Ochakiv-Aslan Campaign

Ochakiv-Aslan Campaign
Part of the Cossack raids
Date April 1660 Location Ochakiv, Aslan-Kermen, Ottoman Empire Result Cossack victory
Belligerents
Zaporozhian Cossacks Don Cossacks	Ottoman Empire Crimean Khanate Nogai Horde
Commanders and leaders
Ivan Sirko	Silistria Pasha Nurredin-Sultan
Strength
10,000 [1] 5,000 Sirko's "Hunter" Cossacks	Unknown 80,000+ [2]
Casualties and losses
Unknown	Heavy [3] [4]

The Ochakiv-Aslan Campaign or Ochakov-Aslan Campaign was carried out by the Zaporozhian-Don Cossacks against the Ottoman-Crimean-Nogai forces, before easter in 1660. ^[3]

Prelude

In spring 1660, Khan Mehmed IV Giray made a promise to King John II Casimir about sending 80,000-strong Tatar army in a joint campaign against the Cossack Hetmanate and Tsardom of Russia. During the same spring, Nurredin-Sultan reported to have arrived to Ochakiv with the Crimean-Nogai army. Sultan Mehmed IV the feared Cossack raids, so he ordered Silistria Pasha to go to Arslan-Kermen city, to block Cossack access through the Dnieper. ^[2] Sirko discovered Ottoman plans and organised a campaign to disrupt this. ^[5]

Campaign

Ivan Sirko led 5,000 of his "Hunter" Cossacks, which were specialized in operations against Turkish-Tatar forces. In total, there were 10,000 Cossacks, including Don army. ^{[3] [6]} Sirko led his Cossacks to Ochakiv. ^[7] This is where the main Turkish-Tatar army was concentrated. Other Cossacks were sent to storm Aslan-Kermen. These units were preparing to assist Poland-Lithuania. Cossacks attacked at the same time and took the Turkish-Tatar forces by surprise. ^[4] Cossacks killed or captured many Turks and Tatars. After this, Cossacks returned to the Sich with many Turkish-Tatar captives. ^{[3] [4]}

Aftermath

After the successful campaign, Cossacks sold the Turkish-Tatar captives into slavery to Pereiaslav and other Ukrainian cities. ^[3] The Turkish-Tatar army remained near Ochakiv and Budjak without making any major incursions for 5 months. Polish-Lithuanian authorities didn't even give any orders, which further angered Khan Mehmed IV Giray. ^[4] Some of the Turkish-Tatar units split from the main army and launched their own raids, which wasn't opposed by their command. One of these was a 390-strong Tatar detachment that was defeated by Sirko's Cossacks while returning from the raid. ^[8]

References

1. Апанович 1961, p. 153.
2. Апанович 1961, p. 150.
3. Ivan Sergeevich Sobchenko (2020). Kosh Otaman of Zaporozhian Sich I.D. Sirko (in Russian). Moscow: Ваш формат. p. 72.
4. Апанович 1961, p. 152.
5. "ЧОРНЕ МОРЕ ЩЕ ВСМІХНЕТЬСЯ, ДІД ДНІПРО ЗРАДІЄ". spas.net.ua. Retrieved 2025-02-08.
6. Апанович 1961, pp. 152–153.
7. Коляда, І.А. (2012). Отаман Сірко (in Ukrainian). Folio. p. 26. ISBN   978-966-03-5804-1.
8. Апанович 1961, p. 151.

Bibliograhpy

• Апанович, О. М. (1961). Запорізька Січ у боротьбі проти турецько-татарської агресії (in Ukrainian). Київ: Вид-во АН УРСР.