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Antin Andriyovych Holovaty (Template:Lang-ua; Template:Lang-ru, Anton Andreevich Golovaty; 1744 – January 28 [O.S. February 19] 1797) was a Ukrainian military figure, politician and poet who is chiefly remembered for being the founder of the Black Sea Cossack Host.

Biography

Early years

Holovaty was raised and educated at the Kiev-Mohyla Academy, leaving it in 1756 at the age of 12. At the age of 13 in 1757 Holovaty joins the Kushchivsky kurin of the Pidpelnensky Sich. It is suggested that the reason for this was to complete his studies as an officer.

At the beginning of the 1760's Holovaty was chosen to become the Otaman of the kurin which helped raise his social standing. By 1764, because of his education he received the rank of colonel and was elevated to the position of Military secretary. In that year, as part of the Zaporozhian delegation headed by koshovy Fedoriv, Holovaty travelled to Petersburg as a delegate at the coronation of Russian Empress Katherine II. The trip left a profound impression on him and he received a silver medal from her.

Holovaty understood that the demise of the Zaporozhian Sich was being proposed in Petersburg. He put forward a plan to re-organize the Sich and associated lands in a manner similar to how the Don Cossack Host had been recently reformed in order to somehow conserve it. This project was forwarded for consideration to Katherine II and Grigory Potemkin however it was not accepted. The Russian government had already made the decision to destroy the Zaporozhian Sich. Holovaty's plan however, became known to the old Zaporozhians, and as a result of these political moves he lost his credibility.

Destruction of the Sich

With the destruction of the Zaporozhian Sich in 1775, many of the more senior Cossacks were repressed by the Russian government. Holovaty was able to sidestep these repressions because of the rank of Captain which he was awarded to him by the Emperess during his trip to Petersburg. Holovaty retired from the Cossack Host and for a short time put his energies into building up his own farming properties and finances.

After the dissolution of the Zaporozhian Host, a new threat to the Russian Empire began to grow from the Ottoman Empire This threat was strengthened by the exiled Zaporozhian Cossacks who had continued their lifestyle and had formed the Danubian Sich under the protectorate of the Sultan.

Russo-Turkish War (1787–1792)

In 1787 Holovaty returned to active duty. In that year he helped organize the Army of Loyal Cossacks, who later became known as the Black Sea Cossack Host and Holovaty was placed as its Otaman (Commander)..

During the Russian-Turkish War of 1787-91, Holovaty gave invaluable assistance to the Russian Army, particularly in capture of Berezan fortress, gaining the Empress's favour. Holovaty had the rank of Captain in the Russian Cavalry. .

Settlement in the Kuban (1792 - )

As a reward for their crucial role in the Russo-Turkish War (1787–1792), the Russian Empress rewarded the Zaporozhian Cossacks with the Kuban territory in the North Caucasus, an uninhabited steppe region which became a foothold for the Russian expansion into the Caucasus. In 1788 the Host was renamed the Black Sea Cossack Host and a total of 25,000 people made the migration in 1792-93, settling on the regions north of the Kuban River.

Holovaty was the head of the Host. He set his priorities in forming a new defense line against Circassian raids. (see Caucasus War). During the Persian campaign of 1796-97 he commanded two corps of Black Sea Cossacks within the Russian Imperial Army.

Cultural figure

Holovaty was a renowned poet in his day. To his pen are dedicated a number of poems some of which became songs in the Ukrainian language. It is known that Taras Shevchenko noted some down and included them in his kobzar. Shevchenko originally mentioned Holovaty in a number of his poems, however his name was edited out by P. Kulish in reflection of Holovaty's pro-Russian actions.

The frequently quoted lines often acreditted to Taras Shevchenko: Nasha duma, nasha pisnia, (Our dumas, our songs) Ne vmre ne zahyne, (Will not die nor perish) Ot de liudy nasha slava, (Here is where our glory lies) Slava Ukrainy! (The glory of Ukraine)

were originally edited by P. Kulish from Shevchenko's original: Nash chubaty Holovaty, (Our hairy-headed Holovaty) Ne vmre, ne zahyne, (Will not die nor perish) Ot de liudy nasha slava, (Here is where our glory lies) Slava Ukrainy. (The glory of Ukraine)

Shevchenko also drew a portrait of him.

Because of his noble education he was also well versed in music and was an accomplished bandura player.

Notes

1. V.Golubtsky Black Sea Cossack Host for the Large Soviet Encyclopedia Retrieved on 22nd April 2007.

Sources

Encyclopedia of the Ukrainian Cossacks - Published by the Zaporizhia State University

• 1732 births
• 1797 deaths
• Bandurists
• Cossacks