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83-537: Khotyn, first chronicled in 1001, is located on the right (southwestern) bank of the Dniester River, and is part of the historical region Bessarabia . Important architectural landmarks within the city include the Khotyn Fortress , constructed in the 13-15th centuries (new fortress started in 1325, major improvements in the 1380s and 1460s), and two 15th century constructions by Moldavia's ruler Stephen

166-601: A union with Romania . Romania and Austria signed a peace treaty in May 1918, and the Austrians withdrew from the area. The treaty was not formally ratified by Romania, a former Entente ally which found itself isolated, until on November 10 Romania re-entered the war. Shortly after that, in January 1919, local Ukrainians desiring to be part of Ukraine, started a revolt, which was also exploited by some Soviet agitators, followed by

249-777: A German ally, the area was retaken by Romania in early July 1941. In March 1944, with the defeat of the Axis forces , the town was retaken by the Soviets, and reattached to Soviet Ukraine. With the collapse of the Soviet Union and the Declaration of Independence of Ukraine in 1991, Khotyn became a part of newly independent Ukraine . In 2000, the Cabinet of Ministers of Ukraine created the historical-architectural preserve "Khotynska Fortetsia" ( Khotyn Fortress ). In September 2002,

332-623: A conspiracy against the emperor, he spent fourteen months in jail in Prague in 1610 and 1611. He died at his Bohemian estate. Sigismund was the son of Christopher Báthory and his second wife, Elisabeth Bocskai. He was born in Várad (now Oradea in Romania) in 1573, according to the Transylvanian historian, István Szamosközy . At the time of Sigismund's birth, his uncle, Stephen Báthory ,

415-459: A young nobleman who lived in Istanbul , offered to double the tribute and to pay an additional tax of 100,000 florins if he was made the ruler of Transylvania. The Grand Vizier , Koca Sinan Pasha , supported Márkházy's claim. Taking advantage of the situation, Murad demanded the same payments from Sigismund, but Stephen Báthory and the " Three Nations of Transylvania " resisted. After receiving

498-661: Is most famous for its fortress complex. Khotyn contains a Jewish cemetery , indexed by the U.S. Commission for the Preservation of America's Heritage Abroad . A church built in the fortress grounds was later converted to a mosque by the Turks. Dniester The Dniester ( / ˈ n iː s t ər / NEE -stər ) is a transboundary river in Eastern Europe . It runs first through Ukraine and then through Moldova (from which it more or less separates

581-485: The Sejm (or general assembly) on 14   August 1587. Five days later, the assembly elected Sigismund III Vasa king. During the ensuing war of succession , Transylvanian troops supported Sigismund   III against Maximilian of Habsburg , who had also laid claim to Poland and Lithuania. Sigismund's cousins, Balthasar and Stephen Báthory , returned from Poland to Transylvania. Balthasar wanted to take charge of

664-884: The Dniester Liman . Along the lower half of the Dniester, the western bank is high and hilly while the eastern one is low and flat. The river represents the de facto end of the Eurasian Steppe . Its most important tributaries are Răut and Bîc . During the Neolithic , the Dniester River was the centre of one of the most advanced civilizations on earth at the time. The Cucuteni–Trypillian culture flourished in this area from roughly 5300 to 2600 BC, leaving behind thousands of archeological sites. Their settlements had up to 15,000 inhabitants, making them among

747-850: The Holy League against the Ottoman Empire . Since he could not convince the Diet to support his plan, he renounced the throne in July 1594, but the commanders of the army convinced him to revoke his abdication. At their proposal, he purged the noblemen who opposed the war against the Ottomans. He officially joined the Holy League and married Maria Christina of Habsburg , a niece of the Holy Roman Emperor , Rudolph II . The marriage

830-524: The Principality of Halych and its successor, Halych-Volhynia . The town was an important trading center due to its location by a river crossing. A Genoese trading colony was established there by the 13th century. Khotyn was first mentioned in 1310, as a residence of a catholic bishop, being held in the first half of the 14th century by the Kingdom of Poland , which intended to impose Catholicism on

913-642: The Roman Catholic bishopric in Gyulafehérvár . He sent envoys to Italy to demand the supreme command of a new Christian army, but his delegates at Istanbul started negotiations regarding a reconciliation with the sultan. The failure of his marriage and the defeats of the Holy League diminished Sigismund's self-confidence. He sent his envoys to Rudolph   II and again offered to abdicate in September 1597. An agreement regarding his abdication

