Stefan Kunicki

Stefan Kunicki ( or Степан Куницький; 1640–1684) was a Ruthenian military commander and Cossack Hetman of Right-bank Ukraine. He was also a member of the Polish–Lithuanian Szlachta nobility.

Biography

Kunicki's origin is unknown, also as his youth and beginning of military career. When Kunicki was coming back from Warsaw to Czechryń (currently known as Chyhyryn), he was captured by the men of Ivan Samoylovych. Kunicki was detained until November 1674 when he was released after the intervention of the new Polish king Jan III Sobieski. to rescue his nephews and other relatives from Turkish captivity. Nonetheless, Kunicki did not fear a Turkish or Tatar invasion of Nemyriv.

On 4 December 1678 colonel Hawryło Nehrebecki captured Nemyriv. It isn't known if Kunicki left town before the arrival of Nehrebecki or if he stayed for some time after 4 December. and he was sentenced to death and executed. The infantry and cavalry proclaimed Mohyła as the new hetman.