLIO, LLC, {{ISBN|9781851096671}}</ref>{{rp|568}}


== Prelude ==
== Prelude ==
Because of the failure of Commonwealth [[diplomatic mission]] to [[Constantinople]], and violations of the [[Treaty of Busza]] by both sides (as [[Cossacks]] and [[Tatars]] continued their raids across the borders), relations between the Ottomans and the Commonwealth rapidly deteriorated in early 1620. Both sides began preparing for war, as neither was quite ready for it at the time. The Ottomans declared war against Poland in 1620 and planned to attack in the spring of 1621.<ref name=Hrushevsky>Hrushevsky, M., 1999, The History of the Ukrainian Cossacks, Vol. 1, The Cossack Age to 1625, Edmonton: Canadian Institute of Ukrainian Studies Press, {{ISBN|1895571286}}</ref>{{rp|341}} The Commonwealth [[Sejm]] denied most funds the [[hetman]]s had asked for. The [[Senate of Poland|Senate]]'s secret council finally decided, convinced by the [[Habsburg monarchy|Habsburgs]]' representative, to contribute the Commonwealth forces in 1620—even though many members of the Sejm thought that Polish–Lithuanian forces were neither sufficient nor fully prepared. Hetman [[Stanisław Żółkiewski]], who was by then over 70 years old (as Commonwealth policy didn't allow for a possibility of forced retirement from government offices such as that of hetman), foresaw the coming confrontation with the Ottoman Empire and decided to meet [[Military of the Ottoman Empire|Ottoman troops]] on foreign soil, Moldavia being the obvious choice.<ref>There are several accounts that Żółkiewski was sent to relieve the Habsburgs from the very beginning. Iskender Pasha, during his talks with Żółkiewski at Ţuţora, confirmed that was sent to support Bethlen, not to fight the Commonwealth.</ref> However, the sultan sent [[Iskender Pasha (governor of Ozi)|Iskender Pasha]] to Moldavia to remove Hospodar [[Gaspar Graziani]], who had allied himself with Poland.<ref name=Hrushevsky/>{{rp|341}}
Because of the failure of Commonwealth [[diplomatic mission]] to [[Constantinople]], and violations of the [[Treaty of Busza]] by both sides (as [[Cossacks]] and [[Tatars]] continued their raids across the borders), relations between the Ottomans and the Commonwealth rapidly deteriorated in early 1620. Both sides began preparing for war, as neither was quite ready for it at the time. The Ottomans declared war against Poland in 1620 and planned to attack in the spring of 1621.<ref name=Hrushevsky>Hrushevsky, M., 1999, The History of the Ukrainian Cossacks, Vol. 1, The Cossack Age to 1625, Edmonton: Canadian Institute of Ukrainian Studies Press, {{ISBN|1895571286}}</ref>{{rp|341}} The Commonwealth [[Sejm]] denied most funds the [[hetman]]s had asked for. The [[Senate of Poland|Senate]]'s secret council finally decided, convinced by the [[Habsburg monarchy|Habsburgs]]' representative, to contribute the Commonwealth forces in 1620—even though many members of the Sejm thought that Polish–Lithuanian forces were neither sufficient nor fully prepared. Hetman [[Stanisław Żółkiewski]], who was by then over 70 years old (as Commonwealth policy didn't allow for a possibility of forced retirement from government offices such as that of hetman), foresaw the coming confrontation with the Ottoman Empire and decided to meet [[Military of the Ottoman Empire|Ottoman troops]] on foreign soil, Moldavia being the obvious choice.<ref>There are several accounts that Żółkiewski was sent to relieve the Habsburgs from the very beginning. Iskender Pasha, during his talks with Żółkiewski at Ţuţora, confirmed that was sent to support Bethlen, not to fight the Commonwealth.</ref> However, the sultan sent [[Iskender Pasha (governor of Ozi)|Iskender Pasha]] to Moldavia to remove Hospodar [[Gaspar Graziani]], who had allied himself with Poland.<ref name=Hrushevsky/>{{rp|341}}