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996-594: The Russo-Turkish War , the fortress was taken by Russian field marshal Burkhard Christoph von Munnich on August 19, 1739. This victory is remembered primarily through the Ode on the Taking of Khotyn from the Turks , composed by the young Mikhail Lomonosov . This ode has a place in the history of Russian literature: its sonorous iambic verse is often taken as a starting point of the modern Russian poetry . Khotyn

1079-732: The Soviet Union . In 1919, on Easter Sunday , the bridge was blown up by the French Army to protect Bender from the Bolsheviks . During World War II, German and Romanian forces battled Soviet troops on the western bank of the river. After the Republic of Moldova declared its independence in 1991, the small area to the east of the Dniester that had been part of the Moldavian SSR refused to participate and declared itself

1162-486: The grand vizier was planning to occupy Transylvania. At the proposal of Jan Zamoyski , Chancellor of Poland , Sigismund sent envoys to Elizabeth I of England , asking her to intervene on his behalf at the Sublime Porte . She ordered her ambassador at Istanbul , Edward Barton , to support Sigismund. Pope Clement VIII wanted to persuade Sigismund to join the Holy League that the pope had organized against

1245-572: The 19th century, due to economic reasons and the Russian policy of colonization and russification , the Ukrainian population of Bessarabia (especially in its north) increased significantly, from around 15,000 in 1810 to around 200,000 in 1917 (of which over half in the northern half of the Hotin county alone), mostly by migration from Podolia (just across the river Dniester ). During World War I ,

1328-647: The Black Sea shore. The navigation near the western shore of Black Sea contained stops at Aspron (at the mouth of Dniester), then Conopa, Constantia (localities today in Romania ) and Messembria (today in Bulgaria). From the 14th century to 1812, part of the Dniester formed the eastern boundary of the Principality of Moldavia . Between the World Wars, the Dniester formed part of the boundary between Romania and

1411-573: The Brave 's conquest of Moldavia in May 1600, its ruler Ieremia Movilă took refuge in the Fortress of Khotyn together with his family, a handful of faithful boyars, and the former Transylvanian Prince, Sigismund Bathory . As the Moldavian state's power was weakened by that of the Ottoman Empire , the latter sought to gain control of the strategic river crossing. As a result, Hotin's later history

1494-521: The Brave and his Székely allies in autumn. Michael the Brave administered Transylvania as Rudolph   II's governor, but his rule was unpopular among the noblemen, especially because of the pillaging raids made by his unpaid soldiers. As early as 9   February 1600 Sigismund announced that he was ready to return to Transylvania. Moses Székely , a commander-in-chief during Michael the Brave's campaign against Moldavia in May, deserted Michael and came to Poland to meet Sigismund. The elected leader of

1577-627: The Diet in Medgyes (now Mediaș in Romania) on 21   March 1599. Eight days later, the Diet proclaimed Andrew Báthory prince, hoping that Andrew could make peace with the Ottomans with the assistance of Poland. Sigismund left Transylvania for Poland in June. His marriage with Maria Christierna was declared invalid in Rome in August. Andrew Báthory lost his throne and his life fighting against Michael

1660-573: The Good , with the help of Vytautas the Great of Lithuania. After 1433, it was occupied by Poland, due to wars between Alexander's successors, and was reconquered from the Poles by Stephen the Great of Moldavia in 1459 after a two-year siege. The fortress, strengthened by Stephen, during the 15th century, became the strongest on the northern border of the medieval Moldavia. During Wallachian ruler Michael

1743-677: The Great : the Prince 's Palace ( Palatul Domnesc ) and the city's clock tower . Historically, the town was part of the Kievan Rus' and the Galicia–Volhynia Principality (from its foundation to 1359), Principality of Moldavia , and the Polish–Lithuanian Commonwealth . For most of the period after 1514, Moldavia was a vassal of the Ottoman Empire , which also ruled Khotyn directly (1711–1812). Subsequently, it

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1826-525: The Holy League in Prague on 28   January 1595. According to the treaty, Rudolph   II recognized Sigismund's hereditary right to rule Transylvania and Partium and to use the title of prince, but he also stipulated that the principality was to be re-united with the Hungarian Crown if Sigismund's family died out. The Diet of Transylvania confirmed the treaty on 16   April. The Diet also prohibited religious innovations, which gave rise to

