European Kingdoms

Beylerbeys of Podolia (Occupied Polish Ukraine)
AD 1672 - 1699

Polish States All Modern States Central Europe Hessian States Saxon States The Rus / Old Russia

It was the grand duchy of Lithuania which incorporated Kyiv into its domains around 1321 (the precise date is uncertain). The former principality was downgraded in 1470 to the voivodeship of Kyiv. Lithuania was also steadily growing ever closer to the kingdom of Poland.

The Union of Kreva (Krewo) had been agreed between Queen Jadwiga of Poland and Grand Prince Jagiello of Lithuania to safeguard both domains. Nearly two centuries later, the Union of Lublin (otherwise referred to as the Accord of Lublin), was a formal joining together of Jagiellan Poland, Lithuania, and Ruthenia (including Kyiv), plus Livonia, Polotsk, and Samogitia. The union was ratified on 4 July 1569 by Sigismund II Augustus, king of Poland and grand duke of Lithuania.

Bringing into practice the terms of the union meant establishing what is generally known as the 'Commonwealth of Poland'. Its region of Podolia, or Kamyanets-Podilsky (Kamieniec Podolski), was occupied by the Ottoman empire in 1672, immediately after the end of the Fourth Austro-Turkish War.

Poland-Lithuania had been weakened by the recent Russo-Polish War regarding control of its Ukraine territories. Its Lithuanian core was occupied by Russian troops for a time, and then Poland itself was almost occupied by Karl X of Sweden. He declared himself 'Protector of the Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth' and opposed the ruling monarch, John Kazimierz.

During this period, regional Ottoman governors were appointed to govern the Podolia region, in today's Moldova and Ukraine. The life expectancy of each holder of the post was relatively short, and territory was generally limited to the fortress of Kamianets, which remained blockaded. Annexation was formalised under the terms of the Treaty of Buchach on 18 October 1672.

(Information by Peter Kessler, with additional information from A History of Poland from its Foundation, M Ross, from The History of the Baltic Countries, Zigmantas Kiaupa, Ain Mäesalu, Ago Pajur, & Gvido Straube (Eds, Estonia 2008), from The Annals of Jan Długosz (English abridged version by Maurice Michael, with commentary by Paul Smith, IM Publications, 1997), from The Formation of Muscovy 1304-1613, Robert O Crummey, and from The Russian Primary Chronicle (Laurentian Text), Samuel Hazzard Cross & Olgerd P Sherbowitz-Wetzor (Eds and translators, Mediaeval Academy of America).)

1672 - 1675/76

First Ottoman beylerbay (governor) of Podolia.

1675/76 - 1677

Ottoman beylerbay of Podolia.

1677

Jan Sobieski is far more successful than his predecessor as king of Poland, Michał Korybut Wisniowiecki, when it comes to the various wars against Poland's enemies, and especially against the Ottomans. Latgallia is now formally made a province of the Polish commonwealth, and is administered as part of Lithuania while remaining a common possession of both nations.

The medieval fortress at Kamianets-Podilskyi in Podolia was under Ottoman control in the seventeenth century

1677 - 1680

Second term of office.

1680 - 1682

Ottoman beylerbay of Podolia. Died 1683.

1682 - 1685

Ottoman beylerbay of Podolia. Died 1686.

1683 - 1684

Jan Sobieski of Poland and Charles V of Lorraine lift the siege of the Austrian capital of Vienna on 12 September 1683, ending Ottoman expansion in Europe by drawing a metaphorical line in the sand. The Ottomans refer to John as the 'Lion of Lechistan', a reference to the widespread Eastern European tradition of referring to Poland as Lechia.

In 1684, modelled after the Treaty of Warsaw, a 'Holy League' is formed by the Papal States to prevent further Ottoman expansion into Europe. This coalition consists of the massed forces of the Holy Roman empire, Poland, Russia, Venice, and Spain.

The janissaries were infantry units which formed the Ottoman sultan's bodyguard and household troops, but they also sometimes played a role in deciding who sat on the throne

1684

Ottoman beylerbay of Podolia. Died 1684.

1685 - 1686

Ottoman beylerbay of Podolia.

1686 - 1688

Ottoman beylerbay of Podolia.

1687

Poland attempts to regain control over Kamianets-Podilskyi and Podolia. The fortress there is besieged unsuccessfully by a Polish force which is under the command of Prince James Louis Sobieski.

1688 - 1689

Ottoman beylerbay of Podolia. Died 1689.

1689 - 1699

Last Ottoman beylerbay of Podolia.

1697

With the death of Jan Sobieski to a heart attack, Poland is joined with Saxony in personal union under Augustus II. This is a union which establishes a precedent which is followed when the grand duchy of Warsaw is established in 1806.

The Battle of Zenta in 1697 was a Habsburg and Holy League success against the Ottoman Turks in the Great Turkish War, with the Europeans being commanded by the brilliant Prince Eugene of Savoy

1699

Under the Terms of the Treaty of Karlowitz of 26 January 1699, the Ottomans agree to hand back Podolia to the Polish crown. They evacuate their forces from Kamienca between 5-22 September. Podolia remains a Polish possession until it is annexed by the Russian empire on 23 January 1793, to be incorporated into Ukraine.