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Bohun (fictional)
Encyclopedia
Jur Bohun is the main antagonist in the novel With Fire and Sword
by Henryk Sienkiewicz
. He is a famous Cossack colonel of unknown origin, and originally a friend (more like an adopted son) of the Kurcewicz family. He falls in love with Helena Kurcewiczówna
and wants to marry her. However he is thwarted by his rival, Jan Skrzetuski
, a Polish nobleman, who forces the matron, Princes Kurcewicz to promise him Helena's hand, with Helena's approval. Betrayed and rejected Bohun raids the Kurcewicz estate, slaughters the family, kidnaps Helena and joins the ongoing Cossack uprising
. The novel revolves around the struggle between Skrzetuski and Bohun with the Khmelnytsky Uprising
as historical background.
The character is based on the historical figure, Ivan Bohun
.
Bohun is portrayed by Aleksandr Domogarov
in 1999 Jerzy Hoffman's
film With Fire and Sword
.
, from early age becoming familiar with expeditions to the Black Sea
and skirmishes with Tartars. He quicky gained fame among Cossacks for his outstanding courage and became their leader (ataman
). He became a friend of the Kurcewicz brothers, who often joined Cossacks on expeditions. He was treated like a member of their family. Their mother, widowed princess Kurcewicz, regarded him as her own son.
Bohun fell in love with Kurcewicz's orphaned cousin, princess Helena
but she despised him since he killed a man in her presence. Her aunt, however, agreed to give Bohun Helena's hand in marriage when he promised to let her keep Rozłogi (which was Helena's dowry).
In 1648 Bohun served Poland as the lieutenant-colonel of the Pereiaslav regiment. At this time Helena and the Polish lieutenant Jan Skrzetuski
fell in love with each other. Bohun discovered that Kurcewiczes had betrayed him and promised the girl to the Pole. In the company of Zagłoba and some Cossacks from his regiment, he rushed to Rozłogi, intending to kidnap Helena and take revenge on her family. During the fight he killed Symeon and Mikołaj, the two Kurcewicz brothers. The old princess was strangled by Bohun's Cossacks.
Helena escaped from Rozłogi with Zagłoba and Bohun with his men set off in pursuit. On his way, Bohun attacked a group of Polish troops, which was equivalent to joining the ongoing Cossack rebellion. Despite a long and desperate search, he didn't manage to find Zagłoba and Helena. Eventually he finally discovered the girl in the Bar fortress, where Zagłoba had hidden her. He captured the city and saved his beloved from the slaughter. Helena, at the very sight of him, stabbed herself with a knife. Bohun took her to Devil's Valley at the Dniester
. He put her in witch Horpyna's care and left.
He was sent against Polish troops as a spy. He defeated a group led by Zagłoba and imprisoned him. However, Polish relief led by Michał Wołodyjowski soon came. Wołodyjowski rescued Zagłoba and forced Bohun to escape with Cossack survivors. Later on, when Bohun traveled as an envoy, he challenged Wołodyjowski to a duel. After a long fight, he was seriously wounded. He recovered with the help of Rzędzian
, who unbeknown to Bohun was Skrzetuski's servant. He asked the boy to go to the Devil's Valley and take Helena to Kiev
. Instead Rzędzian helped Zagłoba and Wołodyjowski find Helena and free her.
Shortly after the Siege of Zbarazh
began. Bohun didn't manage to get there on time. He arrived a few days after the battle was over, when the peace treaty was signed. Enraged with the news, Bohun attacked the whole Polish army along with 300 men. He was taken prisoner by Wołodyjowski and his group (Sienkiewicz didn't write how Bohun was wounded). Skrzetuski, admiring Bohun's courage, set him free.
In the Epilogue of the novel, Bohun is said to have taken part in the Battle of Berestechko
in 1651. He then became the leader of Cossacks during Chmielnicki's absence. Although the battle was lost by Cossacks, Bohun managed to save himself and some part of Cossack army from the slaughter. He lived in rebuilt Rozłogi and fought against Poles in the following wars.
