Peter Tekeli
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Peter Tekeli (Russian: Петр Авраамович Текели) (1720 - 1793) was a Serbian-born Russian General, famous for his operation in disbanding the Zaporozhian Sich in 1775.
Early life
Tekeli was born in 1720 to a Serbian noble family. At the age of 13 he was already fighting the Ottoman Turks who where occupying his native Serbia. After service in the Austrian army having the rank of Porutchik was admitted to the Imperial Russian Army as a Husar.
Seven Years War
Tekeli's professional military carrer began with the Seven Years' War at the rank of Second Major. On 30th (old style - 19th) of August 1757, he was wounded during the Battle of Gross-Jägersdorf. After his participation in the storming of Küstrin (modern Kostrzyn) fortress, he was raised to the rank of Lieutenant Colonel in 1758. Tekeli participated in the Battle of Zorndorf, the Battle of Kay and the decisive Battle of Kunersdorf in 1759 which marked Prussia's defeat in the war.
In addition Tekeli was part in the Russian capture of Berlin in 1760 where he was able to destroy a retreating rearguard of Prussian General Gülsen under Spandau. During the war Tekeli was a distinguished participant in small skirmishes (de:Scharmützel ). As the war drew to a close, under the command of General Peter Rumyantsev, Tekeli took part in the capture of Kolberg (modern Kołobrzeg), and afterwards for his service was promoted to a Colonel in 1763.
After Empress Catherine the Great took to the throne Colonel Tekeli was soon back in combat against the Bar Confederation in First Polish Republic (1764-1768), which for his distinctions he was awarded the rank of Brigadier.
Russo-Turkish War
However Tekeli's military career gained recognition for his participation in the Russo-Turkish War (1768–1774). Initially in 1769 he fought in several battles during the siege of Khotyn Fortress. Afterwards, with the rest of the Russian Army, he entered Romania in 1771 and fought in the Battle of Focşani and Zhurzhevo where he re-captured a Russian banner, for which he was promoted to a Major General and awarded with Order of St. Anna. Later he was head of the right flank during the invasion of Wallachia and after numerous other distinctions, he was promoted to Lieutenant General and awarded with the Order of St. George (3rd degree) upon the war's victorious conclusion.
The end of the Zaporozhian Sich
One of the most controversial acts of Tekeli's career, for which he is most remembered was his act in disbanding the Zaporozhian Host and destroying their base the Zaporozhian Sich in summer 1775. After the Russo-Turkish War, he was the commander of all armed forces stationed in Novorossiya.
The Zaporozhian Cossacks who lived there were tasked in safeguarding the Russian Empire against the Crimean Khanate. However Russia's victory in the war, caused the annexation of Crimea had their sole military role lost. At the same time there were constant attacks by the Cossacks on the Serbian settlers.
Antin Holovaty suggested to Grigori Potemkin to re-organise the Zaporozhian Host by the same style as the Don Cossack Host. Yet after the Zaporozhians offered support to Pugachev's Rebellion in 1774, Potemkin's mind was set[1]. Tired of dealing with constant feuds he ordered Tekeli, an ethnic Serb, to disband the Host.
Tekeli divided his forces into five detachments, and send them along roads which would lead them to fully surround the Sich, which was successfully deployed by dawn 4 June. The lack of any combat in past few years, meant that not only were the Zaporozhians were unable to see the arrival of the Russian forces, their guards were asleep upon Tekeli's arrival.
Petro Kalnyshevsky the Kosh otaman found out that the Sich is surrounded and besieged only after the Russian envoy arrived to call him to meet with Tekeli. By evening Russian guards were placed in all internal and external positions and next morning the Zaporozhians officially surrendered all their arms and lowered their battle banners.
Afterwards Tekeli allowed joint visits, and gave permissions to the now former Cossacks leave the besieged island for personal reasons. As the Host Starshynas were sent to Petersburg the Sich was slowly vacated, but after Tekeli realised that some Cossacks, ran off to the Danube where they formed the Danubian Sich, upon reporting it to the Empress received order to destroy the Sich. After ensuring it was vacated, the empty fortress was subjected to a prolonged artillery barrage.
For his role in quelling the Zaporozhian Cossacks, without spilling a single drop of blood[2][3] Tekeli was awarded the Order of St. Alexander Nevsky.
Later life
Afterwards Tekeli was in command of an 18 thousand Russian garrison stationed to defend the eastern shore of the Black Sea as the Caucasus War began to gain momentum. In 1786 he was made General-in-Chief and a year later placed in command of the Nizhny Novgorod Dragoon Regiment. However in 1789 he resigned from active duty, and shortly before his death was ill with blindness.
Refrences
- Bantysh-Kamensky: Biography of Russian Generals and Generalissimos