Khotyn Fortress
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| Khotyn Fortress | |
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| Location | Khotyn, Ukraine |
| Nearest city | Khotyn |
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| Established | 1325 |
The Khotyn Fortress (Ukrainian: Хотинська фортеця, Turkish: Hotin Kalesi) is a fortification in Khotyn, Ukraine, located on the shores of the Dniester River in Chernivtsi Oblast (province). The current fortress was started in 1325, and major improvements were made in the 1380s and, later, in 1460s. It is one of the Seven Wonders of Ukraine.[1]
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[edit] History
The Khotyn Fortress's beginning goes back to the Khotyn Fort, which was made in the 10th century by Prince Vladimir Sviatoslavich as one of the border fortifications of the southwest of the Kievan Rus', after he added the land of Bukovina into his control. The fort, which eventually was rebuilt into a fortress, was located on important transportation routes, which connected Scandinavia, Kiev with Ponyzia (lowlands), Podolia and Genoese and Greek colonies on the Black Sea, through Moldavia and Wallachia, on the famous commercial route "From Varangians to the Greeks".
The fortification was located on a rocky territory, created by the tall right hand shore of Dniester and the valley. At first it was just a huge mound of dirt with wooden walls and protective equipment. It was designed to protect the settlement of Khotyn across the river. The first stone construction was rather small. It was located exactly where the northern tower is located today. Throughout the centuries, this fortress underwent many reconstructions and expansions, and was damaged by new conquerors, who would later rebuild it.
At the end of the 11th century Khotyn fortress belonged to Terebovlia principality. During the 1140s the fortress became part of Halych Principality, and in 1199 was part of the Halych-Volhynian Kingdom.
In 1250-1264, Prince Danylo of Halych and his son Lev, rebuilt the fortress. They added a half-meter stone wall and a 6-meter wide moat around the fortress. In the northern part of the fortress, were added new military buildings as well. In the second half of the 13th century, it was rebuilt by the Genoese.
During the 1340s the Fortress was taken by Moldavian prince Dragos, a vassal of the Kingdom of Hungary. After 1375 it was a part of the Principality of Moldavia. Under the rule of Stephen the Great of Moldavia the fortress was greatly expanded. Under his leadership, new 5-6 meter wide and 40 meter high walls were built. He also added three towers and raised the courtyard by 10 meters. The courtyard was divided into Princes' and Soldiers' halves. He also dug deep basements which served as barracks to soldiers. This reconstruction brought the fortress to the structure it has today. During 14th-16th centuries the Fortress served as a residence to Moldavian Princes.
In 1476, the garrison successfully held the Fortress against Turkish army of Sultan Mehmed II. By the end of the 16th century Moldavia became a tributary principality of the Ottoman Empire. A Janissary unit was stationed inside the fortress since then, alongside the Moldavian troops. During this time the Turks expanded and fortified the Fortress.
The Fortress was captured by the Commonwealth forces under the leadership of Great Crown Hetman Jan Tarnowski in 1538. Commonwealth forces undermined the walls of the Fortress, destroyed three towers and part of the western wall. After it was captured, the Khotyn Citadel was renovated between 1540-1544. In 1563 Dmytro Vyshnevetsky with five hundred Zaporozhian Cossacks captured the Fortress and held it for a time.
In 1600 father of Petro Mohyla, Semen, previous ruler of both Moldavia and Wallachia, and his brother Prince of Moldovia Ieremia Movilă, with Polish support, took refuge in the Fortress.[2] They fought a dynastic battle against the forces of Moldavia and Wallachia leaded by Michael the Brave, who was trying to capture it, then took refuge to Poland.
In 1615 the Polish army again captured Khotyn, and in 1620 the city was captured back by the Turkish army.
In September-October 1621, the Commonwealth army under command of Petro Sahaidachny, Yatsko Borodavka (40,000) and hetman Jan Karol Chodkiewicz (35,000) fought the army of Turkish sultan, Osman II (300,000), in the Battle of Khotyn. On October 8, 1621 Osman II signed the Khotyn Peace Treaty, ending the Commonwealth's expansion. The Commonwealth-Ottoman border was confirmed to be the Dniester river (the border of the Principality of Moldova), and the Commonwealth gave control of the Fortress to the Ottomans.[3]
Bohdan Khmelnytsky, came first as an ally of Principalities of Moldova and Wallachia, then occupied the Khotyn Fortress for a period of time in the spring of 1650. In 1653, in the Zhvanets Battle on the left bank of Dniester, a garrison of Turks from Khotyn were fighting in the battle along with the forces of the Principality of Moldova. In November 1673, the Khotyn Fortress was lost by the Turks and Jan Sobieski started to occupy Khotyn with a Polish-Cossack army.[4]
In 1699, the Khotyn Fortress was taken from Poland by Moldavia after the Karlov Peace Treaty. In 1711, Khotyn was again taken over by the Turks.
[edit] Pop culture
The fortress has often been used as a setting for movies. It has represented various French and English castles, historical locations, and fortifications. Most recently, it appeared in a Russian movie Taras Bulba, based on Nikolai Gogol's novel of the same name.[5]
[edit] References
- ^ State historical-architectural reserve "Khotyn Fortress" - Official website of the Seven Wonders of Ukraine
- ^ Petro Mohyla in the online Encyclopedia of Ukraine
- ^ Chocim, 1621 - Muzeum Palac w Wlianowie, (Polish)
- ^ ЖВАНЕЦЬ - History of Zhvanets, (Ukrainian)
- ^ Khotyn - Chocim - Castles and Churches of Ukraine
[edit] External links
- Castles and churches of Ukraine — Khotyn, Chocim
- Khotyn Ancient and Modern — History of the Fortress (Russian)
- Cetatea Hotin — Moldata.com (Romanian)
- Khotyn Fortress — Newspaper article from Shepetivskyi Vistnyk (Ukrainian)
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