КОЗАЦЬКИЙ ФАКТОР У БОРОТЬБІ МОЛДАВІЇ З ОСМАНСЬКОЮ ІМПЕРІЄЮ У 1574 РОЦІ

The article analyzes the events that took place in Moldavia in 1574 during the reign of John III the Terrible, who, refusing to pay an increased tribute to Porte, angered the sultan and lost his post. At the same time, the successful military actions of the Ukrainian Cossacks gained considerable publicity in Central and Eastern Europe. They came to the aid of hospodar John III Voda in the struggle for liberation from the Ottoman Empire and often took a decisive role in the unequal confrontation with the Turkish-Tatar horde. That is how the events in Moldavia unfolded in 1574 when the hospodar John III the Terrible made an attempt to liberate Moldavia from the Turkish yoke and called on the Ukrainian Cossacks for help. He did not go to Constantinople as Selim II wanted but instead decided to take up arms against the troops sent to overthrow him. Although the chances of defeating the Turks were slim, the army of John III successfully defended itself for a long time. A detachment of Cossacks who arrived in Moldavia from the Polish border under the leadership of hetman I. Sverchevskyi played an essential role in the described events. The Cossacks became one of the most valuable combat units in the army of the Moldavian hospodar. But their fate and defeat were decided by the betrayal of the Moldavian boyars. However, John III the Terrible lost the war, demonstrating what became axiomatic: the international position of Moldavia could be altered only in a favorable international situation and only with the military support of the European powers.