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.

Battle of Iași (1653)
Part of the Moldavian campaign of Tymofiy Khmelnytskyi during the Khmelnytskyi Uprising
Campaign of the Zaporozhian Cossacks and Crimean Tatars against Moldavia and Wallachia in 1653
Date 1 May 1653 Location Popricani over the Jijia River near Iași, Iași County, Moldavia Result Cossack–Tatar victory
Belligerents
Moldavia Transylvania	Cossack Hetmanate Crimean Khanate
Commanders and leaders
Gheorghe Ștefan John Kemény	Tymofiy Khmelnytskyi
Strength
10,000–20,000 men 6 cannons	13,000 Cossacks 2,000 Tatars 11 cannons
Casualties and losses
Heavy	Unknown

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.

See also

• Moldavian campaign of Tymofiy Khmelnytsky