Although Bohun is generally a villain in the novel, his character is rather ambiguous. He is very passionate and hot-tempered. As an impulsive person, he often takes risk and often acts in a foolhardy manner. He often shows the cruel and violent side of his personality - he murders Kurcewicz brothers and nearly kills Rzędzian in the heat of anger. He is also willful and arrogant, he disobeys commands and doesn't care much for the possible consequences. After falling in love with Helena, he doesn't accept her refusal, and wants to force her to marry him.
On the other hand, Bohun is a man of incredible, almost insane bravery. He has no fear of death and many of his actions are simply reckless. He is a fine soldier who eagerly fights for the Cossack's freedom and always stays true to himself. He is also able to love one woman deeply and faithfully. Although Helena despises him, he respects her and is willing to do anything for her.
In the Epilogue of the novel we learn that after many years Bohun didn't change at all. As before, he wanted to stay independent and, most probably, still loved Helena.
With Fire and Sword
With Fire and Sword is a historical novel by the Polish author Henryk Sienkiewicz, published in 1884. It is the first volume of a series known to Poles as the Trilogy, followed by The Deluge and Fire in the Steppe , also translated as Colonel Wolodyjowski...
by Henryk Sienkiewicz
Henryk Sienkiewicz
Henryk Adam Aleksander Pius Sienkiewicz was a Polish journalist and Nobel Prize-winning novelist. A Polish szlachcic of the Oszyk coat of arms, he was one of the most popular Polish writers at the turn of the 19th and 20th centuries, and received the Nobel Prize in Literature in 1905 for his...
. He is a famous Cossack colonel of unknown origin, and originally a friend (more like an adopted son) of the Kurcewicz family. He falls in love with Helena Kurcewiczówna
Helena Kurcewiczówna
Helena Kurcewicz is a fictional character appearing in the novel With Fire and Sword by Henryk Sienkiewicz as the main female protagonist. She is also mentioned in The Deluge and in Colonel Wolodyjowski.Helena is a beautiful orphaned princess living with her aunt and cousins in Rozłogi...
and wants to marry her. However he is thwarted by his rival, Jan Skrzetuski
Jan Skrzetuski
Jan Skrzetuski is a fictional character created by Polish author Henryk Sienkiewicz in the novel With Fire and Sword. He is a man of honour, always faithful to his master, duke Jeremi Wiśniowiecki. He loves Helena Kurcewiczówna, who was kidnapped by the Ukrainian Cossack Bohun, who is also in...
, a Polish nobleman, who forces the matron, Princes Kurcewicz to promise him Helena's hand, with Helena's approval. Betrayed and rejected Bohun raids the Kurcewicz estate, slaughters the family, kidnaps Helena and joins the ongoing Cossack uprising
Khmelnytsky Uprising
The Khmelnytsky Uprising, was a Cossack rebellion in the Ukraine between the years 1648–1657 which turned into a Ukrainian war of liberation from Poland...
. The novel revolves around the struggle between Skrzetuski and Bohun with the Khmelnytsky Uprising
Khmelnytsky Uprising
The Khmelnytsky Uprising, was a Cossack rebellion in the Ukraine between the years 1648–1657 which turned into a Ukrainian war of liberation from Poland...
as historical background.
The character is based on the historical figure, Ivan Bohun
Ivan Bohun
Ivan Bohun was a Ukrainian Cossack colonel. Close associate and friend of Bohdan Khmelnytsky, he opposed both the pacts with Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth and with Tsardom of Russia ....
.
