Yuri Nemyrych
Encyclopedia
Yuri Nemyrych (1612–1659) was a Polish-Ruthenian magnate and politician.
, Podolia
in 1612 during the Polish-Lithuanian intervention in Muscovy, the oldest son of wealthy Polish-Lithuanian Anti-Trinitarians
noble family, Klamry coat of arms. His father was a podkomorzy of Kiev
Stefan Niemirycz (died 1630) and his mother was Maria Wojnarowska, (died 1632). He studied at the Racovian Academy
in Raków, Kielce County, then in Leiden, and travelled across Western and Southern Europe, and then back at Leiden. He has shown great interest in politics, evidenced by his work Discursus de bello Moscovitico, written in 1633 and dedicated to his uncle and fellow Polish Brethren Roman Hojski. Upon his return home, Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth
, in 1634, he was already a well-educated lower level magnate and aspiring Polish-Ruthenian politician (gente Ruthenus natione Polonus), and a model noble citizen. He defended the country in the war against Russian aggression (Smolensk War
) and then Sweden (Treaty of Stuhmsdorf). At the end of hostilities he married Calvinist Elżbieta Słupecka, who connected him with them most prominent noble Protestant families of Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth. In 1636 Kiev voivodeship
nobility elected him a judge to the Crown Tribunal
(Trybunał Koronny) in Lublin
. He performance as a judge found him more favour with his electorate, for in 1637 he was elected to the parliament (Sejm
) where he presided for many years. He also became a podkomorzy (chamberlain) of Kiev and exerted significant influence in the Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth politics. He worked to enhance his family fortune,, centred in Horoszki, and through acquisitions and other means his estates grew to include 14 cities and 50 villages with 7600 serfs, so by 1648 he had the second largest domain
in the Ukraine, after the Wiśniowiecki
family.
A Polish Brethren, Niemirycz defended his fellow Arian
s in court and in parliament in the 1640s, and supported a fellow Protestant George II Rákóczi
as candidate for the Polish-Lithuanian throne in 1648, when king Władysław IV Vasa
died in the mist of war. Because of the Cossack Uprising of 1648 he had to evacuate his family to Warsaw, and took limited part in fighting against the rebellious Cossacks and serfs, advocating moderation (along the lines of Kiev voivode Adam Kisiel
). He returned to his estates in 1649 but the massacre of Polish army by the Cossacks and Crimean Tatars at Batoh (Battle of Batih) in 1652 forced him to evacuate again, this time to his estates in Volhynia
. During the Deluge, like many Polish-Lithuanian nobles and magnates (both Catholic and Protestant), he embraced the Swedish invaders in 1655, clearly in hopes of improving the Protestant position in the Commonwealth and reconquering his estates in the Ukrainian palatines. His pleadings for improvement of Polish Brethern cause with the Swedish king Charles X Gustav of Sweden
failed and he eventually switched side to the Cossacks side. He took place in the preparation of the Treaty of Radnot
(partition of the Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth amongst five signatories: Charles X Gustav, György Rákóczi II of Transylvania, Frederick William I, Elector of Brandenburg, Bohdan Khmelnytsky
, and Bogusław Radziwiłł), signed in 1656. In 1657 he moved to Cossack Ukraine and Cossack hetman Khmelnytsky had his estates restored to him. He supported Ivan Vyhovsky
, as Khmelnytsky's successor, and signed in Korsun, jointly with Ivan Bohun
and Ivan Kovalivsky, an agreement between Sweden
and Cossack Hetmanate
in 1657.
During that time, when he envisioned a semi-independent duchy of Ukraine as a new element of Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth and where there was no place for a Polish Brethren statesman, Nemirycz decided to convert to Orthodoxy
and he encouraged his fellow Polish Brethren to do the same in a infamous (Skrypt), Exhortation to all Dissidents from the Romish Religion to Take Refuge in the Bosom of the Greek Church. He was a co-author of the Treaty of Hadiach
, signed in 1658, which established the Duchy of Ruthenia, transforming the Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth into the Polish-Lithuanian-Ruthenian Commonwealth
. He drafted the treaty, and, as the Chancellor
of the Duchy of Ruthenia, headed the Ukrainian delegation to the Polish-Lithuanian parliamentary session for ratification, where it was ratified. In 1659 the Muscovite Tsardom
refused to accept the new Commonwealth and invaded Ukraine, but Russian army was defeated at the battle of Konotop
, but through conspiracies, betrayals, and money Russian achieved the cancellation of Vyhovsky’s hetman position by the Cossacks of "black council", and caused a rebellion of the serfs and pro-Russian Cossacks and these rebels killed Jerzy Niemirycz in a minor engagement, allegedly he was stabbed 70 times in a chest. Thus ingloriously died a statesman, whom Moscow named the greatest heretic and outlaw.
