A 1672 engagement near Ladyzhyn revealed the vulnerability of Polish-Cossack forces against Ottoman-aligned Crimean Tatar and Cossack units early in the Polish-Ottoman War.
Key Facts
- Date
- July 18, 1672
- Ottoman-aligned force size
- 9,000 soldiers
- Pro-Polish Cossack force (Khanenko)
- 4,000 soldiers
- Polish reinforcements (Luzecki)
- 2,500 cavalry and dragoons
- Conflict
- Polish–Ottoman War (1672–76)
By the Numbers
Location
Cause → Event → Consequence
During the Polish–Ottoman War of 1672–76, competing Cossack factions backed opposing powers. Petro Doroshenko's Cossacks, allied with the Crimean Tatars and the Ottomans, moved against the pro-Polish Cossack Hetman Mykhailo Khanenko, whose regiment was significantly outnumbered by the 9,000-strong enemy force near Ladyzhyn.
On July 18, 1672, Khanenko's 4,000 troops, reinforced by Castellan Karol Luzecki's 2,500 cavalry and dragoons, engaged the Crimean Tatar and Doroshenko Cossack force near Ladyzhyn. The allied Polish-Cossack army advanced in formation—tabor center, Polish cavalry on flanks, dragoons in the rear—and initially pushed enemy Cossacks back across the Boh River.
After the initial success, the Polish cavalry's continued advance was met by a fierce counterattack from the Ottoman-aligned forces, resulting in heavy Polish losses. The engagement illustrated the difficulty faced by pro-Polish factions in withstanding the combined Crimean Tatar and Doroshenko Cossack pressure during this phase of the war.
Belligerents & Mobilization Analysis
Side A
1 belligerent
Mykhailo Khanenko, Karol Luzecki.
Side B
1 belligerent
Petro Doroshenko (aligned forces).