1909-538: The Holy League together with Aaron the Tyrant, voivode of Moldavia , and Michael the Brave , voivode of Wallachia , on 5   October 1594. The two voivodes had started direct negotiations with the Holy See, but Sigismund, who claimed suzerainty over them, prevented them from conducting further direct negotiations. Sigismund's envoy, Stephen Bocskai, signed the document that confirmed the membership of Transylvania in

1992-728: The Holy Roman Empire , Count of the Székelys and Lord of Parts of the Kingdom of Hungary ". Sigismund married Maria Christina of Habsburg , a niece of Rudolph   II, on 6   August. However, the marriage was never consummated . Sigismund accused Margit Majláth  [ Wikidata ] (who was the mother of his executed cousin, Balthasar Báthory) of witchcraft, causing his impotence . Historian László Nagy notes that Sigismund's contemporaries made no reference to his relationship with women, showing that Sigismund

2075-725: The Ister (lower Danube ), and formed part of the boundary between Dacia and Sarmatia. It fell into the Pontus Euxinus to the northeast of the mouth of the Ister, the distance between them being 900 stadia – approximately 210 km (130 mi) – according to Strabo (vii.), while 210 km (130 mi) (from the Pseudostoma ) according to Pliny (iv. 12. s. 26). Scymnus (Fr. 51) describes it as of easy navigation, and abounding in fish. Ovid ( ex Pont. iv.10.50) speaks of its rapid course. Greek authors referred to

2158-641: The Ottoman Empire. After Rudolph's troops defeated the Ottomans in a series of battles in the autumn of 1593, Sigismund decided to join the Holy League, provided that Rudolph acknowledged the independence of Transylvania from the Hungarian Crown . However, the delegates of the Three Nations refused to declare war against the Ottoman Empire at three consecutive Diets between May and July. Sigismund abdicated, tasking Balthasar Báthory with

2241-520: The Ottoman Empire. He renounced Transylvania in favor of Andrew Báthory and settled in Poland in 1599. During the following years, Transylvania was regularly pillaged by unpaid mercenaries and Ottoman marauders. Sigismund returned at the head of a Polish army in 1601, but he could not strengthen his position. He again abdicated in favor of Rudolph and settled in Bohemia in June 1602. After he was accused of

2324-730: The Polish frontier. The Turks, following their victory in the Battle of Cecora , had high hopes of conquering Polish controlled Ukraine . The Polish–Lithuanian Commonwealth commander Jan Karol Chodkiewicz crossed the Dniester in September 1621 with approximately 35,000 soldiers and entrenched the Khotyn Fortress, blocking the path of the Ottoman march. The arrival of 40,000 Ukrainian Cossack forces under their hetman Petro Konashevych

2407-885: The Pridnestrovian Moldavian Republic, or Transnistria , with its capital at Tiraspol on the river. In Moldova, the Dniester Day ( Romanian : Ziua Nistrului ) is celebrated every year in the last Sunday of May. From source to mouth, right tributaries , i.e. on the southwest side, are the Stryi (231 km or 144 mi), Svicha  [ uk ] (107 km or 66 mi), Limnytsia  [ de ] (122 km or 76 mi), Bystrytsia (101 km), Răut (283 km or 176 mi), Ichel  [ ro ] (101 km or 63 mi), Bîc (155 km or 96 mi), and Botna (152 km or 94 mi). Left tributaries, on

2490-413: The Transylvanian noblemen, István Csáky, sought assistance from Rudolph   II's military commander, Giorgio Basta , against Michael. Basta invaded Transylvania and expelled Michael the Brave in September. Basta's unpaid soldiers regularly pillaged the principality, while Ottoman and Tatar marauders made frequent incursions across the frontiers. Sigismund returned to Transylvania across Moldavia at

2573-408: The Tyrant , Voivode of Moldavia . The sultan also ordered Sigismund to pay double the amount of the yearly tribute. Balthasar Báthory murdered Sigismund's secretary, Pál Gyulai , on 10   December 1592. He also persuaded Sigismund to order the execution of Gálffy on 8   March 1593. That summer, Sigismund went to Kraków in disguise to start negotiations regarding his marriage with Anna ,

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2656-633: The age of seven. His mother mocked him for his piety, saying that he only wanted to secure his uncle's goodwill. Sigismund was especially hostile towards the Anti-Trinitarians in his youth. His mother died in early 1581. Christopher Báthory fell seriously ill after his wife's death. At his request, the Diet of Transylvania elected Sigismund voivode in Kolozsvár (present-day Cluj-Napoca in Romania) around 15   May 1581. Since Sigismund

