Chyhyryn


Chyhyryn is a city and historic site located in the Cherkasy Oblast of central Ukraine. From 1648 to 1669 the city was a Hetman residence. After a forced relocation of the Ruthenian Orthodox metropolitan see from Kiev in 1658, it became a full-fledged capital of the Cossack Hetmanate. Chyhyryn also became a traditional place for the appointment to the office of Hetman of Zaporizhian Host. Chyhyryn serves as administrative center of Chyhyryn Raion.

Names

Chyhyryn or Chigirin Czehryń, Turkish: Çigirin or Çehrin.

Location

The city on the banks of Tiasmyn River is the administrative center of the Chyhyryn Raion. The city lies at an altitude of 124 metres above mean sea level. Minor industries, such as food and furniture factories, are the basis of the town economy in the 21st century.

History

The area had been part of the Grand Duchy of Lithuania. It was ceded to the Polish–Lithuanian Commonwealth before the Union of Lublin. It was granted Magdeburg Rights in 1592 by Sigismund III Vasa.
. A fragment of the Tractus Borysthenis Vulgo Dniepr at Niepr dicti map by Joannii Janssonii
Chyhyryn is first mentioned as a fortified Cossack winter station. In 1638, Bohdan Khmelnytsky became its starosta, and in 1648 it became the newly elected Hetman's residence and the capital of the Cossack state, the Zaporozhian Host. During the Russo-Turkish War it was the center of two bloody campaigns. In 1678 the castle of Chyhyryn was blown up by the retreating Russian garrison that was stationed there, while the Turkish forces sacked the rest of the city. After this, it gradually lost its significance. It remained the center of the Chyhyryn regiment until 1712 and upon the final incorporation into the Russian Empire it became part of the Kiev region.
In 1917 a congress of Free Cossacks took place in Chyhyryn. At that congress by tradition Pavlo Skoropadsky was elected as the Hetman of the Cossacks.
During World War II, Chyhyryn was occupied by the German Army from August 7, 1941 to December 12, 1943.
In 1989 the population of the city was 12 853 people.

Notable people

The Trinity Monastery, built near Chyhyryn in 1627, was later destroyed by the Soviet authorities. Other historical landmarks, such as the town hall and Khmelnytsky's palace, did not survive either. After Ukraine regained independence, Hetman's residence was restored and became a museum.

Gallery

International relations

Twin towns — Sister cities

Chyhyryn is twinned with: