Battle of Iași (1653)

The Battle of Iași (Romanian: Bătălia de la Popricani, Ukrainian: Битва під Ясами; 1 May 1653) was fought between Moldavia and Transylvania under the command of Gheorghe Ștefan and John Kemény against the Cossack Hetmanate and Crimean Khanate under the command of Tymofiy Khmelnytskyi as a part of the Moldavian campaign of Tymofiy Khmelnytskyi during the Khmelnytskyi Uprising.

Background
In April 1653, Tymofiy Khmelnytsky launched a military campaign into the Moldavia and Wallachia to restore the Moldavian throne to his father-in-law and ally Vasile Lupu. Lupu was deposed from the throne by Gheorghe Ștefan with the support of the Wallachian gentleman Matei Basarab. On April 28, Cossack troops crossed the Prut River, entering the territory of Western Moldavia. Across the river, they encountered significant Wallachian-Moldavian-Transylvanian forces under the command of Gheorghe Ștefan.

Battle
On May 1, Moldavian cavalry attacked the Cossack forces, after which the Moldavians began cannon fire on the enemy. The Cossacks also responded with cannon fire, launching an offensive. The enemy attack and shelling of Moldavian positions forced the Moldavian troops to retreat.

Aftermath
On May 2, the Cossack troops entered Iași unhindered, where Vasile Lupu was again proclaimed Lord of Moldavia.