Ivan Samoilovych

Ivan Samoylovych (, , ; died 1690) was the Hetman of Left-bank Ukraine from 1672 to 1687. His term in office was marked by further incorporation of the Cossack Hetmanate into the Tsardom of Russia and by attempts to win Right-bank Ukraine from Poland–Lithuania. Public policy Ivan Samoylovych first rose to prominence during Ivan Briukhovetsky's revolt against Tsardom of Russia. After Briukhovetsky's execution he supported Demian Mnohohrishny as a new hetman and swore allegiance to the Russian Tsar. Securing Mnohohrishny's deposition, he was elected the Hetman of the Left-Bank Ukraine in Konotop on 17 June 1672. In public affairs, the ruler paid great attention to stabilization of internal situation in Ukraine. He took care of the expansion of the Ukrainian Mercenary army - serdiuk (Infantry) and companiskyi (Cavalry) regiments. He also contributed to the strengthening of the state elite. During the years of Samoilovich hetmanship, such a privileged group of the state elite as the Bunchuktovaryshi was introduced. Under subsequent hetmans, they became a source of personnel for public administration. During Samoilovich's rule, Ukrainian lands were officially divided into the Left-bank Ukraine and Right-bank Ukraine of the Dnieper River between the Polish–Lithuanian Commonwealth and the Moscow State (according to the Truce of Andrusovo of 1667). This division did not contribute to development of the country. And so the Right Bank Ukraine remained to be a scene of constant wars of neighboring states. Therefore, the Hetman decided to unite the Ukrainian lands. In 1674 he began a military campaign on the Right-bank Ukraine. The population there suffered from constant struggle and wanted to regain the right to live freely in their homeland. So a significant part of them met the hetman's army without resistance. Moreover, thanks to their support the supporters of the Polish king were unable to defeat Ivan Samoilovich. Petro Doroshenko, the hetman of the Right-bank Ukraine, played a decisive role in this campaign. He voluntarily agreed in 1676 to give up his power in favor of Ivan Samoilovich. Then it was possible to overcome the split in public administration. Hetman's residence of Ivan Samoilovich was located in Baturyn (modern Chernihiv region). And so at that time Baturyn received the status of the only Administrative centre of the Ukrainian Cossack state.