Yakym Somko
Yakym Somko | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Native name | |
| Born | c. 1610s Pereiaslav,Polish–Lithuanian Commonwealth |
| Died | September 28, 1664 Borzna,Nizhyn Regiment,Cossack Hetmanate |
| Cause of death | Decapitationandstabbing |
| Allegiance |  Zaporozhian Host(to 1660)Left-bank Ukraine |
| Years of service | 1648-1664 |
| Rank | Colonel,Sotnyk,Hetman |
| Battles/wars | Khmelnytsky Uprising Russo-Polish War (1654-1667) The Ruin |
| Spouse(s) | Iryna Semenivna Somko |
| Children | Halyna Somko, Paraskeva Somko, Vasyl Somko |
| Signature |  |
Yakym Somko(Ukrainian:ІоакимСомко,modernUkrainian:Яким Сомко) (c.1610s inPereiaslav– September 28, 1664), was aUkrainian Cossackmilitary leaderof thePereiaslav regimentand was theActing HetmanofLeft-bank Ukrainein 1660-1663, duringThe Ruin.
He was first appointed captain of the Pereiaslav regiment in 1654, and became the acting colonel in 1658. At the Pereiaslav Council of 1660 that concluded theTreaty of Slobodyshchehe was elected colonel of Pereiaslav regiment andActing Hetmanof Left-Bank Ukraine. But he strongly opposed the treaty because it restored the union withPoland,and annulled the Pereiaslav articles, which he favored more of a pro-Russian orientation. Which caused acivil warbetweenRight-bank Cossackswho favored a pro-Polish policies, andLeft-bank Cossackswho favored pro-Russian policies. In 1661 he led a revolt againstYurii Khmelnytskywith left-bank regiments, andZaporozhianotamanIvan Briukhovetsky.
During theRusso-Polish Warhe fought against the Poles, and theCrimean Tatars,in order to re-unite all of the Cossack lands under his reign. At first he was a strong supporter ofTsardom of Russia,but initially withdrew his support because of disagreements, and lack of help on restoringUkraine.But Russia started seeking aid with Somko's opponents, in particular with Ivan Briukhovetsky who supported Russian rule, they in turn started accusing Somko of secret negotiations with Khmelnytsky, andPavlo Teteria,which caused to delay the final decision of the Cossackstarshynacouncil atKozeletsin 1662 to recognize his tenure as hetman.
In order to decide on a new hetman, aChorna radatook place on June 17–18, 1663 nearNizhyn,where a cossack council consisting of the starshyna, and a large number of common cossacks elected a new hetman for left-bank Ukraine. The officers proposed him and colonelVasyl Zolotarenkoof theNizhyn Regimentas candidates, but the majority and including theTsarsupported Briukhovetsky and elected him the new hetman. Both Somko, and Zolotarenko were imprisoned and then were handed over to Briukhovetsky, who had them executed inBorznaon September 28, 1664.
Legacy
[edit]Yakym Somko is the central character in a novelBlack Council(1846) byPanteleimon Kulish.
