Ivan Pidkova

 ( 1578 Deaths ) 

Ivan Pidkova () or Ioan Potcoavă (died 16 June 1578), also known as Ioan Crețul, and Nicoară Potcoavă among Romanians, was a prominent Cossack Ataman, and short-time ruler of Moldavia (November–December 1577). His moniker (" pidkova" in Ukrainian/" potcoavă" in Romanian – "horseshoe") is said to originate in the fact that he used to ride his stallions to the point of breaking off their horseshoes; another version says that he could break and unbend both horseshoes and coins with his fists. He is perhaps best known as the hero of Ukraine's bard Taras Shevchenko's poem Ivan Pidkova (1840). Celebrated as a Ukrainian hero he led the Moldavian and Ukrainian struggle against Turkish domination. Most notably, led his famous Moldavian campaign in November 1577, due to which he temporarily took power in Moldavia.

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Biography His ethnic origins are not known, but he is generally regarded as of Ukrainians ethnicity.

William Jay Risch (2025). 9780674050013, Harvard University Press. . ISBN 9780674050013

However, Paul Robert Magocsi states he was a Ukrainian Cossack of Romanians origin.

Paul R. Magocsi (1996). 9780802078209, University of Toronto Press. . ISBN 9780802078209

More broadly, Pidkova was a "Cossacks Otaman who led the Moldavian and Ukrainian struggle against the Turks."

Linda Hodges (1994). 9780781801355, Hippocrene Books. . ISBN 9780781801355

After rising to prominence as a successful soldier, he became a leader ( Ataman) and the sworn brother of Hetman Yakiv Shah, elected by the Cossacks of the Registered Zaporozhian Host from Ukraine neighbouring Moldavia.Firov. Hetmans of Ukrainian Cossacks. Sevastopol, 2005. П.Т.ФИРОВ "ГЕТМАНЫ УКРАИНCКОГО КАЗАЧЕСТВА" Биографические справки, Севастополь 2005 In 1574, Ioan Vodă cel Cumplit, whose brother Pidkova claimed to be, had named the territory "Our Country from over the Dniester". Other Moldavian Atamans and Hetmans of the Cossacks were Grigore Lobodă ( Hryhoriy Loboda; 1593–1596) and Danylo Apostol ( Danylo Apostol; 1727–1734).

Pidkova was one of the so-called Domnișori ("Little Princes"), named so because of a more or less based claims of belonging to Moldavian ruling families, thus exercising demands of the throne. Claiming to be Ioan III Vodă's half-brother, he together with Hetman Yakiv Shah chased Peter the Lame from the throne and resisted the first wave of violent Ottoman Empire reaction. The Turks, their vassal Mihnea Turcitul and their Transylvania vassal and Polish partner, King Stefan Báthory, managed to remove him. In the end, Pidkova was taken prisoner by Poles and Decapitation in Lviv.

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Legacy

He is the hero of Taras Shevchenko's Romanticism 1839 poem Ivan Pidkova, in which, Shevchenko "lets his mind travel over the Ukrainian past," expressing his admiration for the Ukrainian Cossacks. Among other works dedicated to the otaman is Romanians writer Mihail Sadoveanu's socialist realist 1952 novel Nicoară Potcoavă, as well as several Cossack . His monument is placed on one of the small central squares in Lviv, Ukraine.

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Sources

• Grigore Ureche,

Categories: 1578 Deaths, Zaporozhian Cossacks, Hetmans Of The Zaporozhian Cossacks, Zaporozhian Cossack Nobility, Monarchs Of Moldavia, Moldavia, People Executed By Poland By Decapitation, Executed Ukrainian People, Year Of Birth Unknown, 16th-century Monarchs In Europe, 16th-century Ukrainian People, 16th-century Military Officers, Ukrainian Military Leaders, Ukrainian Folklore, Ukrainian Legends, Cossack Rebels, Ukrainian People Of Romanian Descent, Executed Monarchs, 16th-century Moldavian People

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