A short excursion to history may help to explain the concept "Registered Cossacks" and realize the role of this part of Cossacks in the historic struggle of the Ukrainian people for national liberation.
Historic Reference
| The picture by I. Repin. “The Cossacks of Zaporizhya are writing the letter to the Turkish sultan” |
The Registered Cossacks is a part of the Ukrainian Cossacks which stayed on the state military service. The Cossacks were enlisted to special lists - registers which served as a foundation for the state to define their privileges and rights. The Registered Cossacks didn’t require huge expenses of the state and were always distinguished by their combat ability.
| The monument to Cossacks of Zaporizhya on Khortitsa island |
For the first time the project of creating the Registered Cossacks was put forward in 1524, during Siguizmund the II August, when Ukraine was a part of Rech Pospolitaya. Three hundred of Cossacks were included into the register. Though, the Ukrainian Cossacks had been used by the government for wars even before that, which can be confirmed by mentioning about earlier Cossack registers. The Registered Cossacks were independent of local administration, they were not liable to pay taxes, received other privileges, one of which was the right to own the town Trakhtemirov (with a monastery and lands, spreading to Chiguirin, for winter apartments, arsenals and hospitals). The Registered Cossacks also possessed kleinods.
| The portrait of Ivan Mazepa. An unknown artist. XVII century |
The most outstanding figure in the history of the Registered Cossacks was hetman of Ukraine, the founder of the Ukrainian hetman stateBogdan–Zinovi Mikhailovich Khmelnitski (1595 - 1657). He began his political and military career after the entry in 1618 the hundred of the Registered Cossacks military forces in Chiguirin. He participated in numerous military events and Cossack riots in 20-30s of the XVII century, when he was on diplomatic service. At the beginning of 1646 there took place a secret meeting between Bogdan Khmelnitski and Vladislav the IV Vaza, during which the Polish king promised to increase the Cossack register up to 12 thousand men and to restore the rights and freedoms of Cossacks. With the beginning of liberation straggle under the leadership of Bogdab Khmelnitski the number of the Registered Cossacks, which was a powerful force of the Ukrainian military forces, was defined by necessity and reached 100 thousand men. In the course of the Registered Cossacks to 40 thousand men (according to Zborovski Agreement of 1649) and to 20 thousand men (according to Belotserkovski Agreement of 1651) didn’t prove successful. The March articles, approved by the Moscow Tsar in 1654, provided 60 – thousand register. In the course of time the dependence of Ukraine upon Moscoviya was the main factor that influenced development of the Registered Cossacks. The handover of Pravoberezhny Ukraine by Russia to Poland in 1667 has led to destruction of Pravoberezhny Cossacks. In 1735 the Cossack register in Levoberezhny Ukraine has been limited to 20 thousand elective Cossacks, and on Slobodsky Ukraine in 1700 were kept only 4200 Cossacks. After liquidation in Ukraine in 1782 of a regimental-centesimal building the Registered Cossacks has been cancelled finally.
| The portrait of Bogdan Khmelnitski |
The Registered Cossacks have always been the elite of the Ukrainian people and were distinguished by their education. They have always been the leading force in struggle for independents of Ukraine. The Registered Cossacks often took part in Cossacks – peasants riots, in the national liberation movement of the Ukrainian people.
| The portrait of Severin Nalivaiko |
The outstanding Cossacks military leaders began their way in the Registered Cossacks. They were – Pyotr Sagaidachni, Bogdan Khmelnitski, Severin Nalivaiko, Ivan Vygovski, Ivan Mazepa, Mikhail Doroshenko and others.
In 2002 for the first time in the independent Ukraine the Constituent Great Council regenerated the Ukrainian Registered Cossacks and approved the post of Hetman by its decree. Cossacks elected unanimously to this post a descendant Cossacks, a well-known scientist, Corresponding member of the National Academy of Science of Ukraine, Ph Doctor of Technical Science, Ph Doctor of Theology, rector of the State University of Information Technology and Artificial Intelligence, attached to MES of Ukraine, Anatoliy Ivanovich Shevchenko. The modern Ukrainian Register Cossacks has inherited military traditions, traditions of honour, courage, fidelity to the Government elected by people, disciplines and order.
These traditions have been incorporated at formation of military parts of the Government of the Ukrainian National Republic in 1918 - 1921. We inherit from them the Ukrainian national spirit, belief, feeling of patriotism, love to our famous Native land.
The motto of the old Registered Cossacks was “Keep Honour – Build Glory!”, but the motto of modern Registered Cossacks is “Towards a Powerful State and Prosperity of the Ukrainian People Through Spirituality and Patriotism of Each Person”.