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Ivan Dmytrovych Sirko ( – August 11, 1680) was a Zaporozhian Cossack military leader, Koshovyi Otaman of the Zaporozhian Host and putative co-author of the famous semi-legendary Cossack letter to the Ottoman sultan that inspired the major painting Reply of the Zaporozhian Cossacks by the 19th-century artist Ilya Repin.
Further, Mytsyik in his book states that Sirko probably was not of Cossack heritage, but rather of the Ukrainians (Ruthenians) Orthodox szlachta. Mytsyik points out that a local Podilia nobleman, Wojciech Sirko, married a certain Olena Kozynska sometime in 1592. Also in official letters the Polish administration referred to Sirko as urodzonim, implying a native-born Polish subject. Mytsyik states that Sirko stood about 174–176 cm tall and had a birthmark on the right side of the lower lip, a detail which Ilya Repin failed to depict in his artwork when he used General Dragomirov as a model of Otaman Sirko. Mytsyik also recalls the letter of the Field Hetman of the Crown John III Sobieski (later king of Poland) which referred to Sirko as:
According to Ivan Sobchenko, Sirko's father was Dmitry Sirko, which correlates with Ivan Sirko's patronymic name (Dmytrovych). Sobchenko states that Dmitry Sirko was a Ukrainian Cossack from Murafa, elected as ataman of Murafa sotnia of the Bratslav regiment. Ivan Sirko was born in nobility before his family lost its right to gentry.
It's generally accepted that Ivan Sirko was of Ukrainians ethnicity. However, Paul Robert Magocsi states in his book that Ivan Sirko was a Ukrainian Cossack of Romanians origin. Sirko's father is identified as a Ukrainian of either Ruthenians or Cossack Orthodox nobility. Sirko's mother is identified as a native of Podolia, but information about her exact ethnic background is scarce, possibly having Romanian origin.
Sirko later joined the Azov garrison which had 700 Zaporozhian Cossacks among them, which later grew to 1,000 Zaporozhians. Zaporozhian and Don Cossacks defended Azov from Ottoman Empire attacks in 1641.
In 1655, Sirko launched a campaign into Crimea to thwart planned Crimean Khanate campaign into Ukraine. Together with the Don Cossacks, he captured Taman Peninsula, an important strategic point that controlled the Kerch Strait. Cossacks kept the Azov Sea locked for two months and the population in terror.
In 1663, together with Tsarist and Kalmyk Khanate troops, he inflicted a heavy defeat on Crimean Khanate and Janissaries during the Siege of Perekop, ravaging many Tatar settlements and taking large number of captives, forcing the Crimean Khanate to reduce their support to Poland-Lithuania. In 1664, he was one of the inspirators of an uprising in Right-bank Ukraine against Poland which is known from his letter to the Tsar.« Исполняя с Войском Запорожским службу вашему царскому пресветлому величеству, я, Иван Серко, месяца января 8 числа, пошел на две реки, Буг и Днестр, где Божиею милостью и предстательством Пресвятой Богородицы и вашего великого государя счастьем, напав на турецкие селения выше Тягина города, побил много бусурман и великую добычу взял. Оборотясь же из-под турецкого города Тягина, пошел под черкасские города. Услыша же о моём, Ивана Серка, приходе, горожане сами начали сечь и рубить жидов и поляков, а все полки и посполитые, претерпевшие столько бед, неволю и мучения, начали сдаваться. Чрез нас, Ивана Серка, обращена вновь к вашему царскому величеству вся Малая Россия, города над Бугом и за Бугом, а именно: Брацлавский и Калницкий полки, Могилев, Рашков, Уманский повет, до самого Днепра и Днестра; безвинные люди обещались своими душами держаться под крепкою рукою вашего царского пресветлого величества до тех пор, пока души их будут в телах» // Яворницкий Д.I. Історія запорозьких козаків. Т. II, 1990, с. 262-263.
Despite his pro-Moscow orientation, he distrusted and hated pro-Russian Hetman Ivan Briukhovetsky, but at the same time married his son Roman to Briukhovetsky's daughter. In 1668, this rivalry even forced Ivan Sirko to switch sides again and briefly join Petro Doroshenko in his fight against "Muscovite and " during Left-Bank Uprising, where he notably fought the Russian Tsarist forces during his campaign, but in 1670, once again Sirko pledged loyalty to the Tsar. Sirko besieged Ochakiv and Izmail, capturing these Ottoman strongholds.
