Stefan Petricheyku

Stefan Petricheiku ( Moldovan Stefan Petricheiku ; d. In 1690 ) - ruler of the Principality of Moldova from August 10 (20), 1672 to November 1673 , from December 1673 to February 22, 1674 and from December 25, 1683 to March 1684 .

In 1672 , Turkey launched a war against Poland. The Turkish army passed through Moldova, captured Kamyanets and besieged Lviv . Poland was forced to conclude a very unprofitable Buchatsky Treaty , according to which, in particular, the Turkish garrison remained in Kamenetz. Carts and troops constantly went to him through the whole Moldavian principality, the supply and accommodation of which fell on the shoulders of the inhabitants of Moldova. The economic situation in the country has deteriorated significantly. In this situation, George Dooku was replaced by Stefan Petricheyka.

When the Turkish-Polish war resumed in 1673, Petricheiku sided with Poland. The Turkish army was defeated, and Polish troops occupied Khotyn and part of Moldova. However, part of the boyars again turned to the side of Turkey. Stefan Petrichejku counted on Polish help against the Ottomans, but because of the difficult situation inside Poland, these hopes were not realized. Then he, along with pro-Russian-minded boyars led by Metropolitan Dosoftey, began negotiations on the transition to Russian citizenship. In early 1674 , hegumen Fedor arrived in Moscow, asking for protection from the Turks. The Moldovan appeal found a good reception in Russia, since the principality could become a valuable ally, but Moscow did not want to complicate the situation with open actions and gave an evasive answer to the question of citizenship. Nevertheless, Russia took concrete military measures - a campaign against Doroshenko, which, on behalf of the Sultan, pressed the Principality of Moldova.

Soon Petricheichka with a large group of boyars, Dosoftey and the army was forced to seek refuge in Poland, and Greek Dumitrasku Kantakuzino was appointed the sovereign. Only in 1683 , when the Turkish army was defeated near Vienna , Petricheiku returned to Moldova and made an appeal to defeat the Turks and restore the country. The people began to destroy the Turks and Tatars, who were kept only in the fortresses.

Petricheichka made a second attempt to transfer to Russian citizenship and formed a new embassy in Moscow. But in Russia, they refused to negotiate because of the difficult international situation and distrust of the emperor, who spent 10 years in Poland and returned to the throne thanks to the Poles. The embassy was not allowed to go further than Kiev, Dosoftey and other boyars were awarded and returned back.

The Cossacks became allies of Moldova in the anti-Turkish struggle. A Cossack detachment led by Kunitsky, who collaborated with the Polish king, entered the country. The population supported the Cossacks, they were joined by Moldovans from different regions. According to the Turkish chronicler Rashid Effendi, the Moldovan-Ukrainian army totaled 30 thousand people. Kunitsky defeated the Tatars in Bujak , but the siege of Bender and Ackerman was unsuccessful. The situation in the country was fragile, since it was impossible to fight against the Turks, leaving the enemy garrisons behind. At the same time, the main forces of the Tatars, retreating from Vienna, forced the Moldovan-Cossack army beyond the Dniester . Petricheichka was forced to leave Moldova. Cantacuzino again became the sovereign.