[[Hetman]]s [[Stanisław Żółkiewski|Zółkiewski]] and [[Stanisław Koniecpolski|Koniecpolski]] led the army to [[Țuțora]] (''Cecora'' in Polish sources), a [[Commune in Romania|commune]] in [[Iași County]], [[Romania]], to fight the [[Orda (organization)|Horde]] of [[Khan Temir]] (Kantymir). The army numbered between 5,000<ref name=Hrushevsky/>{{rp|342}} to 9,000 (2,000 infantry but only about 1600 Cossack cavalry<ref name=Hrushevsky/>{{rp|344}}), with many regiments being made up of the private forces of [[magnate]]s [[Korecki family|Korecki]]s, [[Zasławski]]s, [[Kazanowski]]s, [[Kalinowski]]s and [[Potocki]]s. The army entered Moldavia in September. The Moldavian ruler, hospodar [[Gaspar Graziani]], nominally a vassal of the Ottoman Empire, decided to rebel and support the Commonwealth against the Ottomans. Graziani killed the [[Janissary|janissaries]] in [[Iași]], imprisoned envoys of [[Ottoman dynasty|Sultan]] [[Osman II]] (who had ordered his removal from power and his transport to Istanbul) and then prepared to flee, but was forced by Żółkiewski to attach his troops to the Polish–Lithuanian camp.<ref name=Hrushevsky/>{{rp|344}} However, many of the Moldavian [[boyars]] left the camp in order to defend their own [[Estate (house)|estates]] against pillaging by undisciplined Commonwealth magnates' troops, others decided to wait and see what the outcome appeared to be so they could join the winning side, and others joined the Turks.<ref name=Hrushevsky/>{{rp|344}} Consequently, only about 600–1000 rebel Moldavian troops appeared in the Commonwealth camp. Żółkiewski ordered the army to proceed to the fortified camp (standing from previous wars) at Cecora.
[[Hetman]]s [[Stanisław Żółkiewski|Zółkiewski]] and [[Stanisław Koniecpolski|Koniecpolski]] led the army to [[Țuțora]] (''Cecora'' in Polish sources), a [[Commune in Romania|commune]] in [[Iași County]], [[Romania]], to fight the [[Orda (organization)|Horde]] of [[Khan Temir]] (Kantymir). The army numbered between 5,000<ref name=Hrushevsky/>{{rp|342}} to 9,000 (2,000 infantry but only about 1600 Cossack cavalry<ref name=Hrushevsky/>{{rp|344}}), with many regiments being made up of the private forces of [[magnate]]s [[Korecki family|Korecki]]s, [[Zasławski]]s, [[Kazanowski]]s, [[Kalinowski]]s and [[Potocki]]s. The army entered Moldavia in September. The Moldavian ruler, hospodar [[Gaspar Graziani]], nominally a vassal of the Ottoman Empire, decided to rebel and support the Commonwealth against the Ottomans. Graziani killed the [[Janissary|janissaries]] in [[Iași]], imprisoned envoys of [[Ottoman dynasty|Sultan]] [[Osman II]] (who had ordered his removal from power and his transport to Istanbul) and then prepared to flee, but was forced by Żółkiewski to attach his troops to the Polish–Lithuanian camp.<ref name=Hrushevsky/>{{rp|344}} However, many of the Moldavian [[boyars]] left the camp in order to defend their own [[Estate (house)|estates]] against pillaging by undisciplined Commonwealth magnates' troops, others decided to wait and see what the outcome appeared to be so they could join the winning side, and others joined the Turks.<ref name=Hrushevsky/>{{rp|344}} Consequently, only about 600–1000 rebel Moldavian troops appeared in the Commonwealth camp. Żółkiewski ordered the army to proceed to the fortified camp (standing from previous wars) at Cecora.