2739-581: The arrival of the Transylvanian and Moldavian troops. Since the Ottoman army outnumbered the forces at Sigismund's disposal, he proposed the Székely commoners (who had been reduced to serfdom in the 1560s) to restore their freedom if they joined his campaign against the Ottomans. The Székelys accepted his offer, enabling Sigismund to launch a counter-invasion in Wallachia in early October. The united forces of Transylvania, Wallachia, and Moldavia defeated

2822-482: The breakaway territory of Transnistria ), finally discharging into the Black Sea on Ukrainian territory again. The name Dniester derives from Sarmatian dānu nazdya "the close river." (The Dnieper , also of Sarmatian origin, derives from the opposite meaning, "the river on the far side".) Alternatively, according to Vasily Abaev Dniester would be a blend of Scythian dānu "river" and Thracian Ister ,

2905-449: The city celebrated its 1,000 year anniversary. Until July 18, 2020, Khotyn served as an administrative center of Khotyn Raion . The raion was abolished in July 2020 as part of the administrative reform of Ukraine, which reduced the number of raions of Chernivtsi Oblast to three. The area of Khotyn Raion was merged into Dnistrovskyi Raion. In the first Battle of Khotyn in 1621, an army led by Osman II , advanced from Adrianople towards

2988-504: The city of Turka , close to the border with Poland, and flows toward the Black Sea . Its course marks part of the border of Ukraine and Moldova , after which it flows through Moldova for 398 kilometres (247 mi), separating the main territory of Moldova from its breakaway region Transnistria . It later forms an additional part of the Moldova-Ukraine border, then flows through Ukraine to the Black Sea, where its estuary forms

3071-430: The commander of the army, Mehmed, convincing him to attack Várad instead of breaking into Transylvania proper. All of Sigismund's attempts to make peace with the sultan failed. He sent his envoys to Prague to negotiate with Rudolph   II, while his confessor, Carillo, started negotiations with Jan Zamoyski in Poland. At Sigismund's invitation, his cousin, Andrew Báthory, returned from Poland. Sigismund abdicated at

3154-479: The customary tribute from Transylvania, the sultan again confirmed Sigismund's rule in November 1581. Stephen Báthory who took charge of Sigismund's education confirmed the position of his Jesuit tutors, János Leleszi and Gergely Vásárhelyi. According to Szamosközy, Stephen Báthory also ordered Sigismund's companions to talk of foreign lands, wars, and hunting with him during their dinners together. He reorganized

3237-465: The debate Kendi referred to Sigismund and Balthasar as the "two monsters and greatest disasters of the Transylvanian realm". Pope Clement VIII 's legate, Attilio Amalteo, mediated a reconciliation between Sigismund and his cousins in the summer of 1592. The pope also urged Sigismund to marry a Catholic princess from the House of Lorraine . At the demand of the sultan, Transylvania troops assisted Aaron

3320-427: The end of the long period of Moldavian Magnate Wars . In 1673, the Polish hussars again fought a major battle on this site ( second Battle of Khotyn ). This time Polish forces under the command of soon-to-be-king Jan Sobieski defeated the Ottomans on November 11, 1673. In this battle, rockets of Kazimierz Siemienowicz were successfully used. This brilliant victory was a prelude to the Battle of Vienna 1683. In

3403-651: The expulsion and massacre of Ukrainian rebels and collaborators during the rebellion by the Romanian authorities from January 23 to February 1, 1919. After the Khotyn Uprising was put down by the Romanian Army , Romania implemented policies aimed at the re-Romanianization of the territory. At this time, the population was approximately 35,000. The city remained under Romanian control until June 28, 1940, when along with Bessarabia and Northern Bukovina it

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3486-443: The expulsion of the Jesuits. Sigismund's cousin, Cardinal Andrew Báthory , urged the pope to lift the ban, saying that the prince's Protestant advisors had forced him to throw out the priests. The pope authorized Sigismund to employ a confessor in May 1589, and the excommunication was revoked on Easter 1590. Sigismund made several attempts to strengthen the position of the Roman Catholic Church, especially by appointing Catholics to

3569-475: The first large farming communities in the world. In antiquity, the river was considered one of the principal rivers of European Sarmatia , and it was mentioned by many Classical geographers and historians. According to Herodotus (iv.51) it rose in a large lake, whilst Ptolemy (iii.5.17, 8.1 &c.) places its sources in Mount Carpates (the modern Carpathian Mountains ), and Strabo (ii) says that they are unknown. It ran in an easterly direction parallel with

