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

Prevodilac: Ivana Krivokuća Lektor: Kristina Radosavljević

Despite a serene sunset on the Dnipro river,

Uprkos spokojnom zalasku sunca na reci Dnjepar,

the mood is tense for the Zaporozhian Cossacks.

raspoloženje je napeto među zaporoškim kozacima.

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

Godina je 1676. i žuravenjski sporazum je zvanično okončao neprijateljstva

between the Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth and the Ottoman Empire.

između Državne zajednice Poljske i Litvanije i Osmanskog carstva.

But as Stepan and his men ride towards their stronghold,

Ali dok Stepan i njegovi ljudi jašu prema svom uporištu,

peace is far from their minds.

mir im nije na pameti.

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

Nakon što su se nastanili u Divljim poljima severno od Crnog mora,

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

ovi kozaci - što je izvedeno od turske reči za „slobodnog čoveka“ -

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

bili su poznati kao jedna od najstrašnijih vojnih sila u Evropi.

Composed of hunters, fishermen, nomads and outlaws,

Sačinjeni od lovaca, ribara, nomada i odmetnika,

the Cossacks found freedom in these fertile unclaimed lands.

kozaci su pronašli slobodu u ovim plodnim neistraženim zemljama.

Yet this freedom has proven increasingly difficult to maintain.

Međutim, pokazalo se da je tu slobodu sve teže održati.

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

Višedecenijska strategija prelaženja u savez čas sa Poljskom, čas sa Moskvom,

has led to the partitioning of their lands.

dovela je do parčanja njihove zemlje.

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

U očajničkoj nameri da povrate nezavisnost i opet ujedine slomljenu kozačku državu,

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

njihov najnoviji vođa, hetman Petro Dorošenko,

ušao je u savez sa Osmanskim carstvom.

This alliance successfully freed the Zaporozhian Cossacks

Ovaj savez je uspešno oslobodio zaporoške kozake

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

na zapadu od poljske dominacije, ali njihova pobeda je bila gorka.

Doroshenko’s Ottoman allies ravaged the countryside,

Dorošenkovi osmanski saveznici opustošili su sela

carrying off peasants into slavery.

i odveli seljake u ropstvo.

And outrage at allying with Muslims against fellow Christians

A ogorčenost zbog savezništva sa muslimanima protiv braće hrišćana

cost him any remaining local support.

koštali su ga preostale lokalne podrške.

Now, with Doroshenko deposed and exiled,

Sad kad je Dorošenko svrgnut i prognan,

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

kozaci su u sukobu i ne slažu se oko toga šta treba da bude njihov sledeći potez.

Until then, Stepan must keep order.

Do tada, Stepan mora da održava red.

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

Sa svojom musketom i zakrivljenom sabljom, izdvaja se kao impozantna ličnost.

He surveys his battalion of 180 men.

Nadgleda bataljon od 180 ljudi.

Most are Orthodox Christians and speak a Slavic language

Većina su pravoslavni hrišćani i govore slovenskim jezikom

that will become modern Ukrainian.

koji će postati savremeni ukrajinski.

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

Ali tu su i Grci, Tatari, pa čak i neki mongolski Kalmici,

many with different opinions on recent events.

od kojih mnogi imaju različita mišljenja o nedavnim događajima.

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

Zvanično, svi Stepanovi ljudi su se zakleli da će podržati kozački kod

by undergoing seven years of military training and remaining unmarried.

tako što će proći sedam godina vojne obuke i ostati neoženjeni.

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

U praksi, neki su honorarci, više se drže svojih tradicija,

and maintaining families in nearby villages, outside Cossack lands.

i imaju porodice u obližnjim selima, izvan kozačkih poseda.

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

Srećom, slab mir nije narušen pre nego što su stigli u Sič -

the center of Cossack military life.

središte vojničkog života kozaka.

Currently located at Chortomlyk,

Trenutno je u Čortomliku,

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

ali lokacija Siča se menja u skladu sa tokom vojne akcije.

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

Naselje je izuzetno dobro organizovano, sa administrativnim zgradama,

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

oficirskim četvrtima, pa čak i školama, jer kozaci cene pismenost.

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

Stepan i njegovi ljudi kreću u kasarnu u kojoj žive i obučavaju se,

alongside several other battalions or kurins,

pored nekoliko drugih bataljona ili kurina,

all of which make up a several hundred man regiment.

a koji zajedno čine puk od nekoliko stotina ljudi.

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

Unutra ljudi večeraju sušenu ribu, ovčji sir i usoljenu svinjsku mast -

along with plenty of wine.

uz mnogo vina.

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

Stepan nalaže svom prijatelju Juriju da podigne raspoloženje svojom bandurom.

But before long, an argument has broken out.

Ali ubrzo je izbila svađa.

One of his men has raised a toast to Doroshenko.

Jedan od njegovih ljudi nazdravio je za Dorošenka.

Stepan cuts him off.

Stepan ga prekida.

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

U prostoriji je tiho sve dok on ne krene da nazdravlja Ivanu Sirku,

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

novom hetmanu koji se zalaže za savez sa Moskvom protiv Turaka.

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

Stepan planira da ga podrži i očekuje da će i njegovi ljudi učiniti isto.

Suddenly, one of Sirko’s men rushes in,

Odjednom upada jedan od Sirkovih ljudi

calling an emergency Rada, or general council meeting.

i poziva na hitnu „radu“, ili opšti sastanak saveta.

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

Stepan i ostali idu ka crkvenom trgu -

the center of Sich life.

središtu sičkog života.

Ivan Sirko welcomes the confused crowd with exciting news—

Ivan Sirko pozdravlja zbunjenu gomilu uzbudljivim vestima -

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

izviđači su otkrili veliki osmanski logor koji je podložan napadu sa jedne strane.

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

Sirko obećava da će sutra jurišati protiv svog zajedničkog neprijatelja,

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

odbraniti autonomiju kozaka i doneti jedinstvo na Divlja polja.

As the men cheer in unison,

Dok ljudi kliču uglas,

Stepan is relieved at their renewed sense of brotherhood.

Stepanu je laknulo zbog obnovljenog osećaja bratstva.

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

Tokom narednih 200 godina, ovi borci za slobodu steći će brojne neprijatelje.

And tragically,

I tragično,

they would eventually become the oppressive hand of the Russian government

na kraju će postati represivna ruka ruske vlade

they once opposed.

kojoj su se nekad protivili.

But today, these 17th century Cossacks

Ali danas se ovi kozaci iz 17. veka

are remembered for their spirit of independence and defiance.

pamte po svom duhu nezavisnosti i prkosa.

As the Russian painter Ilya Repin once said:

Kao što je jednom rekao ruski slikar Ilija Repin:

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

„Nijedan narod na svetu nije doživljavao slobodu,

jednakost i bratstvo tako duboko.“