# Sich-Tsardom Crisis

The Sich-Tsardom crisis occurred between the Sich Cossacks of Ivan Sirko and Tsardom of Russia supported by Cossack Hetmanate, which occurred over Sich sheltering False Tsarevich Semyon, from December 1673 to June 1674.

## Prelude

Zaporozhian Sich was going through plague, while Ivan Sirko was away for fishing. However, an unexpected event occurred, which was the arrival of "Tsarevich Semyon" who claimed to be the son of Tsar Alexei Mikhailovich. He claimed to have secretly supported Stenka Razin in his uprising. Semyon managed to convince that he was "Prince" to Cossacks, and Sirko after his arrival, who gave Semyon shelter in the Sich. Tsarist authorities found out about imposter's presence in the Sich and begun attempts to extradite him from the Sich, sending envoys there for this purpose on December 14, 1673.

## Crisis

On December 21, Tsarist envoys arrived to Baturyn to meet Hetman Samoylovych. Hetman initially advised envoys not to go to the Sich and said his messengers will deal with this. However, Hetman then discovered his messengers were detained there for unexplained reasons. Tsarist envoys, Semyon Shchogolev and Vasily Chaduyev proceeded going to the Sich, despite warnings from Hetman and Cossacks met on the way. Sirko's envoys met them, who explained the negative and threatening mood of Sich Cossacks towards Moscow, including Sirko. As a result, Ignat Goloblya and other Sich envoys were detained. Hetman agreed to send 40 Cossacks commanded by Osavul Chernyachenko for protection of Tsarist envoys, heading to Sich.
On March 1, 1674, they met Sich Cossacks. Envoys learnt that Sich Cossacks weren't willing to hand over the imposter, but still headed to the Sich. They were accompanied by Lukyan Andreyev who got envoys across the river. Andreyev himself got in conflict with Sich Cossacks who returned, insulting them, resulting in Andreyev's death.
On March 9, envoys arrived to the Sich. Sich Cossacks were convinced that Semyon was the real prince. Sirko fell asleep during this time. Envoys scolded the false Prince, Semyon attacked him with sabre and was nearly killed by an envoy in response. Envoys were cornered by Sich Cossacks, but managed to de-escalate the situation until Sirko wakes up.
On March 12–13, Sirko expressed his anti-Moscow sentiments and was still convinced of Semyon's royal origin. He complained about lack of payments and supplies sent from Moscow, despite being promised more. Sirko didn't exclude the possibility of switching allegiance to another state.
On March 18–19, Sirko and Sich Cossacks were still convinced of Semyon's royal origin, but signs of falsehood begun to appear, which Cossacks noticed in the letter, related to Semyon's age. Sirko allowed Tsarist envoys to return to Moscow with Sich envoys, along with releasing Hetman's messengers.
On April 4, Tsarist envoys arrived to see the Hetman. During the same time 34 Sich Cossacks appeared, who said they wanted to go to Moscow. Hetman, along with boyars wanted to take Sirko's family hostage and blockade the Sich, but the Hetman couldn't do so without Tsar's permission. Sirko was waiting for arrival of Kalmyks to "go on a campaign to Astrakhan and Siberia". Sirko himself wasn't concerned about a potential blockade of Sich, as he believed he would receive assistance from Tatars.
On April 7, Tsarist envoys arrived to Moscow. They claimed that Sirko was planning a revolt against Tsar to install a False Prince into power. Sirko during that was trying to reestablish his connections with Petro Doroshenko. When the Hetman learnt about this, Sich envoys were detained.
On May 23-28, Sirko sent letters to the Hetman's brother and Grigory Romodanovsky. Sirko expressed his willingness to exchange prisoners and reassured the Tsarist authorities that he had no intention of allying with the Crimean Khanate. Sirko later wrote to the Tsar himself. The conflict was resolved in June.

## Aftermath

Ivan Sirko and Sich Cossacks complained about lack of payments given to them. Tsar Alexis increased payments to the Zaporozhian Sich in order to resolve the crisis. Ivan Sirko eventually agreed to hand over the False Prince Semyon and exchanged prisoners. Sirko himself was given payments from the Tsar for doing so. Sirko successfully demonstrated the independent policy of Sich. Dmytro Yavornytsky noted on Sirko's actions in these events:
   It is difficult to assume that Sirko, an experienced, far-sighted and insightful person, believed in the authenticity of the origin of the person who called himself the son of Tsar Alexei Mikhailovich, and in the sincerity of the impostor's tale about escaping from Moscow... Most likely, Sirko played the role of a person convinced of the truth of the royal origin of False Simeon - such a role was useful for him in order to keep Moscow in his hands and thereby preserve the political independence of Zaporozhye. Perhaps revenge for the exile to Siberia was added to this.
Ivan Sirko conducted diplomacy with Russia and the Hetmanate during 1677–1678, which was successful. Sirko managed to secure the necessary supplies for Sich, helping to strength it.