Yakym Somko
Encyclopedia
Yakym Somko (born ? in Pereiaslav, died on September 28, 1664), was a Ukrainian Cossack military leader of the Pereyaslav regiment and was the Acting Hetman
of Left-bank Ukraine
in 1660-1663, during The Ruin
.
He was first appointed captain of the Pereiaslav regiment in 1654, and became the acting colonel in 1658. At the Pereiaslav Council of 1660 that that concluded the Treaty of Slobodyshche he was elected colonel of Pereiaslav regiment and acting hetman
of Left-Bank Ukraine. But he strongly opposed the treaty because it restored the union with Poland
, and annulled the Pereiaslav articles, which he favored more of a pro-Russian orientation. Which caused a civil war
between Right-bank Cossacks
who favored a pro-Polish policies, and Left-bank Cossacks
who favored pro-Russian policies. In 1661 he led a revolt against Yuri Khmelnytsky with left-bank regiments, and Zaporozhian otaman Ivan Briukhovetsky
.
During the Russo-Polish War
he fought against the Poles, and the Crimean Tatars
, in order to re-unite all of the Cossack lands under his reign. At first he was a strong supporter of Tsardom of Russia
, but initially withdrew his support because of disagreements, and lack of help on restoring Ukraine
. But Russia started seeking aid with Somko's opponents, in particular with Ivan Briukhovetsky who supported Russian rule, they in turn started accusing Somko of secret negotiations with Khmelnytsky, and Pavlo Teteria
, which caused to delay the final decision of the Cossack starshyna council at Kozelets
in 1662 to recognize his tenure as hetman.
In order to decided on a new hetman, a Chorna rada
took place on June 17–18, 1663 near Nizhyn
, where a cossack council consisting of the starshyna, and a large number of common cossacks elected a new hetman for left-bank Ukraine. The officers proposed him and colonel Vasyl Zolotarenko
of the Nizhyn Regiment
as candidates, but the majority and including the Tsar
supported Briukhovetsky and elected him the new hetman. Both Somko, and Zolotarenko were imprisoned and then were handed over to Briukhovetsky, who had them executed in Borzna
on September 28, 1664.
Acting Hetman
Acting Hetman was a title during the 17th, and 18th centuries, in the Cossack Hetmanate. The acting hetman was the governing authority in the Hetmanate temporarily substituted for the hetman. The acting hetman was appointed by the hetman himself, to perform the duties of the hetman when absent...
of Left-bank Ukraine
Left-bank Ukraine
Left-bank Ukraine is a historic name of the part of Ukraine on the left bank of the Dnieper River, comprising the modern-day oblasts of Chernihiv, Poltava and Sumy as well as the eastern parts of the Kiev and Cherkasy....
in 1660-1663, during The Ruin
The Ruin (Ukrainian history)
The Ruin is a period of Ukrainian history from the death of hetman Bohdan Khmelnitsky in 1657 and until ascension of hetman Ivan Mazepa in 1687. This period is characterised by continuous strife, civil war, and foreign intervention of Ukraine's neighbours...
.
He was first appointed captain of the Pereiaslav regiment in 1654, and became the acting colonel in 1658. At the Pereiaslav Council of 1660 that that concluded the Treaty of Slobodyshche he was elected colonel of Pereiaslav regiment and acting hetman
Acting Hetman
Acting Hetman was a title during the 17th, and 18th centuries, in the Cossack Hetmanate. The acting hetman was the governing authority in the Hetmanate temporarily substituted for the hetman. The acting hetman was appointed by the hetman himself, to perform the duties of the hetman when absent...
of Left-Bank Ukraine. But he strongly opposed the treaty because it restored the union with Poland
Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth
The Polish–Lithuanian Commonwealth was a dualistic state of Poland and Lithuania ruled by a common monarch. It was the largest and one of the most populous countries of 16th- and 17th‑century Europe with some and a multi-ethnic population of 11 million at its peak in the early 17th century...
, and annulled the Pereiaslav articles, which he favored more of a pro-Russian orientation. Which caused a civil war
The Ruin (Ukrainian history)
The Ruin is a period of Ukrainian history from the death of hetman Bohdan Khmelnitsky in 1657 and until ascension of hetman Ivan Mazepa in 1687. This period is characterised by continuous strife, civil war, and foreign intervention of Ukraine's neighbours...
between Right-bank Cossacks
Right-bank Ukraine
Right-bank Ukraine , a historical name of a part of Ukraine on the right bank of the Dnieper River, corresponding with modern-day oblasts of Volyn, Rivne, Vinnitsa, Zhytomyr, Kirovohrad and Kiev, as well as part of Cherkasy and Ternopil...
who favored a pro-Polish policies, and Left-bank Cossacks
Left-bank Ukraine
Left-bank Ukraine is a historic name of the part of Ukraine on the left bank of the Dnieper River, comprising the modern-day oblasts of Chernihiv, Poltava and Sumy as well as the eastern parts of the Kiev and Cherkasy....
who favored pro-Russian policies. In 1661 he led a revolt against Yuri Khmelnytsky with left-bank regiments, and Zaporozhian otaman Ivan Briukhovetsky
Ivan Briukhovetsky
Ivan Briukhovetsky was a pro-Russian hetman of Left-Bank Ukraine from 1663 to 1668. For background see The Ruin...
