Drawing a Historical Parallel Between Bohdan Khmelnytsky and Odoacer
At Bohdan Khmelnytsky's funeral in 1657, the general scribe Samiylo Zorka drew a striking comparison between the hetman and the ancient leader Odoacer. This parallel was not just rhetorical; it aimed to legitimize the Cossacks' struggle for liberation by linking it to a storied past. Zorka highlighted Odoacer's significance to the Cossack cause, using analogies from the history of Rus' to frame their fight as part of a larger, centuries-old tradition.
The funeral of Bohdan Khmelnytsky took place in 1657. In his eulogy, Samiylo Zorka, the general scribe of the Zaporozhian Host, referred to Odoacer as an 'ancient Rus' chieftain.' He emphasized that Odoacer, who overthrew the last Western Roman emperor in 476 AD, had become a symbol of the struggle for freedom. Zorka noted that even Ancient Rome, regarded as the mother of all European cities, could not withstand the combined military might of the Rus' from Rugia, led by Prince Odoacer.
Facts About Odoacer and His Legacy
Historical records indicate Odoacer was born around 433 AD. His father, Edeco, served under Attila the Hun. Chroniclers considered him a Rusyn, a claim supported by the source 'Brevis historia,' which refers to Odoacer as Ruthenus. Additionally, a 16th-century memorial plaque in Salzburg calls him Rex Rhvtenorvm (king of the Ruthenians). The story of Princess Olga also connects to this tradition: in Europe, she was known as Regina Rugorum (queen of the Rugians).
Zorka recalled the Bila Tserkva Universal of 1648, associated with Bohdan Khmelnytsky, which mentions a combined Rus' fighting force that, under Prince Odoacer's leadership, captured Rome in 470 AD after the birth of Christ. This historical analogy served as a crucial example for the Cossacks, who sought to continue the tradition of fighting for freedom that their ancestors had initiated.
Thus, the comparison between Khmelnytsky and Odoacer became a key element of Cossack historical memory, underscoring the continuity of their struggle for independence. As Samiylo Zorka declared:
“So we follow the example of our ancient forefathers, those old-time Rus', and who can forbid us from being warriors or diminish our knightly courage!”This reflects the deep roots of the Cossack movement in the ancient traditions and history of Rus'.
Samiylo Zorka's speech at Bohdan Khmelnytsky's funeral not only reveals the deep historical foundations of the Cossack movement but also demonstrates how the Cossacks used historical parallels to legitimize their actions in the fight for independence. The comparison to Odoacer exemplifies how crucial the continuity of historical memory was in shaping the national identity of the Cossacks.