Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
1554
Some 60 years after Cossacks first appear in the historical record, the fiercest and most fam-
ous band of warriors - the Zaporizhska Sich - sets up on an island in the Dnipro River.
1569
The Union of Lublin builds on existing links to establish the Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth.
This monarchical democracy includes parts of Belarusia, Estonia, Latvia, Russia and Ukraine.
1648
Central Ukrainian Cossacks become weary of foreign rule and, under the leadership of Bohdan
Khmelnytsky, rebel against the Poles.
1654
Cossacks enter into a military alliance with Russia against Poland. The Cossacks form their own
fledgling state - whose initial success is shortlived - called a Hetmanate.
1709
Cossacks seize another chance to throw off the colonial yoke, by joining Sweden in its 'Northern
War' with Russia. But the Battle of Poltava doesn't go their way and victorious Tsarist forces ex-
ecute them.
1772
During the three Partitions of Poland, Russia, Prussia and Habsburg Austria divvy up the
weakened Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth.
1775
As her army moves south, and her lover Grygory Potemkin follows, blithely building film-set vil-
lages, Catherine the Great orders the destruction of the Zaporizhska Sich.
1783
Russia establishes its sovereignty over Crimea by demolishing mosques. Many Crimean Tatars
flee. The Khans' Palace at Bakhchysaray survives because Empress Catherine finds it 'romant-
ic'.
1825
Many of the Decembrists behind a doomed St Petersburg coup hail from Ukraine. The most
famous of the Decembrist wives, Maria Volkonskaya, also has close links to the country.