.
During the Russo-Polish War
Russo-Polish War (1654–1667)
The Russo-Polish War of 1654–1667, also called Thirteen Years' War, First Northern War, War for Ukraine was the last major conflict between Tsardom of Russia and the Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth. Between 1655 and 1660, the Second Northern War was also fought in the Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth,...
he fought against the Poles, and the Crimean Tatars
Crimean Khanate
Crimean Khanate, or Khanate of Crimea , was a state ruled by Crimean Tatars from 1441 to 1783. Its native name was . Its khans were the patrilineal descendants of Toqa Temür, the thirteenth son of Jochi and grandson of Genghis Khan...
, in order to re-unite all of the Cossack lands under his reign. At first he was a strong supporter of Tsardom of Russia
Tsardom of Russia
The Tsardom of Russia was the name of the centralized Russian state from Ivan IV's assumption of the title of Tsar in 1547 till Peter the Great's foundation of the Russian Empire in 1721.From 1550 to 1700, Russia grew 35,000 km2 a year...
, but initially withdrew his support because of disagreements, and lack of help on restoring Ukraine
Ukraine
Ukraine is a country in Eastern Europe. It has an area of 603,628 km², making it the second largest contiguous country on the European continent, after Russia...
. But Russia started seeking aid with Somko's opponents, in particular with Ivan Briukhovetsky who supported Russian rule, they in turn started accusing Somko of secret negotiations with Khmelnytsky, and Pavlo Teteria
Pavlo Teteria
Pavlo Teteria was Hetman of Right-Bank Ukraine .Before his hetmancy he served in a number of high positions under Bohdan Khmelnytsky, and Ivan Vyhovsky....
, which caused to delay the final decision of the Cossack starshyna council at Kozelets
Kozelets
Kozelets is a historic town located in Chernihiv Oblast of northern Ukraine. Kozelets is located on the Oster River, a tributary of the Dnieper. The city's estimated population is 8,305 ....
in 1662 to recognize his tenure as hetman.
In order to decided on a new hetman, a Chorna rada
Chorna rada of 1663
The Chorna rada of 1663 was a Cossack Rada meeting on 17-18 June, 1663 till near Nizhyn, Ukraine. Where thousands of common cossacks, Zaporozhians, Ukrainian peasants, and including the Cossack starshyna where assembled to elect a new Hetman of Left-bank Ukraine...
took place on June 17–18, 1663 near Nizhyn
Nizhyn
Nizhyn is a city located in the Chernihiv Oblast of northern Ukraine, along the Oster River, north-east of the nation's capital, Kiev. It is the administrative center of the Nizhynsky Raion, though the city itself is also designated as a district in the oblast...
, where a cossack council consisting of the starshyna, and a large number of common cossacks elected a new hetman for left-bank Ukraine. The officers proposed him and colonel Vasyl Zolotarenko
Vasyl Zolotarenko
Vasyl Zolotarenko , was a Ukrainian Cossack colonel of the Nizhyn Regiment . He was the younger brother of Ivan Zolotarenko, and his sister Hanna Zolotarenko married hetman Bohdan Khmelnytsky....
of the Nizhyn Regiment
Nizhyn Regiment
The Nizhyn Regiment was one of ten territorial-administrative subdivisions of the Cossack Hetmanate. The regiment's capital was the city of Nizhyn, now in Chernihiv Oblast of central Ukraine. Other major cities of the regiment were Pryluky, Hlukhiv and Baturyn....
as candidates, but the majority and including the Tsar
Tsar
Tsar is a title used to designate certain European Slavic monarchs or supreme rulers. As a system of government in the Tsardom of Russia and Russian Empire, it is known as Tsarist autocracy, or Tsarism...
supported Briukhovetsky and elected him the new hetman. Both Somko, and Zolotarenko were imprisoned and then were handed over to Briukhovetsky, who had them executed in Borzna
Borzna
Borzna , is a historic town in northern Ukraine. It is the administrative center of the Borznyanskyi Raion in the Chernihiv Oblast. The estimated population of the town is around 10,640 .- Location :...
on September 28, 1664.