Semen Paliy 3176751 224511111 2008-07-09T04:46:17Z 72.13.143.12 [[Image:Semen Paliy.JPG|thumb|right|Semen Paliy depicted on Ukrainian [[Obolon Raion|Obolon]] beer label]] '''Semen Paliy''' ([[Ukrainian language|Ukrainian]]: Семен Палiй) (circa [[1645]]-[[1710]]) was a [[Ukraine|Ukrainian]] [[Cossack]] [[polkovnyk]] (colonel). Born in [[Chernihiv Oblast|Chernihiv]] region, Paliy settled in [[Zaporizhzhia (region)|Zaporizhia]] at a very young age and gained fame as a brave fighter and [[Zaporozhian Host|Zaporozhian Cossack]]. In [[1685]] Paliy moved to the [[right-bank Ukraine]] and joined the service of Polish king [[John III Sobieski, King of Poland|Jan Sobieski]]. During his years in Polish service, Paliy proved himself as an able Cossack commander in wars against [[Crimean Khanate|Crimean Tatars]] and [[Ottoman Empire|Ottoman Turks]]. Among other military deeds his men successfully raided the Turkish fortress of [[Ochakov]]. In the [[1690s]] Semen Paliy, however, became wary of Polish overlordship of Ukraine and sent several requests to [[Moscow]] asking the Russians to help him free right-bank Ukraine from [[Poland]]. In [[1702]] after new Polish king [[Augustus II of Poland|Augustus II]] disbanded the Cossack militia and signed a peace treaty with Ottoman Turkey, Paliy started an open rebellion against the crown. Together with a number of other Cossack polkovnyks, Paliy and his rebels captured [[Bila Tserkva]], [[Fastiv]], [[Nemirov]] and a few other towns. Rebellious Cossacks massacred Polish [[szlachta]], Catholic priests and Jews in the area they controlled. On [[October 17]], [[1702]] Paliy and his Cossacks defeated the Polish army near the town of [[Berdychiv]], gaining hold over most of [[Podolia]]. Russian Tsar [[Peter I of Russia|Peter I]] and Ukrainian [[hetman]] [[Ivan Mazepa]], who were allied with Poland against [[Sweden]] at the time, ordered Paliy to surrender Bila Tserkva, but he and his men refused. Mazepa convinced Russian Tsar Peter I to allow him to intervene, which he successfully did, taking over major portions of right-bank Ukraine, while Poland was weakened by the invasion of Swedish king [[Charles XII of Sweden|Charles XII]]. Fearing the popularity of Paliy, Mazepa had him exiled to Siberia in [[1705]]. In [[1709]] after Mazepa switched sides and joined the Swedes against Russia, Paliy together with other enemies of Mazepa was freed from exile. During the [[Battle of Poltava]] he fought against Mazepa and Charles XII in the ranks of Cossacks loyal to Russia. After his death Paliy became a [[folk hero]] of many Ukrainian songs and legends. A church in the city of Fastiv (still preserved) was named ''Tserkva Paliya'' after him. Semen Paliy is portrayed in later fictional literature describing his times, most notably in the Cossack series by [[Volodymyr Malyk]]. ==References== *{{ru icon}} [http://www.rulex.ru/01160098.htm Brockhaus-Efron entry] [[Category:1640s births|Paliy, Semen]] [[Category:1710 deaths|Paliy, Semen]] [[Category:History of Ukraine|Paliy, Semen]] [[Category:Ukrainian Cossacks|Paliy, Semen]] [[Category:Cossack rebels|Paliy, Semen]] [[pl:Semen Palej]] [[sv:Semen Palij]] [[uk:Палій Семен]]