Biography
Jerzy Niemirycz (Ukrainian Yuri Nemyrych) was born in OvruchOvruch
Ovruch is a city in the Zhytomyr Oblast of northern Ukraine. It is the administrative center of the Ovruch Raion . The current estimated population is around 17,000 . It is home to Ovruch air base....
, Podolia
Podolia
The region of Podolia is an historical region in the west-central and south-west portions of present-day Ukraine, corresponding to Khmelnytskyi Oblast and Vinnytsia Oblast. Northern Transnistria, in Moldova, is also a part of Podolia...
in 1612 during the Polish-Lithuanian intervention in Muscovy, the oldest son of wealthy Polish-Lithuanian Anti-Trinitarians
Polish Brethren
The Polish Brethren were members of the Minor Reformed Church of Poland, a Nontrinitarian Protestant church that existed in Poland from 1565 to 1658...
noble family, Klamry coat of arms. His father was a podkomorzy of Kiev
Kiev
Kiev or Kyiv is the capital and the largest city of Ukraine, located in the north central part of the country on the Dnieper River. The population as of the 2001 census was 2,611,300. However, higher numbers have been cited in the press....
Stefan Niemirycz (died 1630) and his mother was Maria Wojnarowska, (died 1632). He studied at the Racovian Academy
Racovian Academy
The Racovian Academy was a school of the Socinian Polish Brethren operating in Raków, Kielce County, Poland 1602-1638, and publisher of the Racovian Catechism in 1605....
in Raków, Kielce County, then in Leiden, and travelled across Western and Southern Europe, and then back at Leiden. He has shown great interest in politics, evidenced by his work Discursus de bello Moscovitico, written in 1633 and dedicated to his uncle and fellow Polish Brethren Roman Hojski. Upon his return home, Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth
Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth
The Polish–Lithuanian Commonwealth was a dualistic state of Poland and Lithuania ruled by a common monarch. It was the largest and one of the most populous countries of 16th- and 17th‑century Europe with some and a multi-ethnic population of 11 million at its peak in the early 17th century...
, in 1634, he was already a well-educated lower level magnate and aspiring Polish-Ruthenian politician (gente Ruthenus natione Polonus), and a model noble citizen. He defended the country in the war against Russian aggression (Smolensk War
Smolensk War
The Smolensk War was a conflict fought between the Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth and Russia.Hostilities began in October 1632 when Tsar forces tried to recapture the city of Smolensk, a former Russian possession. Small military engagements produced mixed results for both sides, but the surrender...
) and then Sweden (Treaty of Stuhmsdorf). At the end of hostilities he married Calvinist Elżbieta Słupecka, who connected him with them most prominent noble Protestant families of Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth. In 1636 Kiev voivodeship
Voivodeship
Voivodship is a term denoting the position of, or more commonly the area administered by, a voivod. Voivodeships have existed since medieval times in Poland, Romania, Hungary, Lithuania, Latvia, Russia and Serbia....
nobility elected him a judge to the Crown Tribunal
Crown Tribunal
Crown Tribunal – was the highest appeal court in the Crown of the Polish Kingdom for most cases, exceptions being the cases were a noble landowner was threatened with loss of life and/or property - then he could appeal to the Sejm court .In 1578 king Stefan Batory created the...
(Trybunał Koronny) in Lublin
Lublin
Lublin is the ninth largest city in Poland. It is the capital of Lublin Voivodeship with a population of 350,392 . Lublin is also the largest Polish city east of the Vistula river...