3652-409: The following day, Bocskai convoked the Diet to his military camp at Szászsebes (now Sebeș in Romania), and the delegates proclaimed Sigismund prince. Most Transylvanians accepted the decision, but György Király, the deputy captain of Várad, remained loyal to Rudolph   II. In September an Ottoman army invaded the principality, capturing the fortresses along the Maros. Sigismund sent his envoys to

3735-513: The fortress from Moldavia in 1713 during the Great Northern War and held it during the following century as a base for its troops. Another power, Russian Empire , came to claim the region in the 18th century. The Turks amplified and enlarged the citadel, which was besieged and taken by the Russians on four occasions: in 1739 by Burkhard Christoph von Munnich , in 1769 by Prince Alexander Galitzine , in 1788 by Prince Josias of Coburg , and Ivan Saltykov, in 1807 by Ivan Ivanovich Michelson . With

3818-457: The government in late July. Balthasar wanted to seize the throne, but Kovacsóczy, Kendi, and the other leading officials decided to set up an aristocratic council to administer Transylvania. The commanders of the army (including Stephen Bocskai), and Friar Carillo jointly convinced Sigismund to return on 8   August. They also persuaded him to order the arrest of Kovacsóczy, Kendi, Balthasar Báthory, and twelve other noblemen who had opposed

3901-422: The government on 3   May 1583, charging Sándor Kendi , Farkas Kovacsóczy , and László Sombori with the administration of Transylvania during Sigismund's minority. The Diet suggested to Stephen Báthory that he dismiss them, but he only dissolved the council on 1   May 1585. He replaced the three councillors with the devout Calvinist János Ghyczy , making him regent for Sigismund. Sigismund adopted

3984-451: The government, making his court at Fogaras (present-day Făgăraș in Romania) the center of those who opposed Ghyczy's rule. Kovacsóczy, the chancellor of Transylvania , remained neutral in the conflict. In October 1588 the Diet proposed to declare the sixteen-year-old Sigismund of age if he banished the Jesuits from Transylvania. He did not accept the offer, mainly because he did not want to expel his confessor, Alfonso Carillo. The Diet

4067-407: The government. The Székelys tried to secure their freedom, but Bocskai repressed their movement with extraordinary cruelty during the " Bloody Carnival " in early 1596. Rudolph II promised Sigismund to send reinforcements and money to continue the war against the Ottomans. Sigismund returned to Transylvania on 4   March. He laid siege to Temesvár (now Timișoara in Romania), but he lifted

4150-485: The head of a Polish army on 24   March 1601. The Diet proclaimed him prince in Kolozsvár on 3   April. Basta and Michael the Brave invaded Transylvania in summer. They routed Sigismund's army in the Battle of Goroszló on 3   August 1601. After the battle, Sigismund fled to Moldavia, but he returned on 6   September. The sultan's envoy confirmed Sigismund's position as Prince of Transylvania in Brassó (now Brașov in Romania) on 2   October. At

4233-475: The head of an army which also included Ottoman and Tatar soldiers, Sigismund expanded his rule over most regions of the principality, but he could not capture Kolozsvár in late November. He started new negotiations with Basta over his abdication in March 1602, because he did not trust his own supporters. He referred to them as "intoxicated and brutish sons of a bitch" and asked István Csáky to help him to leave their camp on 2   July. He left Transylvania for

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4316-709: The highest positions of state administration. Carillo and other Jesuit priests returned to Sigismund's court in disguise in early 1591. Sigismund met Andrew and Balthasar Báthory in August to seek their support for the legalization of the Jesuits' presence, but they refused to stand by the priests at the Diet. Sigismund dispatched his favorite, István Jósika , to Tuscany to start negotiations regarding his marriage to Eleonora Orsini (a niece of Ferdinando I de' Medici ), although his cousins had sharply opposed Jósika's appointment. He also invited Italian artists and artisans to his court, making them his advisors or butlers. Szamosközy described them as "the trashiest representatives of

4399-409: The last time on 26   July 1602. Basta's soldiers accompanied Sigismund to Tokaj . Before long, he went to Prague to beg for Rudolph   II's mercy. He received the incolatus (or the right to own lands in Bohemia) in 1604. After the Diet of Transylvania proclaimed Stephen Bocskai prince in February 1605, Rudolph tried to persuade Sigismund to return to Transylvania, but he did not accept

