Battle of Zahal
1649 battle
The Battle of Zahal was fought between the Zaporozhian Host and the Crimean Khanate against the Polish–Lithuanian Commonwealth as a part of the Khmelnytsky Uprising on 17–18 June 1649. Near the site of the present-day town of Zahal in Belarus, the combined forces of the Zaporozhians and Tatars under the command of Polkovnyk Illia Holota were defeated by the Polish–Lithuanian Commonwealth's forces under the command of Hetman Władysław Wołłowicz, Walerian Falencki, Jan Donowaj and Samuel Smólski.
Background
The Zaporozhian and Tatar forces numbered around 3,000 men, the core of which was part of the Kaniv Regiment and Tatar cavalry, while the rest were rebellious Ukrainian peasants. The Polish–Lithuanian troops numbered approximately 1,550 men and were commanded by Hetman Władysław Wołłowicz. The Zaporozhians and Tatars got through by the boats to Krasnasiellie on the Prypiat and then continued by land.
Battle
On 17–18 June 1649, the Zaporozhian-Tatar attacked the Polish–Lithuanian forces, which were camped near the village of Zahal. The Polish–Lithuanian forces were unexpectedly reinforced by the troops of Hrehore Mirski, numbering around 150 dragoons and 200 German mercenary infantry. Thanks to the relief attack on the rear of the Zaporozhian and Tatars, the Polish–Lithuanian forces from the camp in Zahal were able to enter the field and soundly defeat the Zaporozhian-Tatar force.
Casualties
Polkovnyk Illia Holota died in combat while the total Zaporozhian and Tatar casualties reached up to 1,600 men.
On the Polish–Lithuanian side, casualties amounted to around 216 men.
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