== Battle ==
== Battle ==
[[File:Ryszkiewicz Tatars in the vanguard.jpg|thumb|[[Tatar]] warriors of the [[Crimean Khanate]] during the Battle of Cecora (1620).]]
[[File:Ryszkiewicz Tatars in the vanguard.jpg|thumb|[[Tatar]] warriors of the [[Crimean Khanate]] during the Battle of Cecora (1620)]]


On 10 September, near Țuțora (close to Iași, Romania), the Commonwealth army encountered the [[Tatar]] and Ottoman forces(13,000–22,000) under the command of [[Iskender Pasha (governor of Ozi)|Iskender Pasha]], the beylerbey of [[Ochakiv]] (Ozi). The Ottoman Sultan's force included [[Gabriel Bethlen]]'s army.<ref name=Hrushevsky/>{{rp|342}} The Tatar forces surprised the Commonwealth defenders, taking many prisoners. During the first day of fighting (the 18th), most of the rebel Moldavians decided to switch sides and quickly attacked the Polish–Lithuanian flank. Mercenaries, private troops and their magnate leaders were lacking in discipline and morale. Stanisław Koniecpolski commanded the right flank of the Commonwealth forces during the ensuing battle. On 19 September it had become clear that the Polish–Lithuanian forces were defeated, although they still managed to hold their positions; Koniecpolski prevented the army from disintegrating on 20/21 September. On 29 September Commonwealth troops had broken through Ottoman ranks with [[Tabor (formation)|tabor]] wagon trains and started their retreat. However, after Graziani bribed some magnates, units of private troops begun to flee and some mercenary cavalry panicked and also ran. This was a prelude of things to come. Consecutive attacks during the retreat (including a particularly violent one on 3 October) were repelled, but troop units started disintegrating as soon as soldiers caught sight of the [[Dniester]] and the Polish–Lithuanian border.
On 10 September, near Țuțora (close to Iași, Romania), the Commonwealth army encountered the [[Tatars|Tatar]] and Ottoman forces, 13,000–22,000 strong, under the command of [[Iskender Pasha (governor of Ozi)|Iskender Pasha]], the beylerbey of [[Ochakiv]] (Ozi). The Ottoman sultan's force included [[Gabriel Bethlen]]'s Transylvanian army.<ref name=Hrushevsky/>{{rp|342}} The Tatar forces surprised the Commonwealth defenders, taking many prisoners. On the 18th, during the first day of fighting, most of the rebel Moldavians decided to switch sides and quickly attacked the Polish–Lithuanian flank. Mercenaries, private troops and their magnate leaders were lacking in discipline and morale. Stanisław Koniecpolski commanded the right flank of the Commonwealth forces during the ensuing battle. On 19 September it had become clear that the Polish–Lithuanian forces were defeated, although they still managed to hold their positions; on 20/21 September, Koniecpolski prevented the army from disintegrating. On 29 September, Commonwealth troops had broken through Ottoman ranks with [[Tabor (formation)|tabor]] wagon trains and started their retreat. However, after Graziani bribed some magnates, units of private troops begun to flee and some mercenary cavalry panicked and also ran. This was a prelude of things to come. Consecutive attacks during the retreat (including a particularly violent one on 3 October) were repelled, but troop units started disintegrating as soon as soldiers caught sight of the [[Dniester]] and the Polish–Lithuanian border.