. He performance as a judge found him more favour with his electorate, for in 1637 he was elected to the parliament (Sejm
Sejm
The Sejm is the lower house of the Polish parliament. The Sejm is made up of 460 deputies, or Poseł in Polish . It is elected by universal ballot and is presided over by a speaker called the Marshal of the Sejm ....
) where he presided for many years. He also became a podkomorzy (chamberlain) of Kiev and exerted significant influence in the Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth politics. He worked to enhance his family fortune,, centred in Horoszki, and through acquisitions and other means his estates grew to include 14 cities and 50 villages with 7600 serfs, so by 1648 he had the second largest domain
Domain
-General:*Territory , a non-sovereign geographic area which has come under the authority of another government*Public domain, a body of works and knowledge without proprietary interest...
in the Ukraine, after the Wiśniowiecki
Wisniowiecki
Wiśniowiecki is the name of a family notable in the history of Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth. They were powerful magnates in Ruthenia of Rurikid or Gediminids descent. The family traditions traces their descend to Gediminids, but modern historians believe there is more evidence for the Rurikid...
family.
A Polish Brethren, Niemirycz defended his fellow Arian
Arian
Arian may refer to:* Arius, a Christian presbyter in the 3rd and 4th century* a given name in different cultures: Aria, Aryan or Arian...
s in court and in parliament in the 1640s, and supported a fellow Protestant George II Rákóczi
George II Rákóczi
György Rákóczi II , a Transylvanian Hungarian ruler, was the eldest son of George I and Susanna Lorantffy....
as candidate for the Polish-Lithuanian throne in 1648, when king Władysław IV Vasa
Władysław IV Vasa
Władysław IV Vasa was a Polish and Swedish prince from the House of Vasa. He reigned as King of the Polish–Lithuanian Commonwealth from 8 November 1632 to his death in 1648....
died in the mist of war. Because of the Cossack Uprising of 1648 he had to evacuate his family to Warsaw, and took limited part in fighting against the rebellious Cossacks and serfs, advocating moderation (along the lines of Kiev voivode Adam Kisiel
Adam Kisiel
Adam Świętołdycz Kisiel was the Voivode of Kiev and castellan or voivode of Czernihów . He was the last Orthodox senator of the Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth...
). He returned to his estates in 1649 but the massacre of Polish army by the Cossacks and Crimean Tatars at Batoh (Battle of Batih) in 1652 forced him to evacuate again, this time to his estates in Volhynia
Volhynia
Volhynia, Volynia, or Volyn is a historic region in western Ukraine located between the rivers Prypiat and Southern Bug River, to the north of Galicia and Podolia; the region is named for the former city of Volyn or Velyn, said to have been located on the Southern Bug River, whose name may come...
. During the Deluge, like many Polish-Lithuanian nobles and magnates (both Catholic and Protestant), he embraced the Swedish invaders in 1655, clearly in hopes of improving the Protestant position in the Commonwealth and reconquering his estates in the Ukrainian palatines. His pleadings for improvement of Polish Brethern cause with the Swedish king Charles X Gustav of Sweden
Charles X Gustav of Sweden
Charles X Gustav also Carl Gustav, was King of Sweden from 1654 until his death. He was the son of John Casimir, Count Palatine of Zweibrücken-Kleeburg and Catherine of Sweden. After his father's death he also succeeded him as Pfalzgraf. He was married to Hedwig Eleonora of Holstein-Gottorp, who...
failed and he eventually switched side to the Cossacks side. He took place in the preparation of the Treaty of Radnot
Treaty of Radnot
Treaty of Radnot was a treaty signed during the Second Northern War in Radnot in Transylvania on 6 December 1656. The treaty divided the Polish–Lithuanian Commonwealth between the signing parties.According to the treaty:...
(partition of the Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth amongst five signatories: Charles X Gustav, György Rákóczi II of Transylvania, Frederick William I, Elector of Brandenburg, Bohdan Khmelnytsky
Bohdan Khmelnytsky
Bohdan Zynoviy Mykhailovych Khmelnytsky was a hetman of the Zaporozhian Cossack Hetmanate of Polish–Lithuanian Commonwealth . He led an uprising against the Commonwealth and its magnates which resulted in the creation of a Cossack state...