Sirko played an important role in Cossack campaigns and raids against the Crimean Khanate, Nogai Horde and Ottoman Empire. Sirko put emphasis on taking Turks, Tatars and other Muslim peoples as captives during Cossack campaigns and raids. Jews were also recorded to have been targeted by Cossack raids. Captives taken during their campaigns and raids could be used for ransom or sold into slavery to various states. Sirko's campaigns and raids were so problematic, that Mehmed IV issued a firman to the mosques to pray for the death of Ivan Sirko.
Following the death of Demian Mnohohrishny in 1672, Sirko entered the struggle for the Hetman title, but was exiled by the Russian Tsar to Tobolsk, Siberia. However, Mehmed IV took advantage of the absence of Ivan Sirko, in spring the 300,000-strong Ottoman Turkey army crossed the Danube and invaded Podolia. Ottoman Turkey threatened to devastate not only Ukraine, but also the Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth and Tsardom of Russia. Sirko's absence eased the pressure of the Turkish-Tatar aggression to such an extent that they felt permissive.
False son of Tsar Alexi, "Tsarevich" Simeon, came to Zaporozhian Sich in 1673, after the defeat of Razin's Revolt. Simeon told Ivan Sirko, that after he escaped from a plot against him in Moscow, he had joined Stenka Razin's Cossacks and secretly supported their rebellion, before coming to Zaporizhian Sich with Ataman Ivan Miiuska. Thereafter he planned to go in secret to Kyiv, and then to the Polish King. However, Sirko later sent the impersonator to Moscow, where he was executed a year later.Maureen Perrie (2006). Fugitive Tsars and Zaporozhian Cossacks: The Development of a Seventeenth-Century Stereotype. p. 587.
In 1674, when the rivers froze, Turkish-Tatar forces launched a campaign into Ukraine. The campaign was unsuccessful, Turkish-Tatar troops were forced to retreat after suffering heavy losses. Sirko wanted revenge for the attack, this inspired his Crimean campaign in 1675. During the campaign, he sacked the capital of the Crimean Khanate, Bakhchysarai. He freed 7,000 Christian slaves, while taking thousands of Tatars and Turks as captives. However, Sirko discovered that 3,000 of the freed Christian slaves wanted to go back to Crimea, a lot of whom actually converted to Islam, so he ordered their execution. After execution, Sirko is quoted to have said:Rudnytsky, Ivan. L.; Himka, John-Paul (1981). Rethinking Ukrainian History. p. 123.
Despite Sirko's brutality during warfare and towards those he viewed as traitors; Tatars respected him for his fairness during the times of peace. Ivan Samoylovych complained to Otaman Sirko for allowing Tatar herds to graze on Cossack land. Ivan Sirko replied to Samoylovych:
In 1676, the Zaporozhian Cossacks defeated Ottoman Turkey army in a major battle, however, the Ottoman Turkey Sultan Mehmed IV still demanded that the Cossacks submit to Turkish rule. Cossacks led by Ivan Sirko replied in an uncharacteristic manner: they wrote a letter, replete with insults and profanities, which later became the subject of a painting by Ilya Repin. Petro Doroshenko resigned and offered the Hetman's insignia to Sirko, which he accepted.Kohut, Zenon E (2005). Historical dictionary of Ukraine. p. 538.
Sirko launched frequent attacks on Turkish-Tatar forces, which helped to halt Turkish-Tatar advance into Right-Bank Ukraine in 1678. Despite capturing Chyhyryn during the campaign, Turkish-Tatar forces were soon forced to abandon it, after being weakened by the fighting and constant raids of Ivan Sirko.
In 1679, he set out to "scare the entire Crimea". The brave men then devastated a number of settlements and reached as far as Bakhchiserai. The Khan apparently escaped to the mountains. Having freed many prisoners, the Cossacks returned with the loot to Zaporozhye.Leszek Podhorodecki: Sicz zaporoska. Warszawa: Książka i Wiedza, 1978. After a series of defeats suffered by the Turkish-Tatar forces against Zaporozhian Cossacks, Sirko with Cossacks sent a reply to Crimean Khanate Khan Murad Giray. They wrote:
Sirko repelled the second invasion of Sich of Turkish-Tatar army. Later, he fell ill and retired from Zaporozhian Sich to the village of Hrushivka.
Sirko is said to have been elected by the Cossacks as Kosh Otaman at least 12 times. He was the first Cossack Otaman to accept Kalmyk people into his army. In October 1667, Sirko launched a campaign against the Crimean Khanate, during which he sacked Kaffa. He freed 2,000 Christian slaves, while taking thousands of Tatars as captives. This campaign caused so much panic in Crimea that Adil Giray took refuge in Anatolia.