Bohun is portrayed by Aleksandr Domogarov
Aleksandr Domogarov
Aleksandr Domogarov is a Russian actor known for playing historical roles.Aleksandr Domogarov was born in 1963 in Moscow, USSR . He went to school from 1970 to 1980 and was planning to become an engineer. However he soon discovered it was not his profession and went into the Maly Theatre school...
in 1999 Jerzy Hoffman's
Jerzy Hoffman
Jerzy Hoffman is a Polish film director and screenwriter. He is the father of early Macintosh development team member Joanna Hoffman.-Selected filmography:*Battle of Warsaw 1920...
film With Fire and Sword
With Fire and Sword
With Fire and Sword is a historical novel by the Polish author Henryk Sienkiewicz, published in 1884. It is the first volume of a series known to Poles as the Trilogy, followed by The Deluge and Fire in the Steppe , also translated as Colonel Wolodyjowski...
.
Character history
Date of Bohun's birth is unknown, as well as the origin of his parents. He grew up in ZaporizhiaZaporizhia
Zaporizhia or Zaporozhye [formerly Alexandrovsk ] is a city in southeastern Ukraine, situated on the banks of the Dnieper River. It is the administrative center of the Zaporizhia Oblast...
, from early age becoming familiar with expeditions to the Black Sea
Black Sea
The Black Sea is bounded by Europe, Anatolia and the Caucasus and is ultimately connected to the Atlantic Ocean via the Mediterranean and the Aegean seas and various straits. The Bosphorus strait connects it to the Sea of Marmara, and the strait of the Dardanelles connects that sea to the Aegean...
and skirmishes with Tartars. He quicky gained fame among Cossacks for his outstanding courage and became their leader (ataman
Ataman
Ataman was a commander title of the Ukrainian People's Army, Cossack, and haidamak leaders, who were in essence the Cossacks...
). He became a friend of the Kurcewicz brothers, who often joined Cossacks on expeditions. He was treated like a member of their family. Their mother, widowed princess Kurcewicz, regarded him as her own son.
Bohun fell in love with Kurcewicz's orphaned cousin, princess Helena
Helena Kurcewiczówna
Helena Kurcewicz is a fictional character appearing in the novel With Fire and Sword by Henryk Sienkiewicz as the main female protagonist. She is also mentioned in The Deluge and in Colonel Wolodyjowski.Helena is a beautiful orphaned princess living with her aunt and cousins in Rozłogi...
but she despised him since he killed a man in her presence. Her aunt, however, agreed to give Bohun Helena's hand in marriage when he promised to let her keep Rozłogi (which was Helena's dowry).
Jan Skrzetuski
Jan Skrzetuski is a fictional character created by Polish author Henryk Sienkiewicz in the novel With Fire and Sword. He is a man of honour, always faithful to his master, duke Jeremi Wiśniowiecki. He loves Helena Kurcewiczówna, who was kidnapped by the Ukrainian Cossack Bohun, who is also in...
fell in love with each other. Bohun discovered that Kurcewiczes had betrayed him and promised the girl to the Pole. In the company of Zagłoba and some Cossacks from his regiment, he rushed to Rozłogi, intending to kidnap Helena and take revenge on her family. During the fight he killed Symeon and Mikołaj, the two Kurcewicz brothers. The old princess was strangled by Bohun's Cossacks.
Helena escaped from Rozłogi with Zagłoba and Bohun with his men set off in pursuit. On his way, Bohun attacked a group of Polish troops, which was equivalent to joining the ongoing Cossack rebellion. Despite a long and desperate search, he didn't manage to find Zagłoba and Helena. Eventually he finally discovered the girl in the Bar fortress, where Zagłoba had hidden her. He captured the city and saved his beloved from the slaughter. Helena, at the very sight of him, stabbed herself with a knife. Bohun took her to Devil's Valley at the Dniester
Dniester
The Dniester is a river in Eastern Europe. It runs through Ukraine and Moldova and separates most of Moldova's territory from the breakaway de facto state of Transnistria.-Names:...
. He put her in witch Horpyna's care and left.