During another heavy assault on 6 October, most of the magnates and nobles broke and fled north,<ref name=Hrushevsky/>{{rp|344}} leaving infantry and camp, thus sealing the fate of the whole expedition: most of the Polish–Lithuanian troops were killed or captured. In the ensuing battle Żólkiewski died<ref>Czesław Miłosz, ''The History of Polish Literature'', (University of California Press, 1983), 113.</ref> and Koniecpolski<ref name=Hrushevsky/>{{rp|344}} and many others ([[Samuel Korecki]], [[Mikolaj Struś]], [[Mikołaj Potocki]], [[Jan Żółkiewski]], [[Łukasz Żołkiewski]]), [[Stanisław "Rewera" Potocki]] and [[Bohdan Khmelnytsky]] were taken captive. Before his death he received the blessing of his confessor, [[Father Szymon Wybierski (Wybierek)]] of the Society of Jesus, who stood by his side (7 October).<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://archive.org/stream/histoireduroije02salvgoog/histoireduroije02salvgoog_djvu.txt|title=Histoire du roi Jean Sobieski et du royaume de Pologne|year=1855|publisher=Paris, Didier}}</ref> Żółkiewski's head was mounted on a pike and sent to the sultan; Duke Korecki, having often meddled in Moldavian territories, was executed in the [[Istanbul|Constantinople]] prison.{{Citation needed|date=April 2015}}
During another heavy assault on 6 October, most of the magnates and nobles broke and fled north,<ref name=Hrushevsky/>{{rp|344}} leaving infantry and camp, thus sealing the fate of the whole expedition: most of the Polish–Lithuanian troops were killed or captured. The ensuing battle saw the death of Żólkiewski<ref>Czesław Miłosz (1983). ''The History of Polish Literature''. University of California Press, p. 113.</ref> Koniecpolski,<ref name=Hrushevsky/>{{rp|344}} and many others including [[Samuel Korecki]], [[Mikolaj Struś]], [[Mikołaj Potocki]], [[Jan Żółkiewski]], [[Łukasz Żołkiewski]], while [[Stanisław "Rewera" Potocki]] and [[Bohdan Khmelnytsky]] were taken captive. Before his death, Żółkiewski received the blessing of his [[confessor]], [[Father Szymon Wybierski (Wybierek)]] of the [[Society of Jesus]], who stood by his side (7 October).<ref>{{Cite web |title= Histoire du roi Jean Sobieski et du royaume de Pologne |trans-title= History of King John Sobieski and of the Polish Kingdom |year= 1855 |publisher= Didier |location= Paris |url= https://archive.org/stream/histoireduroije02salvgoog/histoireduroije02salvgoog_djvu.txt}}</ref> Żółkiewski's head was mounted on a pike and sent to the sultan; Duke Korecki, having often meddled in Moldavian territories, was executed in prison in [[Constantinople]].{{Citation needed |date=April 2015}}


In the face of such an important victory, advised by [[grand vizier]] [[Güzelce Ali Pasha|Ali Pasha]] and Gabriel Bethlen, Osman II decided that he could reinforce his rule or even extend it. [[Alexandru Iliaș]] was appointed as the ruler of Moldavia, the rebel Graziani having been killed during his flight on 29 September.
In the face of such an important victory, advised by [[grand vizier]] [[Güzelce Ali Pasha|Ali Pasha]] and Gabriel Bethlen, Osman II decided that he could reinforce his rule or even extend it. [[Alexandru Iliaș]] was appointed as the ruler of Moldavia, the rebel Graziani having been killed during his flight on 29 September.


== Aftermath ==
==Aftermath==
Around between 1,000 and 1,500 of Commonwealth men survived the battles, while the Tatars moved into [[Podolia]], [[Wołyń]] and eastern [[Lesser Poland]].<ref name=Hrushevsky/>{{rp|344}}
Between 1,000 and 1,500 Commonwealth men survived the battles, while the Tatars moved into [[Podolia]], [[Wołyń]] and eastern [[Lesser Poland]].<ref name=Hrushevsky/>{{rp|344}}


In 1621 an army of 200,000–250,000 Ottoman veterans, led by Osman II, advanced from [[Edirne]] towards the Polish frontier. The Ottomans, following their victory in the Battle of Cecora, had high hopes of conquering southern part of [[Polish–Lithuanian Commonwealth]]. Polish commander Jan Karol Chodkiewicz crossed the Dniester in September with approximately 35,000 Polish troops and [[Cossack]] supporters and entrenched himself at the [[Khotyn Fortress|Chocim Fortress]], blocking the path of the slow Ottoman march. At Khotyn, for more than a month (2 September – 9 October), the Commonwealth hetman held the sultan at bay until the first autumn snow ([[Battle of Khotyn (1621)|Battle of Khotyn]]). The lateness of the season and the loss of approximately 40,000 men in battle compelled Osman II to initiate negotiations. A few days before the siege was to be lifted, the aged grand hetman died of exhaustion in the fortress (24 September). The battle was a stalemate and the resulting [[Treaty of Khotyn]] reflected it, providing some concessions to the Commonwealth but meeting some Ottoman demands.
In 1621 an army of 200,000–250,000 Ottoman veterans, led by Osman II, advanced from [[Edirne]] towards the Polish frontier. The Ottomans, following their victory in the Battle of Cecora, had high hopes of conquering the southern part of the [[Polish–Lithuanian Commonwealth]]. Polish commander Jan Karol Chodkiewicz crossed the Dniester in September with approximately 35,000 Polish troops and [[Cossack]] supporters and entrenched himself at the [[Khotyn Fortress |Chocim (Khotyn) Fortress]], blocking the path of the slow Ottoman march. During the [[Battle of Khotyn (1621)|Battle of Khotyn]], for more than a month (2 September – 9 October 1621), the Commonwealth hetman held the sultan at bay until the first autumn snow. The lateness of the season and the loss of approximately 40,000 men in battle compelled Osman II to initiate negotiations. A few days before the siege was to be lifted, on 24 September, the aged grand hetman died of exhaustion in the fortress. The battle was a stalemate and the resulting [[Treaty of Khotyn]] reflected it, providing some concessions to the Commonwealth but meeting some Ottoman demands.


