Battle of Cecora (1620) - Aftermath

Aftermath

In 1621 an army of 200,000-250,000 Ottoman veterans, led by Osman II, advanced from Edirne towards the Polish frontier. The Ottomans, following their victory in the Battle of Cecora, had high hopes of conquering Ukraine, at the time a part of Poland. Polish commander Jan Karol Chodkiewicz crossed the Dniester in September with approximately 35,000 troops and Cossack supporters and entrenched at the Khotyn Fortress, blocking the path of the Ottoman march, which was very slow. It was here that, for more than a month (2 September-9 October), that the Commonwealth hetman held the sultan at bay, until the first autumn snow (Battle of Khotyn). The lateness of the season and the loss of approximately 40,000 men in battle compelled Osman II to ask for negotiations to begin. A few days before the siege was to be lifted, the aged grand hetman died of exhaustion in the fortress (24 September 1621). The battle was a stalemate and the resulting Treaty of Khotyn reflected it, providing some concessions to the Commonwealth but meeting all the demands of the Ottomans.

Osman II blamed the stalemate of war on the lack of zeal and the "degeneracy" of the janissaries. His efforts at modernizing the Ottoman army were not well received by the janissaries and the conservative "learned" class. A revolt led by janissaries and the students of madrasas erupted on 18 May 1622 and Osman II was deposed; two days later he was killed by the rebels who deposed him.