Battle of Khotyn and Treaty of Khotyn
- When
- 1621
- Where
- Khotyn Fortress; Cossack camp and convoy routes; Commonwealth camp; Khotyn
- Episodes
- 4
From 2 September to 9 October 1621, the Polish–Lithuanian Commonwealth defended Khotyn Fortress against an Ottoman siege led by Sultan Osman II. Despite heavy losses and exhaustion, the Ottomans abandoned the campaign, leading to the Treaty of Khotyn which ended the war and ceded the fortress to Moldavia.
Episodes
- Siege Begins
The main Ottoman army arrived at Khotyn on 2 September, initiating the siege after Cossack reinforcements joined the Commonwealth camp.
- Early Assaults
Ottoman troops launched multiple failed assaults on Cossack positions and convoys in early September, suffering repulsions.
- Death of Chodkiewicz
Grand Hetman Jan Karol Chodkiewicz died on 24 September 1621, shortly before the conclusion of the treaty negotiations.
- Treaty of Khotyn
The Treaty of Khotyn was signed on 9 October 1621, ending the war and ceding the fortress to Moldavia.
Background and detail
Background. Following the Commonwealth's defeat at Cecora in 1620, where Grand Hetman Żółkiewski was killed, the Ottomans launched a major invasion in 1621. The Commonwealth army, now under Grand Hetman Jan Karol Chodkiewicz, arrived near Khotyn in late August to block the Ottoman advance and prepare for a siege.
The Siege. The siege began on 2 September after the main Ottoman army arrived. Ottoman forces launched multiple assaults on Cossack positions and convoys in early September but were repulsed. By mid-September, the Ottomans built a bridge over the Dniester to cut off Commonwealth communications, though the defenders held their ground against repeated attacks.
Conclusion and Treaty. Grand Hetman Chodkiewicz died on 24 September. By 9 October, the Ottoman army, suffering heavy losses, exhaustion, and supply shortages, abandoned the siege. The Treaty of Khotyn was signed that day, ending the war. The fortress was ceded to Moldavia, while the Commonwealth agreed to stop interference in Moldavia.
People involved
- Jan Karol Chodkiewicz · Grand Hetman of Lithuania, Commander of the Polish–Lithuanian Commonwealth forces
- Osman II · Sultan of the Ottoman Empire, Commander of the Ottoman Imperial army
Sources
- Battle of Khotyn (1621) Wikipedia, revision of 2026-08-21
- Treaty of Khotyn Wikipedia, revision of 2025-01-16
Machine-drafted from the cited Wikipedia passages and checked by a reviewing model, not by a human editor. Every passage cites the revision it was written from; dates and places follow those passages.