Grigory Romodanovsky

Grigory Grigoryevich Romodanovsky (Russian: Григорий Григорьевич Ромодановский) was a controversial figure of the Russian foreign policy as a member of the Razryadny Prikaz, playing a key role in pursuing leaders of the Ukrainian Cossack officers into the union with the Muscovy state. During the Russo-Polish war, he was a leading Russian general of Tsar Alexis's reign who promoted the Tsar's interests in Ukraine.

His birth date is unknown. In 1653, he participated in the Zemsky Sobor. During the Russo-Polish War, he took part in the campaign against Galicia with the Zaporozhian Cossacks, where he captured many towns. His first major achievement was the capture of Chortkiv. After this, he and the Cossacks forced the Polish army to retreat beyond Lviv and fought them near the village of Horodok. His troops achieved a decisive victory and after that captured many cities like Bar, Gusyatin, Zinkov, Krasnopillya and others. During the capture of Lublin, parts of the Life-giving Cross of the Lord were captured as war trophies. In November, the commander again fought the Poles at Ozerna, but this time such a victory did not follow. He soon had to lift the siege of Lvov, as he received news of another Crimean invasion.

Romodanovsky learned that Vyhovsky had launched a rebellion and was sent to suppress it. He suffered a defeat at Nizhyn, but soon he repelled Vyhovsky's forces from Kyiv. Ultimately, he won a decisive victory over the Cossacks at Varva. As result, his invasion was successful. In 1659 he captured by siege fortress Borzna and decisive defeated enemy troops at Nizhyn. Soon after these victories, By this victories Romodanovsky crushed the uprising of Vyhovsky.

In 1662, he again had to suppress the Cossacks, this time under the Ukrainian Hetman Yuri Khmelnytsky, who had recently defected after his defeat at Chudnov. Romodanovsky defeated him in several battles, like Kaniv and Lubny, but suffered a defeat in crossing of Dnieper at Buzhyn. He defeated Ivan Bohun in battle of Kremenchuk and Zhovnin

The Poles conceived a large-scale plan to invade Ukraine and then march on Moscow. Romodanovsky learned that the enemy had crossed the Dnieper and had already captured many important cities. They were unable to take Glukhov, where Romodanovsky's forces had arrived. He fought the Poles in several battles and was soon recalled to Belgorod.

In 1668, another betrayal occurred on the part of the Cossacks, this time by Bryukhovetsky. In his new campaign, he was tasked with liberating the left bank against the best Cossack commanders of the time. In march of 1668, Sirko organised an armed revolt on Sloboda Ukraine and was on the march, with majority of Cossacks siding with him, but as soon as Romodanovsky prepared to set off against him, he abandoned the cities he had captured and withdrew to Dnieper Ukraine. In the end of the same month, his army laid siege on the settlement of Kotelva. In June of 1668, he was attacked by Petro Doroshenko, who was allied with the Crimean troops. He was able to repel the attacks and withdraw to the Russian territory, although being forced to lift the siege of Kotelva. Months later, he reappeared at Nizhyn with an army, defeated the Cossacks and lifted the siege. He advanced and, on September 17, defeated Ivan Samoylovych and forced him to lift the siege of Chernihiv. However, in October, a large Tatar army led by Kalga-sultan entered the Left-bank Ukraine. Knowing about the Crimean offensive, he started withdrawing to Putyvl, while leaving an armed detachment led by his son Andrey, which on October 10, was defeated near Gaivoron. Next day, the Allies attacked Romodanovsky at Konotop but he managed to avoid a rout, thus achieving a victory. His successes eventually forced Mnohohrishny to enter a peace talks with the Russians, ending the armed resistance in the Left bank.

The Russians faced a formidable adversary: the Turks, who sought to protect their vassal, Doroshenko. In 1674, Romodanovsky marched into Ukraine and achieved success, defeating the Cossacks in several battles and laying siege to Chyhyryn. However, as the Turkish army under Pasha Kara Mustafa arrived and routed the Cossacks at Ladyzhyn, Romodanovsky was forced to withdraw beyond the Dnieper.

In 1676, while the Turks were fighting the Poles, Russian troops defeated Doroshenko's brother at Lysianka and besieged Chyhyryn. Doroshenko received no aid from the Turks, who were preoccupied with the war, and was forced to surrender. The Right Bank was captured. But the Turks were unwilling to give up their lands, so in 1677 a large Turkish army under Shaitan Ibrahim Pasha advanced and besieged a Russian-Cossack garrison in Chyhyryn. To lift the siege, Romodanovsky had set off with an army and in the end of August, he started crossing the Dnieper the Buzhyn carriage, where he encountered the Ottomans and Tatars. His troops managed to decisively defeat the Turks and force them to withdraw from Chyhyryn. After their victory, they began to restore Chyhyryn's fortifications. Despite the success, he failed to completely rout the Ottoman army, and the following year, the Turks marched on Chyhyryn, led by Grand Vizier Kara Mustafa Pasha himself. They began the siege of Chyhyryn. Meanwhile, Romodanovsky crossed the Dnieper and, in battles near the Chyhyryn Heights, although not immediately, defeated Kara Mustafa's commander and occupied them. However, Mustafa destroyed the bridges, hindering his crossing. Thus, Romodanovsky could not decide on a decisive battle, as crossing in full view of the Turks was impractical. He was forced to simply watch the Turks take Chyhyryn and begin a retreat.