A day in the life of a Cossack warrior - Alex Gendler

Translator: Zahra Wijaya Reviewer: Ade Indarta

Despite a serene sunset on the Dnipro river,

Meskipun senjanya sunyi di sungai Dnieper,

the mood is tense for the Zaporozhian Cossacks.

suasanya tegang bagi Cossack Zaphorizhia.

The year is 1676, and the Treaty of Żurawno has officially ended hostilities

Tahunnya adalah 1676, dan Perjanjian Żurawno telah mengakhiri permusuhan

between the Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth and the Ottoman Empire.

antara Persemakmuran Polandia-Lituania dan Kesultanan Utsmaniyah.

But as Stepan and his men ride towards their stronghold,

Tetapi saat Stepan dan anak buahnya menuju benteng pertahanannya,

peace is far from their minds.

mereka tidak memikirkan kedamaian.

Having made their home in the Wild Fields north of the Black Sea,

Berwisma di Dzike Polie, di utara Laut Hitam,

these cossacks— derived from a Turkic word for "free man"—

para Cossack— dari kata dalam bahasa Turki yang berarti "bebas"—

are renowned as one of Europe’s most formidable military forces.

terkenal sebagai kekuatan militer yang paling tangguh di Eropa.

Composed of hunters, fishermen, nomads and outlaws,

Para Cossack terdiri dari pemburu, nelayan, nomad, dan penjahat.

the Cossacks found freedom in these fertile unclaimed lands.

Mereka menemukan kebebasan di tanah yang subur dan belum dimiliki.

Yet this freedom has proven increasingly difficult to maintain.

Namun kebebasan ini semakin lama semakin susah untuk dipertahankan.

Their decades-long strategy of shifting alliances between Poland and Moscow

Strategi mereka yang berpindah persekutuan antara Polandia dan Moskow

has led to the partitioning of their lands.

mengakibatkan pemisahan wilayah mereka.

In a desperate bid to reclaim independence and reunite the fractured Cossack state,

Dalam percobaan mengembalikan kemerdekaan dan menyatukan wilayah Cossack kembali,

their most recent leader, hetman Petro Doroshenko allied with the Ottoman Empire.

pemimpin Cossack terbaru, hetman Petro Doroshenko

bersekutu bersama Kesultanan Utsmaniyah.

This alliance successfully freed the Zaporozhian Cossacks

Persekutuan ini membebaskan Cossack Cossack Zaphorizhia

in the west from Polish dominion, but their victory was a bitter one.

di barat dari kekuasaan Polandia, namun kemenangannya tidak tanpa kerugian.

Doroshenko’s Ottoman allies ravaged the countryside,

Sekutu Utsmaniyah Doroshenko merusak wilayah pedesaan,

carrying off peasants into slavery.

membawa rakyat jelata menjadi budak.

And outrage at allying with Muslims against fellow Christians

Dan kemarahan akibat bersekutu bersama para Muslim melawan sesama Kristen

cost him any remaining local support.

menghilangkan dukungan yang tersisa.

Now, with Doroshenko deposed and exiled,

Sekarang, Doroshenko dimakzul dan diasingkan,

the Cossacks are at odds, disagreeing on what their next move should be.

para Cossack bingung, tidak setuju tentang langkah berikut mereka.

Until then, Stepan must keep order.

Hingga saat itu, Stepan harus menjaga ketertiban.

With his musket and curved saber, he cuts an imposing figure.

Dengan senapan lontak dan sabelnya, ia tampak gagah.

He surveys his battalion of 180 men.

Stepan memeriksa batalyonnya, yang terdiri dari 180 prajurit.

Most are Orthodox Christians and speak a Slavic language

Mayoritas adalah Kristen Ortodoks, dan menggunakan bahasa Slavik

that will become modern Ukrainian.

yang akan menjadi bahasa Ukrania modern.

But there are also Greeks, Tatars, and even some Mongolian Kalmyks,

Namun ada juga orang Yunani, Tatar, dan beberapa Kalmuk dari Mongolia,

many with different opinions on recent events.

yang berpendapat beda-beda akan kejadian yang barusan berlalu.

Officially, all of Stepan’s men have sworn to uphold the Cossack code

Secara resmi, semua prajurit Stepan telah bersumpah untuk menjujung kode Cossack

by undergoing seven years of military training and remaining unmarried.

dengan melalui tujuh tahun pelatihan militer dan tidak menikah.