Despite his pro-Moscow orientation, he distrusted and hated pro-Russian Hetman Ivan Briukhovetsky, but at the same time married his son Roman to Briukhovetsky's daughter. In 1668, this rivalry even forced Ivan Sirko to switch sides again and briefly join Petro Doroshenko in his fight against "Muscovite and " during Left-Bank Uprising, where he notably fought the Russian Tsarist forces during his campaign, but in 1670, once again Sirko pledged loyalty to the Tsar. Sirko besieged Ochakiv and Izmail, capturing these Ottoman strongholds.
Sirko became infamous among Turks and Tatars, installing fear. They reportedly named Sirko the "Rus' Devil" (Urus Shaitan), signifying his reputation as an invincible Cossack leader. Polish chronicler Wespazjan Kochowski characterised Sirko the following way:
Author of History of Ruthenians gave the following impression of Sirko:History of Ruthenians. Part 2 (Chapter 5).
Sirko is widely remembered in numerous literary works of Ivan Nechuy-Levytsky, Adrian Kashchenko, Volodymyr Malyk, Mykola Zerov, Borys Modzalevsky, and many others. He is the Urus-Shaitan in Malyk's Ambassador of Urus-Shaitan. Adrian Kashchenko wrote about Sirko:
Sirko’s legacy was also met with controversy and criticism among some Ukrainian historians. Dmytro Doroshenko blamed Sirko for having "unprincipled politics", "demagogic tendencies" and even "absence of rational reasoning" in his actions. That is, blocking actions of Cossack Hetmans to form a Cossack state independent from Tsardom of Russia and Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth. History of Ruthenians gives an extreme assessment of Sirko: "Sirko was a remarkable man and of rare qualities as far as courage, discrimination, and military successes were concerned . . . and yet he was also a Zaporozhian, and therefore a species of clown or madman".Canadian Institute of Ukrainian Studies (1985). Journal of Ukrainian Studies 18. p. 13. However, Ivan Sirko remained an advocate of autonomous Cossack Ukraine, despite changing his political views many times. After a popular book, Iak kozaky voiuvaly (How the Cossacks Fought) was published in 1990, Ivan Sirko began to be viewed in a more positive and idealistic image. According to this book: "the famed Cossack leader was a deeply religious man, an altruistic ascetic who almost never consumed alcohol and was known for his strength, valour, and high moral standards".
During the Ukrainian War of Independence in 1917–1921, the 4th Cavalry Regiment of the Ukrainian People's Army was named after Ivan Sirko.Nigel Thomas, Adam Hook (2014). Armies of the Russo-Polish War 1919–21. p. 16.
In 1979, Soviet dissident Valentyn Moroz made his first public appearance in New York, in a rally for defense of Soviet political prisoners and Ukrainian national rights. During the rally, he told his Ukrainian audience the tale of Otaman Sirko, who executed 3,000 freed captives who wanted to go back to Crimea after Sirko's Crimean campaign. Valentyn Moroz believed the execution was justified, saying: "A true Ukrainian would not remain in the Crimea if given the chance to return to Ukraine."Ukrainian Canadian Students' Union (SUSK). STUDENT 1980 February. p. 9.
In August 2019, the 92nd Separate Mechanized Brigade of the Armed Forces of Ukraine was renamed after Ivan Sirko by a decree of President Volodymyr Zelensky.
Sirko's reply to Ottoman Sultan became extremely popular at the beginning of the Russo-Turkish War (1877–1878). Ilya Repin made one his most famous pieces of artwork, Reply of the Zaporozhian Cossacks, inspired by the reply.
In 1952, KPU's Central Committee's inspector V. Stetsenko informed First Secretary Melnikov that the construction of hydroelectric dam in Nikopol will get Sirko's grave underwater. Stetsenko claimed that Sirko supported Khmelnytsky's policy on "reunion with Great Russia people". Stetsenko also mentioned Sirko's mocking reply to Ottoman Sultan which created a basis for the most popular painting in Ukrainian-Russian history, Ilya Repin's Reply of the Zaporozhian Cossacks. As a result, Soviet authorities moved Sirko's grave to another location in Nikopol. In 1955, they built a small monument to Sirko.
In 2011, David Bolgiano and James Patterson used Ivan Sirko’s reply to Ottoman Sultan in their book as an example of how Zaporozhian Cossacks dealt with "Islamists of the Ottoman Empire" in their clashes and underlined the strong use of language in the letter. This was used as an example to criticise the appeasement and soft approach of U.S. policy in Muslim countries.
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