4482-407: The local Vlach (Romanian) communities, mentioned there in the 10th-13th centuries. The first fortifications date back from this period. In 1351, the Grand Duchy of Lithuania conquered the area, only to give it three years later to the Romanians , who formed their own independent principality in 1359, Moldavia . The present-day fortress was constructed after 1400 by the Moldavian ruler Alexander

4565-524: The noblest nation". The delegates of the "Three Nations" criticized Sigismund for his prodigal way of life at the Diet in Gyulafehérvár in November. To reduce his authority, the Diet prescribed that Sigismund should only make decisions in the royal council. Sigismund deprived his cousins of the allowances that the royal treasury had paid to them. Gossip about conspiracies spread during the following months. Sándor Kendi accused Sigismund's former tutor, János Gálffy, of deliberately stirring up debates between

4648-445: The north-eastern corner of the Hotin county was the only area of Bessarabia occupied temporarily by Austria-Hungary . With the collapse of the Russian Empire, Bessarabia proclaimed independence from Russia as the Moldavian Democratic Republic in 1917. The Austrians were in control of Khotyn and several surrounding villages for several months starting February 28, 1918. In April 1918 the Moldavian Democratic Republic formally proclaimed

4731-853: The northeast side, are the Strwiąż (94 km or 58 mi), Zubra , Hnyla Lypa (87 km or 54 mi), Zolota Lypa (140 km or 87 mi), Koropets (78 km or 48 mi), Strypa (147 km or 91 mi), Seret (250 km or 160 mi), Zbruch (245 km or 152 mi), Smotrych (169 km or 105 mi), Ushytsia  [ uk ] (122 km or 76 mi), Zhvanchyk  [ de ] (107 km or 66 mi), Liadova  [ uk ] (93 km or 58 mi), Murafa (162 km or 101 mi), Rusava  [ uk ] (78 km or 48 mi), Yahorlyk  [ uk ] (73 km or 45 mi), and Kuchurhan (123 km or 76 mi). Sigismund Bathory Sigismund Báthory ( Hungarian : Báthory Zsigmond ; 1573 – 27 March 1613)

4814-444: The offer. The ambassadors of Venice and Spain and the emperor again tried to convince him to lay claim to Transylvania in July 1606, but Sigismund refused, saying that he had no information about the affairs of his former principality. In December he again met Rudolph in Prague, but still resisted the emperor's offer. Sigismund received the domain of Libochovice in Bohemia. After one of his employees accused him of plotting against

4897-399: The persecution of Szekler Sabbatarians in Udvarhelyszék . The Wallachian boyars and prelates recognized Sigismund's suzerainty over Wallachia on behalf of Michael the Brave in Gyulafehérvár on 20   May 1595. According to the treaty, Michael was forbidden to enter into an alliance with foreign powers without Sigismund's approval. The voivode's right to sentence his boyars to death

4980-430: The previous name of the river, literally Dān-Ister (River Ister). The Ancient Greek name of Dniester, Tyras (Τύρας), is from Scythian tūra , meaning "rapid." The names of the Don and Danube are also from the same Indo-Iranian word *dānu "river". Classical authors have also referred to it as Danaster. These early forms, without - i - but with - a -, contradict Abaev's hypothesis. Edward Gibbon refers to

5063-401: The prince and his cousins. Other courtiers claimed that Balthasar Báthory was planning to dethrone Sigismund. A Jesuit priest was informed at Vienna that Gálffy and his allies wanted to murder the prince and his cousins. In late 1591 Sigismund stated that he was willing to renounce in favor of Balthasar if the members of the royal council favored his cousin. His offer was refused, but during

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5146-486: The retreating Ottoman army in the Battle of Giurgiu on 25   October. Although the victory was not decisive, the battle enabled the two voivodes to maintain their alliance with the Holy League. Ignoring the Székely warriors' preeminent role during the war, the Diet of Transylvania refused to restore their freedom on 15   December. Sigismund left for Prague to start negotiations with Rudolph   II in early January 1596, tasking his wife and Stephen Bocskai with

5229-424: The river as Tyras ( Greek : ὁ Τύρας ). At a later period it obtained the name of Danastris or Danastus , whence its modern name of Dniester (Niester), though the Turks still called it Turla during the 19th century. The form Τύρις is sometimes found. According to Constantine VII , the Varangians used boats on their trade route from the Varangians to the Greeks , along Dniester and Dnieper and along