He was sent against Polish troops as a spy. He defeated a group led by Zagłoba and imprisoned him. However, Polish relief led by Michał Wołodyjowski soon came. Wołodyjowski rescued Zagłoba and forced Bohun to escape with Cossack survivors. Later on, when Bohun traveled as an envoy, he challenged Wołodyjowski to a duel. After a long fight, he was seriously wounded. He recovered with the help of Rzędzian
Rzedzian
Rzędzian is a fictional character created by Henryk Sienkiewicz. He appears as the secondary character in With Fire and Sword and in The Deluge. He is a poor Polish nobleman who serves Jan Skrzetuski. He's cunning and greedy but always loyal to his master. He helps to free Helena Kurcewiczówna from...
, who unbeknown to Bohun was Skrzetuski's servant. He asked the boy to go to the Devil's Valley and take Helena to Kiev
Kiev
Kiev or Kyiv is the capital and the largest city of Ukraine, located in the north central part of the country on the Dnieper River. The population as of the 2001 census was 2,611,300. However, higher numbers have been cited in the press....
. Instead Rzędzian helped Zagłoba and Wołodyjowski find Helena and free her.
Shortly after the Siege of Zbarazh
Siege of Zbarazh
The Siege of Zbarazh was a 1649 battle of the Khmelnytsky Uprising.The Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth forces held their positions besieged in the Zbarazh Castle until in the aftermath of Battle of Zboriv and the Treaty of Zboriv the hostilities paused and the siege ended. These events were...
began. Bohun didn't manage to get there on time. He arrived a few days after the battle was over, when the peace treaty was signed. Enraged with the news, Bohun attacked the whole Polish army along with 300 men. He was taken prisoner by Wołodyjowski and his group (Sienkiewicz didn't write how Bohun was wounded). Skrzetuski, admiring Bohun's courage, set him free.
In the Epilogue of the novel, Bohun is said to have taken part in the Battle of Berestechko
Battle of Berestechko
The Battle of Berestechko was fought between rebellious Zaporozhian Cossacks, led by Hetman Bohdan Khmelnytsky, aided by their Crimean Tatar allies, and a Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth army under King John II Casimir. It was the largest land battle of 17th century.Lasting from June 28 to June 30,...
in 1651. He then became the leader of Cossacks during Chmielnicki's absence. Although the battle was lost by Cossacks, Bohun managed to save himself and some part of Cossack army from the slaughter. He lived in rebuilt Rozłogi and fought against Poles in the following wars.
Description
Bohun is a tall, strong, young man. He's black-haired and has got dark eyes.
He saw now a young hero, straight as a poplar, with splendid brunette face, and rich, dark, drooping mustache. On that face gladness burst through the pensive mood of the Ukraine, as the sun through a mist. The leader had a lofty forehead, on which his dark hair drooped as a mane above his powerful brow. An aquiline nose, dilated nostrils, and white teeth, shining at every smile, gave the face a slight expression of rapacity; but on the whole it was a model of Ukraine beauty, luxuriant, full of character and defiance.
Although Bohun is generally a villain in the novel, his character is rather ambiguous. He is very passionate and hot-tempered. As an impulsive person, he often takes risk and often acts in a foolhardy manner. He often shows the cruel and violent side of his personality - he murders Kurcewicz brothers and nearly kills Rzędzian in the heat of anger. He is also willful and arrogant, he disobeys commands and doesn't care much for the possible consequences. After falling in love with Helena, he doesn't accept her refusal, and wants to force her to marry him.
On the other hand, Bohun is a man of incredible, almost insane bravery. He has no fear of death and many of his actions are simply reckless. He is a fine soldier who eagerly fights for the Cossack's freedom and always stays true to himself. He is also able to love one woman deeply and faithfully. Although Helena despises him, he respects her and is willing to do anything for her.
In the Epilogue of the novel we learn that after many years Bohun didn't change at all. As before, he wanted to stay independent and, most probably, still loved Helena.
The haughty Bogun refused every guardianship, and was ready to defend his Cossack freedom with the sword. It was said, too, that a smile never appeared on the lips of this strange man. He lived not in Lubni, but in a village which he raised from its ashes, and which was called Rozlogi.