In practice, some are part-timers, holding more closely to their own traditions,

Namun dalam praktiknya, ada beberapa yang lebih memilih tradisinya sendiri

and maintaining families in nearby villages, outside Cossack lands.

dan berkeluarga di dusun di luar wilayah Cossack.

Thankfully, the tenuous peace is not broken before they reach the Sich—

Untungnya, kesunyiannya tidak hilang sebelum mereka sampai ke Sich—

the center of Cossack military life.

titik pusat dari kehidupan militer Cossack.

Currently located at Chortomlyk,

Sekarang letaknya ada di Chortomlyk,

the Sich’s location shifts with the tide of military action.

namun letaknya berpindah dengan pusat kejadian militer.

The settlement is remarkably well- organized, with administrative buildings,

Huniannya sangat rapi, dengan gedung administratif,

officers’ quarters, and even schools, as Cossacks prize literacy.

rumah petugas, bahkan sekolah, karena para Cossack menjunjung tinggi literasi.

Stepan and his men make their way to the barracks where they live and train

Stepan dan prajuritnya kembali ke perkemahan tempat tinggal serta latihan,

alongside several other battalions or kurins,

bersama beberapa batalyon, atau kurin, lain.

all of which make up a several hundred man regiment.

Semuanya merupakan anggota resimen yang terdiri dari beberapa ratus anggota.

Inside, the men dine on dried fish, sheep’s cheese, and salted pork fat—

Di dalam, para prajurit menikmati ikan kering, keju kambing, dan lemak babi asin—

along with plenty of wine.

tentu saja dengan anggur yang banyak.

Stepan instructs his friend Yuri to lighten the mood with his bandura.

Stepan menyuruh temannya, Yuri, untuk mencairkan suasana dengan banduranya.

But before long, an argument has broken out.

Tidak lama setelah itu, mulailah sebuah pertengkaran.

One of his men has raised a toast to Doroshenko.

Salah satu prajuritnya bersulang untuk Doroshenko.

Stepan cuts him off.

Stepan memotong pembicaraannya.

The room is silent until he raises his own toast to Ivan Sirko,

Ruangannya hening hingga Stepan bersulang untuk Ivan Sirko,

the new hetman who favors an alliance with Moscow against the Turks.

hetman baru yang lebih memilih persekutuan dengan Moskow melawan Turki.

Stepan plans to support him, and he expects his men to do the same.

Stepan berencana mendukungnya, dan ia mengharap prajuritnya juga mendukungnya.

Suddenly, one of Sirko’s men rushes in,

Tiba-tiba, salah satu prajurit Sirko datang,

calling an emergency Rada, or general council meeting.

memanggil Rada darurat, atau pertemuan dewan umum.

Stepan and the others make their way towards the church square—

Stepan dan yang lain berangkat ke halaman gereja—

the center of Sich life.

pusat dari kehidupan di Sich.

Ivan Sirko welcomes the confused crowd with exciting news—

Ivan Sirko menyambut gerombolan yang bingung dengan kabar baik—

scouts have located a large Ottoman camp completely vulnerable on one side.

para pengintai telah menemukan perkemahan Utsmaniyah yang mudah diserang.

Sirko vows that tomorrow, they will ride against their common enemy,

Sirko berjanji bahwa besok, mereka akan bangkit melawan musuh bersamanya,

defend the Cossacks’ autonomy, and bring unity to the Wild Fields.

mempertahankan kemerdekaan para Cossack, dan merdekakan Dzike Polie.

As the men cheer in unison,

Saat prajuritnya bersorak bersama,

Stepan is relieved at their renewed sense of brotherhood.

Stepan lega karena hubungan para prajurit membaik.

Over the next 200 years, these freedom fighters would take on many foes.

Pada 200 tahun berikutnya, para prajurit gagah ini akan melawan banyak musuh.

And tragically,

Dan sedihnya,

they would eventually become the oppressive hand of the Russian government

mereka akhirnya menjadi anak buah pemerintah Rusia

they once opposed.

yang dulunya mereka lawan.

But today, these 17th century Cossacks

Namun hari ini, Cossack abad ke-17 ini

are remembered for their spirit of independence and defiance.

dikenang karena semangat kemandirian dan pembangkangannya.

As the Russian painter Ilya Repin once said:

Seperti yang dikatakan pelukis Rusia, Ilya Repin:

“No people in the world held freedom, equality, and fraternity so deeply.”

"Tidak ada sekaum pun yang begitu mementingkan

kebebasan, kesetaraan, dan persaudaraan."