Zaporozhian Cossacks

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History
Registered Cossacks Uprisings Kosiński Nalyvaiko Khmelnytsky Hadiach Treaty Hetmanate Colonisation of Siberia Bulavin Rebellion Pugachev's Rebellion Communism De-Cossackization Cossacks in the SS
Notable Cossacks
Petro Doroshenko Bohdan Khmelnytsky Petro Sahaidachny Ivan Mazepa Yemelyan Pugachev Stepan Razin Ivan Sirko Andrei Shkuro Pavlo Skoropadskyi Yermak Timofeyevich Ivan Vyhovsky
Cossack terms
Ataman Hetman Kontusz Kurin Sotnia Oseledets Papakhi Plastun Yesaul Stanitsa Shashka Szabla
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The Zaporozhian Cossacks, Zaporozhian Cossack Army, Zaporozhian Host, (Ukrainian: Військо Запорозьке, romanized: Viisko Zaporozke,^[1] or Військо Запорізьке, Viisko Zaporizke) or simply Zaporozhians (Ukrainian: Запорожці, romanized: Zaporozhtsi) were Cossacks who lived beyond (that is, downstream from) the Dnieper Rapids. Along with Registered Cossacks and Sloboda Cossacks, Zaporozhian Cossacks played an important role in the history of Ukraine and the ethnogenesis of Ukrainians.

The Zaporozhian Sich grew rapidly in the 15th century from serfs fleeing the more controlled parts of the Polish–Lithuanian Commonwealth.^[2] It became established as a well-respected political entity with a parliamentary system of government. During the course of the 16th, 17th and well into the 18th century, the Zaporozhian Cossacks were a strong political and military force that challenged the authority of the Polish–Lithuanian Commonwealth, the Tsardom of Russia, and the Crimean Khanate.

The host went through a series of conflicts and alliances involving the three powers, including supporting an uprising in the 18th century. Their leader signed a treaty with the Russians. This group was forcibly disbanded in the late 18th century by the Russian Empire, with much of the population relocated to the Kuban region on the south edge of the Russian Empire, while others founded cities in southern Ukraine and eventually became state peasants. The Cossacks served a valuable role of conquering the Caucasian tribes and in return enjoyed considerable freedom granted by the Tsars.

The name Zaporozhtsi comes from the location of their fortress, the Sich, in Zaporizhzhia "land beyond the rapids", from Ukrainian za "beyond" and poróhy "rapids".