Írruhnëk Kynnyrík

Írruhnëk Kynnyrík, oil on canvas by Ërr Línpprík, 1863.

**Chayan-Carparian war**

* Battle of Belant
* Battle of Gystur
* Battle of Calcan
* Battle of Frotim (DOW)

**Írruhnëk Kynnyrík** (12 September 1813–12 September 1845) was a Gôríhík military commander in Chayanese service.

## Biography

### Early life

Írruhnëk Kynnyrík was born on 12 September 1813 in Kawít as the oldest son Kynny Kegerík (1786–1834) and Ërsilin Ekuhowtín (1793–1890), both of them broombinders. He began working alongside his parents at a young age and effectively took control over the business in 1832 after his father had recurring attacks of sciatica.

### Gôríhík rebellion of 1839–1841

In 1835 Kynnyrík was forcibly conscripted into Carparian military service, something which greatly angered him since he was fiercely against Carparian conquest of Gôríhík lands. His deep dissatisfaction with the foreign conquerors wasn’t a unique one in his mostly Gôríhík regiment. As such he soon began to find common ground with many of his comrades and his strong determination and dedication to the cause led him to become a major figure in the growing movement for Gôríhík autonomy. After some desultory attempts to resolve the issue diplomatically the movement rebelled against Carparia in the Gôríhík rebellion of 1839–1841. When the rebellion broke out Kynnyrík was made Colonel and given command of a small regiment. With this regiment he conducted guerrilla warfare, destroying enemy supplies and attacking small, isolated enemy forces. He was also victorious in the battle of Jeshek, in which he lost an eye. It soon became clear that the movements poor organisation and lack of a coherent strategy meant that defeat was inevitable and it was at last defeated in 1841, forcing Kynnyrík to escape and go into hiding.

### Chayanese military service

When trouble began brewing between Carparia and Chayan Kynnyrík relocated to Chayan in order to assist the coming fight against Carparia. In Chayan his reputation as a military commander and his experience fighting against Carparia was held in high regard which resulted in him being given command of the Chayanese 8th brigade with the rank of Brigadier General. His enemies, in an attempt to mock his poor roots, often called him "The Broombinder General". Soon afterwards the Chayan–Carparian war started, in which he proved himself to be one of the most prolific commanders of the war, mainly operating independently in the east. He once again waged successful guerrilla warfare, played a major role in all campaigns and was rewarded with the rank of Lieutenant General after the victorious battle of Calcan, in which he badly defeated a numerically superior enemy force. Kynnyrík was severely wounded in a minor battle towards the end of the war and died of gangrene just two weeks before peace was signed.

## Legacy

Today Írruhnëk Kynnyrík is seen as a hero by the Gôríhík people and is also held in high regard in Chayan, however he has been romanticised heavily by nationalistic historians.

## Literature

Togik, Sieg (1997), *The Victorious Bunch, A Comprehensive Record of History's Best Military Commanders*, Siepen University Press, Siepen.