Petr Kalnishevsky The last koshevoy ataman of the Zaporizhian Sich Date of Birth: 01.01.1691

1. The Last Koshevoy Ataman of the Zaporizhian Sich
2. Early Career and First Election
3. Long Tenure as Koshevoy
4. Rebellion and Arrest
5. Arrested and Imprisoned
6. Release and Legacy

The Last Koshevoy Ataman of the Zaporizhian Sich

Peter Kalnyshevsky, the last Koshevoy ataman (elected leader) of the Zaporizhian Sich, was a nobleman of the Lubny regiment.

Early Career and First Election

In the 1750s, Kalnyshevsky served as an esaul (senior officer) and led the suppression of rebellions in the Bug region. Subsequently, he became the General Judge of the Zaporizhian Sich. In 1762, he was elected Koshevoy for the first time but was overthrown a year later due to unrest among the lower ranks.

Long Tenure as Koshevoy

Re-elected in 1765, Kalnyshevsky served as Koshevoy for an unprecedented decade. During this period, he maintained a stable and prosperous Sich, but also faced challenges from rebellious Cossack factions.

Rebellion and Arrest

In December 1768, a revolt by Cossacks overthrew Kalnyshevsky, forcing him to flee the Sich. However, with the support of Russian troops, he returned to his position.

Arrested and Imprisoned

In 1775, Russian forces surrounded the Sich and arrested the 85-year-old Kalnyshevsky. He was imprisoned in Moscow and subsequently transferred to the Solovetsky Monastery, where he endured 26 years of confinement in a cold, cramped cell.

Release and Legacy

Emperor Alexander I pardoned Kalnyshevsky, who opted to remain at the monastery due to his advanced age and blindness. He died in 1803 at the age of 110.

In 2008, the Ukrainian Orthodox Church of the Kyiv Patriarchate canonized Kalnyshevsky as a righteous saint.