Osman II blamed the stalemate of war on the lack of zeal and the "degeneracy" of the Janissaries. His efforts at modernizing the Ottoman army were not well received by the Janissaries and the conservative "learned" class. A revolt led by Janissaries and the students of the madrases erupted on 18 May 1622 and Osman II was deposed; two days later he was killed by the rebels who deposed him.
Osman II blamed the stalemate of war on the lack of zeal and the "degeneracy" of the [[Janissaries]]. His efforts at modernizing the Ottoman army were not well received by the Janissaries and the conservative "learned" class. A revolt led by Janissaries and the students of the [[ madrasa |madrases]] erupted on 18 May 1622 and Osman II was deposed, and two days later he was killed by the rebels.


==Commemoration==
The Battle of Cecora is commemorated on the [[Tomb of the Unknown Soldier, Warsaw]], with the inscription "CECORA 18 - 29 IX 1620".
The Battle of Cecora is commemorated on the [[Tomb of the Unknown Soldier, Warsaw]], with the inscription "CECORA 18 – 29 IX 1620".


== See also ==
== See also ==
Line 67: Line 69:


== Further reading ==
== Further reading ==
* Podhorodecki, Leszek (1978). ''Stanisław Koniecpolski ok. 1592–1646''. Wydawnictwo Ministerstwa Obrony Narodowej, p.&nbsp;65–100
* Podhorodecki, Leszek (1978). ''Stanisław Koniecpolski ok. 1592–1646''. Wydawnictwo Ministerstwa Obrony Narodowej, pp.&nbsp;65–100


==External links==
==External links==
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[[Category:Conflicts in 1620]]
[[Category:Conflicts in 1620]]
[[Category:17th century in Moldavia]]
[[Category:17th century in Moldavia]]
[[Category:Polish–Ottoman War (1620–1621)]]

Latest revision as of 17:44, 3 December 2024

Not to be confused with Battle of Cecora (1595).

Battle of Cecora
Part of the Moldavian Magnate Wars and the Polish–Ottoman War (1620–1621)

Death of Hetman Stanislaw Żółkiewski with his confessor, Father Szymon Wybierski, in the Battle of Cecora (1620), painting by Walery Eljasz-Radzikowski
Date17 September – 7 October 1620
Location
Near Țuțora and the Prut River, Moldavia
Result Ottoman victory[1]
Belligerents
Polish–Lithuanian Commonwealth
Moldavia		 Ottoman Empire
Crimean Khanate
Transylvania
Commanders and leaders
Stanisław Żółkiewski  †
Stanisław Koniecpolski (POW)
Gaspar Graziani		 Iskender Pasha
Khan Temir
Gabor Bethlen
Strength
9,000 Commonwealth troops[2]
600–1,000 Moldavian troops		 20,000 Ottoman troops[2] to 60,000[3]: 344 
Casualties and losses
Majority killed or captured Unknown

The Battle of Cecora (also known as the Battle of Țuțora) took place during the Polish–Ottoman War (1620–21) between the Polish–Lithuanian Commonwealth (aided by rebel Moldavian troops) and Ottoman forces (backed by Nogais),[3]: 344  fought from 17 September to 7 October 1620 in Moldavia, near the Prut River.[4]: 568 

Prelude

[edit]

