The Battle of Zahal was fought between the Zaporozhian Host and the Crimean Khanate against the Polish–Lithuanian Commonwealth as a part of the Khmelnytsky Uprising on 17–18 June 1649. Near the site of the present-day town of Zahal in Belarus, the combined forces of the Zaporozhians and Tatars under the command of Polkovnyk Illia Holota were defeated by the Polish–Lithuanian Commonwealth's forces under the command of Hetman Władysław Wołłowicz, Walerian Falencki, Jan Donowaj and Samuel Smólski.
Background The Zaporozhian and Tatar forces numbered around 3,000 men, the core of which was part of the Kaniv Regiment and Tatar cavalry, while the rest were rebellious Ukrainian peasants.Henryk Wisner, “Janusz Radziwiłł 1612–1655”. Wydawnictwo MADA, Warszawa 2000”. The Polish–Lithuanian troops numbered approximately 1,550 men and were commanded by Hetman Władysław Wołłowicz.Grzegorz Rąkowski, “Poleskie ostatki. Czar Polesia. Pruszków: Oficyna Wydawnicza „Rewasz”, 2005, s. 486, seria: Smak Kresów”. ISBN 83-85557-92-X. The Zaporozhians and Tatars got through by the boats to on the Prypiat and then continued by land.
Battle On 17–18 June 1649, the Zaporozhian-Tatar attacked the Polish–Lithuanian forces, which were camped near the village of Zahal. The Polish–Lithuanian forces were unexpectedly reinforced by the troops of Hrehore Mirski, numbering around 150 dragoons and 200 German mercenary infantry. Thanks to the relief attack on the rear of the Zaporozhian and Tatars, the Polish–Lithuanian forces from the camp in Zahal were able to enter the field and soundly defeat the Zaporozhian-Tatar force.
Casualties Polkovnyk Illia Holota died in combat while the total Zaporozhian and Tatar casualties reached up to 1,600 men.Tomasz Ciesielski, “Od Batohu do Żwańca. Wojna na Ukrainie i w księstwach naddunajskich 1652–1653. Warszawa: „Inforteditions”, 2008”. ISBN 978-83-89943-23-1.
On the Polish–Lithuanian side, casualties amounted to around 216 men. Among others, one of the commanders, Walerian Falencki, was injured in the battle.Piotr Borawski, “Tatarzy w dawnej Rzeczypospolitej. Warszawa: Ludowa Spółdzielnia Wydawnicza, 1986, s. 134”. ISBN 83-205-3747-9.
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Poleskie ostatki. W: Grzegorz Rąkowski: Czar Polesia. Pruszków: Oficyna Wydawnicza "Rewasz", 2005, p. 486, seria: Smak Kresów. . Piotr Borawski: Tatarzy w dawnej Rzeczypospolitej. Warszawa: Ludowa Spółdzielnia Wydawnicza, 1986, p. 134. . Tomasz Ciesielski: Od Batohu do Żwańca. Wojna na Ukrainie i w księstwach naddunajskich 1652–1653. Warszawa: „Inforteditions”, 2008. . Henryk Wisner Janusz Radziwiłł 1612–1655, Wydawnictwo MADA, Warszawa 2000