5312-454: The river both as the Niester and Dniester in his History of the Decline and Fall of the Roman Empire . In Ukrainian , it is known as Дністе́р ( translit. Dnister ), in Romanian as Nistru , in Russian as Днестр ( translit. Dnestr ), in Polish as Dniestr , in Yiddish as Nester נעסטער; in Turkish as Turla ( Ottoman Turkish : طورلا ، طورله ), and in Lithuanian as Dniestras . The Dniester rises in Ukraine , near

5395-500: The siege when an Ottoman army of 20,000 strong approached the fortress. The Ottoman Sultan Mehmed III invaded Royal Hungary in summer. Sigismund joined his forces with the royal army, which was under the command of Maximilian of Habsburg. However, the Ottomans routed their united army in the Battle of Mezőkeresztes between 23 and 26 October. Sigismund again went to Prague to meet Rudolph   II and offered to abdicate in January 1597. After he returned to Transylvania, he restored

5478-445: The sister of Sigismund   III of Poland. The Holy See had proposed the marriage, which could have enabled Sigismund to rule Poland during the absence of the king, who was also King of Sweden , but the plan came to nothing. Murad III declared war against the Holy Roman Emperor , Rudolph in August. The sultan ordered Sigismund to send reinforcements to support the Ottoman army in Royal Hungary . According to diplomatic sources,

5561-416: The sole regent in 1585. Sigismund adopted the title of prince after Stephen Báthory died. The Diet proclaimed Sigismund to be of age in 1588, but only after he agreed to expel the Jesuits . Pope Sixtus V excommunicated him, but the ban was lifted in 1590, and the Jesuits returned a year later. His blatant favoritism towards the Catholics made him unpopular among his Protestant subjects. He decided to join

5644-429: The start of the Russo-Turkish War in 1806, the Hotin Fortress was taken by the Imperial Russian Army and passed to Russia . With the signing of the Bucharest Peace Treaty in 1812 , the entire region that became known as Bessarabia was annexed by the Russian Empire from Moldavia. From 1812 to 1918, Hotin was the administrative center of the Hotin County , one of the twelve, later nine counties of Bessarabia. During

5727-446: The title of Prince of Transylvania after Stephen Báthory died on 13 December 1586. He was still a minor, and Ghyczy continued to rule as regent. Sigismund was one of the candidates to the throne of the Polish–Lithuanian Commonwealth . His advisors knew that he had little chance to win, but they wanted to demonstrate that the Báthorys had a valid claim to rule the Commonwealth. Kovacsóczy officially announced Sigismund's application at

5810-436: The war against the Ottomans on 28   August, accusing them of plotting. Sándor and Gábor Kendi were beheaded along with two other members of the royal council; Balthasar Báthory, Kovacsóczy, and Ferenc Kendi were strangled in prison. All but one murdered noblemen were Protestants, mostly Unitarians . Many of their relatives converted to Catholicism to prevent the confiscation of their estates. Sigismund decided to join

5893-469: Was Prince of Transylvania several times between 1586 and 1602, and Duke of Racibórz and Opole in Silesia in 1598. His father, Christopher Báthory , ruled Transylvania as voivode (or deputy) of the absent prince, Stephen Báthory . Sigismund was still a child when the Diet of Transylvania elected him voivode at his dying father's request in 1581. Initially, regency councils administered Transylvania on his behalf, but Stephen Báthory made János Ghyczy

5976-663: Was occupied by the Soviet Union . In August 1940 most of Bessarabia became the Moldavian Soviet Socialist Republic of the Soviet Union; however, Northern Bukovina and the area around Khotyn were attached to the Ukrainian Soviet Socialist Republic as Chernivtsi Oblast and the southernmost part of Bessarabia ( Budjak ) became the Akkerman (later Izmail) Oblast . After Operation Barbarossa , where Romania acted as

6059-551: Was also limited. The Diet of Transylvanian was authorized to impose taxes in Wallachia with a council of twelve boyars. After Aaron the Tyrant refused to sign a similar treaty, Sigismund invaded Moldavia and captured him in Iași . He made Ștefan Răzvan the new voivode on 3   June, forcing him to swear fealty to him. Thereafter, Sigismund styled himself " By the Grace of God , Prince of Transylvania, Wallachia and Moldavia, Prince of

6142-546: Was conquered and controlled by many different states, resulting in many name changes. Other name variations include Chotyn , or Choczim (especially in Polish). Khotyn, located on cliffs above the Dniester , is sometimes conflated with a sound-alike locality mentioned in 1001, a minor settlement of Kievan Rus' . Archaeological excavations found that the Kievan town covered the area of some twenty hectares. It later became part of

