Battle of Sich (1674)

Battle of Sich
Part of the Ottoman-Cossack Conflict
Date 19 December 1674 Location Zaporozhian Sich Result Cossack victory
Belligerents
Zaporozhian Cossacks	Ottoman Empire Crimean Khanate
Commanders and leaders
Ivan Sirko	Mehmed IV Selim I Giray
Strength
150–350	15,000 40,000
Casualties and losses
50 killed	13,500 killed; 150 captured Heavy

The Battle of Sich took place between the Ottoman-Crimean army and the Zaporozhian Cossacks, during the Ottoman-Crimean campaign into the Sich, at night on 19 December 1674.

Prelude

Sultan Mehmed IV and Khan Selim I Giray planned a campaign into the Sich with the goal of destroying it, thus ending the frequent Cossack campaigns and raids of Ivan Sirko into their lands. 15,000 Ottoman Janissaries and 40,000 Tatars were to take part in the campaign.

Battle

Turkish-Tatar army launched their campaign into the Sich once the rivers froze, at night to avoid getting detected. However, they were noticed by a Cossack named Shevchuk or Chefchika, who alerted his comrades, and made the presence of intruders in the Sich known to the other 150–350 Cossacks, which allowed them to react on time and equip their guns. Cossacks launched an attack on the Turkish-Tatar army, firing at them with muskets from all directions, which put the Turkish-Tatar army into the state of disorganized panic, and wiped out nearly all Ottoman Janissaries as a result. Khan Selim I Giray hastily retreated back to Crimea with remnants of Turkish-Tatar army before the 2,000 Cossack cavalrymen could catch up to them.

Aftermath

13,500 Ottoman Janissaries were killed, 150 captured and Tatars suffered heavy losses. Cossacks suffered 50 killed. After this battle, Ivan Sirko with Cossacks sent a reply to Khan Selim I Giray. They wrote:

We, the Cossack troops of the Sich, would never have conceived the idea of entering upon this war had you not commenced hostilities. You have sent against us (what treachery!) not only your savage Tartars, but also the troops of that old fool, the Sultan. Had it not been for the intervention of our constant friend, the great Lord Jesus — we might all have perished in our sleep! Now, since your disloyal ways have brought upon you disaster — refrain from troubling us. Otherwise, we will treat you after our fashion, and that of our noble Cossack ancestors, by beating down your own gates! We wish your Majesty a long and prosperous reign.

Ivan Sirko wanted revenge for the attack on Sich, this inspired his Crimean Campaign in 1675.