, and Bogusław Radziwiłł), signed in 1656. In 1657 he moved to Cossack Ukraine and Cossack hetman Khmelnytsky had his estates restored to him. He supported Ivan Vyhovsky
Ivan Vyhovsky
Ivan Vyhovsky was a hetman of the Ukrainian Cossacks during three years of the Russo-Polish War . He was the successor to the famous hetman and rebel leader Bohdan Khmelnytsky...
, as Khmelnytsky's successor, and signed in Korsun, jointly with Ivan Bohun
Ivan Bohun
Ivan Bohun was a Ukrainian Cossack colonel. Close associate and friend of Bohdan Khmelnytsky, he opposed both the pacts with Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth and with Tsardom of Russia ....
and Ivan Kovalivsky, an agreement between Sweden
Sweden
Sweden , officially the Kingdom of Sweden , is a Nordic country on the Scandinavian Peninsula in Northern Europe. Sweden borders with Norway and Finland and is connected to Denmark by a bridge-tunnel across the Öresund....
and Cossack Hetmanate
Cossack Hetmanate
The Hetmanate or Zaporizhian Host was the Ruthenian Cossack state in the Central Ukraine between 1649 and 1782.The Hetmanate was founded by first Ukrainian hetman Bohdan Khmelnytsky during the Khmelnytsky Uprising . In 1654 it pledged its allegiance to Muscovy during the Council of Pereyaslav,...
in 1657.
During that time, when he envisioned a semi-independent duchy of Ukraine as a new element of Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth and where there was no place for a Polish Brethren statesman, Nemirycz decided to convert to Orthodoxy
Orthodoxy
The word orthodox, from Greek orthos + doxa , is generally used to mean the adherence to accepted norms, more specifically to creeds, especially in religion...
and he encouraged his fellow Polish Brethren to do the same in a infamous (Skrypt), Exhortation to all Dissidents from the Romish Religion to Take Refuge in the Bosom of the Greek Church. He was a co-author of the Treaty of Hadiach
Treaty of Hadiach
The Treaty of Hadiach was a treaty signed on 16 September 1658 in Hadiach between representatives of the Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth and Cossacks...
, signed in 1658, which established the Duchy of Ruthenia, transforming the Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth into the Polish-Lithuanian-Ruthenian Commonwealth
Polish-Lithuanian-Ruthenian Commonwealth
Polish–Lithuanian–Ruthenian Commonwealth was a proposed European state in the 17th century that would replace contemporal Polish–Lithuanian Commonwealth. The creation of a Duchy of Ruthenia was considered at various times, particularly during the 1648 Cossack insurrection against Polish rule in...
. He drafted the treaty, and, as the Chancellor
Chancellor
Chancellor is the title of various official positions in the governments of many nations. The original chancellors were the Cancellarii of Roman courts of justice—ushers who sat at the cancelli or lattice work screens of a basilica or law court, which separated the judge and counsel from the...
of the Duchy of Ruthenia, headed the Ukrainian delegation to the Polish-Lithuanian parliamentary session for ratification, where it was ratified. In 1659 the Muscovite Tsardom
Tsardom of Russia
The Tsardom of Russia was the name of the centralized Russian state from Ivan IV's assumption of the title of Tsar in 1547 till Peter the Great's foundation of the Russian Empire in 1721.From 1550 to 1700, Russia grew 35,000 km2 a year...
refused to accept the new Commonwealth and invaded Ukraine, but Russian army was defeated at the battle of Konotop
Battle of Konotop
The Battle of Konotop or Battle of Sosnivka was fought between a coalition led by the Hetman of Ukrainian Cossacks Ivan Vyhovsky and cavalry units of the Russian Tsardom, led by Semyon Pozharsky and Semyon Lvov, on June 29, 1659 near the town of Konotop, Ukraine, during the Polish-Russian War...
, but through conspiracies, betrayals, and money Russian achieved the cancellation of Vyhovsky’s hetman position by the Cossacks of "black council", and caused a rebellion of the serfs and pro-Russian Cossacks and these rebels killed Jerzy Niemirycz in a minor engagement, allegedly he was stabbed 70 times in a chest. Thus ingloriously died a statesman, whom Moscow named the greatest heretic and outlaw.