6225-455: Was dissolved, but Sigismund's cousins convinced him not to resist the Diet, which was dominated by Protestant delegates. The Diet was again summoned in late 1588; on 8   December it ordered the expulsion of the Jesuits and declared Sigismund to be of age. Sigismund took the customary oath of the Transylvanian monarchs on 23   December 1588. Pope Sixtus V excommunicated him for

6308-410: Was dominated by wars between the expanding Christian powers (first Poland, then Russia) and the expanding Ottoman Empire . The Turks suffered two decisive defeats at Khotyn in the 17th century, at the hands of the army of the Polish–Lithuanian Commonwealth : in 1621 by Hetman Jan Karol Chodkiewicz , and again in 1673 by Jan III Sobieski (see: Battles below). The Ottoman Empire finally seized

6391-541: Was helpful in that anti-Ottoman victory. The Commonwealth hetman held the sultan at bay for a whole month, until the first snow of autumn compelled Osman to withdraw his diminished forces. But the victory was also dearly purchased by Poland: a few days before the siege was raised, the aged grand hetman died of exhaustion in the fortress on September 24, 1621. The Commonwealth forces held under the command of Stanisław Lubomirski . The battle, described by Wacław Potocki in his most famous work Transakcja wojny chocimskiej , marked

6474-510: Was homosexual. György Borbély, Ban of Karánsebes , captured Lippa (now Lipova in Romania) and other Ottoman fortresses along the Maros River before the end of August. Koca Sinan Pasha broke into Wallachia, forcing Michael the Brave to retreat towards Transylvania. Michael confronted the invaders in the Battle of Călugăreni , but he could not prevent them from seizing Târgoviște and Bucharest . He withdrew to Stoenești to await

6557-513: Was never consummated . Michael the Brave , Voivode of Wallachia , and Ștefan Răzvan , Voivode of Moldavia , acknowledged his suzerainty. Their united forces defeated an Ottoman army in the Battle of Giurgiu . The triumph was followed by a series of Ottoman victories, and Sigismund abdicated in favor of Rudolph II in early 1598, receiving the duchies of Racibórz and Opole as a compensation. His maternal uncle, Stephen Bocskai , persuaded him to return in late summer, but he could not make peace with

6640-716: Was part of the Bessarabia Governorate of the Russian Empire (1812–1917), and de jure it was part of Moldavian Democratic Republic (1917–1918). Khotyn was annexed by Romania (1918–1940, 1941–1944), became part of the Ukrainian Soviet Socialist Republic within the Soviet Union (1940–1941, 1944–1991) and now is part of independent Ukraine (1991–present). Khotyn ( Polish : Chocim ; Romanian : Hotin ; Russian : Хотин , romanized :  Khotin ; Turkish : Hotin ; Ukrainian : Хотин ; Yiddish : כעטין , romanized :  Khetìn )

6723-710: Was signed on 23   December 1597. Rudolph   II granted Sigismund the Silesian duchies of Racibórz and Opole and a yearly subsidy of 50,000 thalers . The agreement was kept secret for months. The Diet of Transylvania acknowledged Sigismund's abdication on 23   March 1598. Maria Christierna took charge of the government until the arrival of Maximilian of Habsburg, whom Rudolph   II had appointed to administer Transylvania. Sigismund went to Silesia, but he did not like his new duchies. Bocskai, who had been dismissed after Sigismund's abdication, urged him to return. Sigismund came to Kolozsvár on 21 August. On

6806-436: Was still a minor, his dying father tasked a council of twelve noblemen with the government. Christopher Báthory's cousin, Dénes Csáky, and his brother-in-law, Stephen Bocskai , headed the council. Christopher Báthory died on 27   May. The Ottoman Sultan , Murad III , confirmed Sigismund's election on 3   July 1581, reminding him of his obligation to pay a yearly tribute of 15,000 florins. However, Pál Márkházy ,

6889-620: Was the voivode of Transylvania . After being elected King of Poland in late 1575, Stephen Báthory adopted the title of Prince of Transylvania and made Sigismund's father voivode. Stephen Báthory set up a separate chancellery in Kraków to supervise the administration of the principality. Sigismund's father and uncle were Roman Catholic , but his mother was Calvinist. According to the Jesuit Antonio Possevino , Sigismund demonstrated his devotion to Catholicism already at

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