Semen Paliy

Semen Palii ) or Semyon Paliy , native surname Hurko (; early 1640s – 24 January / 13 May 1710) was a Zaporozhian Cossack polkovnyk (colonel). Paliy was compared to Ivan Sirko due to his exploits against Crimean Tatars and Ottoman Turks.

Origin

Semen Hurko was born in 1640. in the town of Borzna (now Chernihiv Oblast) in Left-bank Ukraine, then part of Kiev Voivodeship, Polish–Lithuanian Commonwealth.

Career

In 1683, Paliy led a force consisting of 5,000 Zaporozhian Cossacks during Battle of Vienna. In 1685, Paliy moved to Right-bank Ukraine and joined the service of Polish–Lithuanian Commonwealth, under King John III Sobieski. During his years in Polish service, he commanded Bila Tserkva Regiment and proved himself as an able Cossack commander in wars against Crimean Tatars and Ottoman Turks. Paliy had his residence in Fastiv and engaged in organization of Cossack slobodas in the area. Paliy spent the following years in Tobolsk.

In 1709, after Mazepa had switched sides and joined the Swedes against Russia, Paliy together with other enemies of Mazepa was freed from exile. During the Battle of Poltava he fought against Mazepa and Charles XII in the ranks of Cossacks loyal to Russia. After the battle he continued his service in Bila Tserkva Regiment.

Burial

Semyon Paliy died on 24 January or 13 May, 1710 in Kyiv and was buried in the nearby Mezhyhirya Monastery.

Legacy

After his death Paliy became a folk hero of many Ukrainian songs and legends. A church in the city of Fastiv (still preserved) was named Tserkva Paliya after him.

Semyon Paliy is portrayed in later fictional literature describing his times, most notably in the Cossack series by Volodymyr Malyk.