Because of the failure of Commonwealth diplomatic mission to Constantinople, and violations of the Treaty of Busza by both sides (as Cossacks and Tatars continued their raids across the borders), relations between the Ottomans and the Commonwealth rapidly deteriorated in early 1620. Both sides began preparing for war, as neither was quite ready for it at the time. The Ottomans declared war against Poland in 1620 and planned to attack in the spring of 1621.[3]: 341  The Commonwealth Sejm denied most funds the hetmans had asked for. The Senate's secret council finally decided, convinced by the Habsburgs' representative, to contribute the Commonwealth forces in 1620—even though many members of the Sejm thought that Polish–Lithuanian forces were neither sufficient nor fully prepared. Hetman Stanisław Żółkiewski, who was by then over 70 years old (as Commonwealth policy didn't allow for a possibility of forced retirement from government offices such as that of hetman), foresaw the coming confrontation with the Ottoman Empire and decided to meet Ottoman troops on foreign soil, Moldavia being the obvious choice.[5] However, the sultan sent Iskender Pasha to Moldavia to remove Hospodar Gaspar Graziani, who had allied himself with Poland.[3]: 341 

Hetmans Zółkiewski and Koniecpolski led the army to Țuțora (Cecora in Polish sources), a commune in Iași County, Romania, to fight the Horde of Khan Temir (Kantymir). The army numbered between 5,000[3]: 342  to 9,000 (2,000 infantry but only about 1600 Cossack cavalry[3]: 344 ), with many regiments being made up of the private forces of magnates Koreckis, Zasławskis, Kazanowskis, Kalinowskis and Potockis. The army entered Moldavia in September. The Moldavian ruler, hospodar Gaspar Graziani, nominally a vassal of the Ottoman Empire, decided to rebel and support the Commonwealth against the Ottomans. Graziani killed the janissaries in Iași, imprisoned envoys of Sultan Osman II (who had ordered his removal from power and his transport to Istanbul) and then prepared to flee, but was forced by Żółkiewski to attach his troops to the Polish–Lithuanian camp.[3]: 344  However, many of the Moldavian boyars left the camp in order to defend their own estates against pillaging by undisciplined Commonwealth magnates' troops, others decided to wait and see what the outcome appeared to be so they could join the winning side, and others joined the Turks.[3]: 344  Consequently, only about 600–1000 rebel Moldavian troops appeared in the Commonwealth camp. Żółkiewski ordered the army to proceed to the fortified camp (standing from previous wars) at Cecora.

Battle

[edit]
Tatar warriors of the Crimean Khanate during the Battle of Cecora (1620)

On 10 September, near Țuțora (close to Iași, Romania), the Commonwealth army encountered the Tatar and Ottoman forces, 13,000–22,000 strong, under the command of Iskender Pasha, the beylerbey of Ochakiv (Ozi). The Ottoman sultan's force included Gabriel Bethlen's Transylvanian army.[3]: 342  The Tatar forces surprised the Commonwealth defenders, taking many prisoners. On the 18th, during the first day of fighting, most of the rebel Moldavians decided to switch sides and quickly attacked the Polish–Lithuanian flank. Mercenaries, private troops and their magnate leaders were lacking in discipline and morale. Stanisław Koniecpolski commanded the right flank of the Commonwealth forces during the ensuing battle. On 19 September it had become clear that the Polish–Lithuanian forces were defeated, although they still managed to hold their positions; on 20/21 September, Koniecpolski prevented the army from disintegrating. On 29 September, Commonwealth troops had broken through Ottoman ranks with tabor wagon trains and started their retreat. However, after Graziani bribed some magnates, units of private troops begun to flee and some mercenary cavalry panicked and also ran. This was a prelude of things to come. Consecutive attacks during the retreat (including a particularly violent one on 3 October) were repelled, but troop units started disintegrating as soon as soldiers caught sight of the Dniester and the Polish–Lithuanian border.

