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Petro Ivanovych Kalnyshevsky (Петро Іванович Калнишевський) (1690? – 31 October 1803) was the last Kosh otaman of the Zaporozhian Host in 1762 and in 1765–1775 years period. Kalnyshevsky took part in Russo-Turkish war of 1768-1774 and was honored with a gold medal with brilliants for courage.

Being a head of the Zaporozhian Host Petro Kalnyshevsky defended the rights of cossacks and their independence from increasing Imperial Russian Tsarist influence, encouraged agriculture development and trade in the Zaporizhian steppe.

After the destruction of Zaporizhian Sich by Russian troops, Petro Kalnyshevsky was arrested and deported to the Solovetsky Monastery, where he spent over 26 years in solitary confinement in a cold and dark cell (1 m wide, 2 m long). Three times a year he was allowed outside to breathe the open air.

He was pardoned by Emperor Alexander at the age of 110 years. Kalnyshevsky by that time had become blind and decided to remain in the monastery, where he died 2 years later in 1803.

Early life
Petro Kalnyshevsky's early life largely remains unknown and is surrounded by folk-tales and myths. According to one of them one day an eight years-old orphaned Petro Kalnysh tending livestock was picked up by passing Cossacks on their way to the Zaporozhian Sich. Modern research, however, contradicts that verstion and points out that he was born in 1691 in the Village of Pustovoitivka (present-day Sumy oblast, Ukraine) and stemmed from the Cossack petty gentry — sotnyk starshyna. His relatives active in administration of the Cossack Hetmanate in Poltava regiment were already known in the Zaporozhian Sich, so it was natural that he ended up in that Cossack host too. It is suggested that he came to the Sich while already a grown up man, in his 40s.

Path to leadership
His career in the Sich was quite fast, partly due to his talents and the support of the Kalnysh clan that had established itself in the host earlier. His first position was that of kosh yesaul - a military judge, whose duties were to maintain order in the Sich, to investigate abuse and to collect taxes from nearby settlements. His main task at that time, however was to fight Cossack bands, known as haidamakas, who were harassing and robbing people, mostly settlers in the areas close to the Zaporozhian Sich. Having established himself as an efficient law enforcer and a commander of his own military detachment that was fighting haidamakas, Kalnyshevsky earned respect of his fellow Cossacks and quickly raised through the ranks of the Sich starshyna.

In years 1754-1755 he already headed a comission that was set up to settle relations of Cossacks with the neighbouring Tatars. Twice, in 1755 and in 1757 he was elected to represent Cossacks within a deputation sent to the Russian court. There he not only effectively lobbied for the Cossacks' rights but made a few important friends that would help him later in his career. Thus, by 1760s Peter Kalnysh (as he was known then) had become one of the strong men in the Sich and a right hand of the then kosh otaman Hryhoriy Lantukh. As the otaman Lantukh grew older Kalnyshevsky would eventually talk over his responsibilities and use him as a nominal figure head. Finally in 1762 he replaced the old Lantukh and became the kosh otaman - an effective leader of the Zaporozhian Sich.

As the kosh otaman he also represented the Cossacks at Catherine II's coronation in Moscow. His relationship with the empress was strained: Catherine didn't like the fact that Kalnyshevsky had been elected without the royal approval and at the end of 1762 he had to resign under pressure from the government and the old otaman Lantukh was reinstated. For the next three years he continued to rule by proxy using old Lantukh as a figure head. However, on January 1, 1765 aginst the wishes of the Russian government Kalnyshevsky was elected again as the kosh otaman. His populatirty was such that Cossacks would never elect anyone but him until the end of the Zaporozhian Sich.

At the head of the Sich
During the years at he helm of the Sich Kalnyshevsky surrounded hsimself with his relatives in different positions in Sich and in the settlements surrounding it. Relative stability that Kalnyshevsky provided led to Cossack commander class - starshina becoming quite wealthy, acquiring new lands and settlements surrounding the Sich and the area. As such he tried to restrain the rank-and-file Cossacks upset at the Russian govenment's colonization efforts in the area. His wealth and support of the colonists often irritated many of the Cossacks, so much so that in December of 1768 an uprising broke out in the Sich and he used Russian troops to put it down and to restore his authority. Social division in the host left it devided between the wealthy starshyna and the majority of rank and file Cossacks, who saw robbery of settlers as one of the ways to acquire wealth.

The Russo-Turkish War of 1768-1774 saw the division in the Sich deepening further. As the settlements were overrun and burned by the Tatars, Kalnyshevsky and the starshina started to encourage settlements without permission from the government. Because of the increased violence between the settlers and the Cossacks and little control that the government had over the Sich it was decided by Catherine II to abolish it. In the meantime Cossacks' participation in the war was much appreciated — Kalnyshevsky and other commanders were decorated war heroes and received praise, previleges and nobility status. A few of Russian nobles, including Kutuzov and tsarina's favourite Grigoriy Potyomkin were formally admitted to Cossackdom. However, later, acting on orders of Potemkin Russian general Tekelli took advantage of Cossacks' complacency and occupied the Zaporozhian Sich on August 5, 1775 in a bloodless takeover.

Arrest and exile
Incidentally, when the news of the Sich abolishment was let known to the Cossacks trapped by general Tekelli, Kalnyshevsky was one of the few people, who were trying to persuade Cossacks to give up without a fight. That, however, did not help the old otaman, as after the Sich had been destroyed he was arrested along with the other starshyna and their property confiscated. Kalnyshevsky was first exhiled to Moscow and from there on June 25, 1776 he was further sent to the Solovki monastery. At the monastery that would later become the infamous GULAG Peter Kalnyshevsky was placed in a solitary confinement. Strict restrictions were placed on the terms of his imprisonment — he was allowed out of his cell only on holidays: on Easter, Christmas and others.

After 16 years of imprisonment, the harsh conditions were relaxed — he was moved to a bigger cell and started to enjoy somewhat better treatment. Kalnyshevsky belonged to state prisoners and as such received money

Literature

 * Oral Narrative of Former Zaporozhian, Dweller of Ekaterinoslav Governorate and District, of the village Mykhailivka — Mykyta Leontiyovych Korzh. Recorded by Gavriil Rozanov. Odessa. 1842.