The Battle of Makhnivka took place between the Cossack-peasant army led by Maksym Kryvonis and the PolishâÂÂLithuanian forces led by Jeremi Wià Âniowiecki, it took place during 6âÂÂ8 July in 1648, ending in Cossack victory.
The Makhnivka fortress served as one of the Polish-Lithuanian strongholds in Bracà Âaw Voivodeship. In late June and early July, several thousand rebel peasants gathered near Makhnivka. Jeremi Wià Âniowiecki retreated from the Left-Bank Ukraine and entered Bracà Âaw Voivodeship. Most the region was controlled by the rebel peasantry and Cossacks of Maksym Kryvonis.
Wià Âniowiecki's forces was the only well-armed detachment capable of facing the rebels during this period, whose fighting methods were often accompanied with massacres. Bohdan Khmelnytsky sent 5,000 Cossacks led by Ivan Girya. Another 8,000 Cossacks of Ostap Kryvonosenko and Maksym Kryvonis joined in besieging Makhnivka.
On 8 July, Cossacks and rebel peasants besieged Makhnivka. Cossacks successfully stormed and captured most of the fortress and were now besieging the castle where Stefan Lew was holding out with his troops. Cossacks attempted to storm the fortress, which was initially unsuccessful. Cossacks captured Bernardine monastery and made another assault on the castle. They managed to lur Lew out of the castle and took the castle. Polish-Lithuanian forces suffered heavy losses and Lew himself was killed. Janusz Tyszkiewicz received the news about capture of Makhnivka and requested for Wià Âniowiecki to deal with the rebels.
In the evening, Wià Âniowiecki attempted to quietly surround Makhnivka with his large army, but was unsuccessful. Kryvonis was outside Makhnivka with his cavalry where he took Wià Âniowiecki by surprise in the attack, which nearly got Wià Âniowiecki killed twice. Wià Âniowiecki attempted to destroy Cossack camp at night several times, but was repulsed. Tyszkiewicz later requested for Wià Âniowiecki to cease his attacks due to the risk of Tyszkiewicz's estate getting completely burnt by Cossacks if they prevail over Wià Âniowiecki's forces.
The battle resulted in destruction of Makhnivka and weakening of the Polish-Lithuanian influence. More fighting shortly took place between the forces of Maksym Kryvonis and Jeremi Wià Âniowiecki at Kostiantyniv and Pyliavtsi.
According to Samiilo Velychko, Wià Âniowiecki's forces in failed attacks on Makhnivka suffered 2,500 killed and Wià Âniowiecki was forced to retreat. Wià Âniowiecki was left traumatised by the experience of nearly getting killed twice in a single battle, losing his courage that he previously had in fighting Cossacks directly.
Polish sources describe the battle differently. According to Polish noble report, Cossacks withdrew from Makhnivka behind a hill when Wià Âniowiecki approached, organising a defense out of carts and other material. Wià Âniowiecki launched two failed attacks, but didn't dare to attack for the third time due to rain, which put Cossacks into a favourable defensive position. Cossacks then pretended to have organised a strong defense and made their presence known with singing, but in the morning broke through to Hrytsiv. Some of Wià Âniowiecki's forces made failed attempts to pursue the Cossacks. Afterwards, on Friday (3/10 July) Wià Âniowiecki himself withdrew from Makhnivka. Later, Wià Âniowiecki received the news about return of Kryvonis and his Cossacks to Makhnivka, but Wià Âniowiecki didn't dare to return there.
The Jewish community of Makhnivka was first mentioned in 1648, which was an account of when Cossacks were reported to have seized the fortress, then proceeding with massacre of Poles and Jews.