During another heavy assault on 6 October, most of the magnates and nobles broke and fled north,[3]: 344  leaving infantry and camp, thus sealing the fate of the whole expedition: most of the Polish–Lithuanian troops were killed or captured. The ensuing battle saw the death of Żólkiewski[6] Koniecpolski,[3]: 344  and many others including Samuel Korecki, Mikolaj Struś, Mikołaj Potocki, Jan Żółkiewski, Łukasz Żołkiewski, while Stanisław "Rewera" Potocki and Bohdan Khmelnytsky were taken captive. Before his death, Żółkiewski received the blessing of his confessor, Father Szymon Wybierski (Wybierek) of the Society of Jesus, who stood by his side (7 October).[7] Żółkiewski's head was mounted on a pike and sent to the sultan; Duke Korecki, having often meddled in Moldavian territories, was executed in prison in Constantinople.[citation needed]

In the face of such an important victory, advised by grand vizier Ali Pasha and Gabriel Bethlen, Osman II decided that he could reinforce his rule or even extend it. Alexandru Iliaș was appointed as the ruler of Moldavia, the rebel Graziani having been killed during his flight on 29 September.

Aftermath

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Between 1,000 and 1,500 Commonwealth men survived the battles, while the Tatars moved into Podolia, Wołyń and eastern Lesser Poland.[3]: 344 

In 1621 an army of 200,000–250,000 Ottoman veterans, led by Osman II, advanced from Edirne towards the Polish frontier. The Ottomans, following their victory in the Battle of Cecora, had high hopes of conquering the southern part of the Polish–Lithuanian Commonwealth. Polish commander Jan Karol Chodkiewicz crossed the Dniester in September with approximately 35,000 Polish troops and Cossack supporters and entrenched himself at the Chocim (Khotyn) Fortress, blocking the path of the slow Ottoman march. During the Battle of Khotyn, for more than a month (2 September – 9 October 1621), the Commonwealth hetman held the sultan at bay until the first autumn snow. The lateness of the season and the loss of approximately 40,000 men in battle compelled Osman II to initiate negotiations. A few days before the siege was to be lifted, on 24 September, the aged grand hetman died of exhaustion in the fortress. The battle was a stalemate and the resulting Treaty of Khotyn reflected it, providing some concessions to the Commonwealth but meeting some Ottoman demands.

Osman II blamed the stalemate of war on the lack of zeal and the "degeneracy" of the Janissaries. His efforts at modernizing the Ottoman army were not well received by the Janissaries and the conservative "learned" class. A revolt led by Janissaries and the students of the madrases erupted on 18 May 1622 and Osman II was deposed, and two days later he was killed by the rebels.

Commemoration

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The Battle of Cecora is commemorated on the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier, Warsaw, with the inscription "CECORA 18 – 29 IX 1620".

See also

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Notes and references

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  1. ^ Battle of Cecora (1620), Alexander Mikaberidze, Conflict and Conquest in the Islamic World: A Historical Encyclopedia, Vol. I, ed. Alexander Mikaberidze, (ABC-CLIO, 2011), 237.
  2. ^ a b Battle of Cecora (1620), Alexander Mikaberidze, Conflict and Conquest in the Islamic World: A Historical Encyclopedia, Vol. I, 237.
  3. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l Hrushevsky, M., 1999, The History of the Ukrainian Cossacks, Vol. 1, The Cossack Age to 1625, Edmonton: Canadian Institute of Ukrainian Studies Press, ISBN 1895571286
  4. ^ Tucker, S.C., editor, 2010, A Global Chronology of Conflict, Vol. Two, Santa Barbara: ABC-CLIO, LLC, ISBN 9781851096671
  5. ^ There are several accounts that Żółkiewski was sent to relieve the Habsburgs from the very beginning. Iskender Pasha, during his talks with Żółkiewski at Ţuţora, confirmed that was sent to support Bethlen, not to fight the Commonwealth.
  6. ^ Czesław Miłosz (1983). The History of Polish Literature. University of California Press, p. 113.
  7. ^ "Histoire du roi Jean Sobieski et du royaume de Pologne" [History of King John Sobieski and of the Polish Kingdom]. Paris: Didier. 1855.

Further reading

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  • Podhorodecki, Leszek (1978). Stanisław Koniecpolski ok. 1592–1646. Wydawnictwo Ministerstwa Obrony Narodowej, pp. 65–100
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