Tugay Bey (; ; ; ) sometimes also spelled as
Tugai Bey (d. June, 1651) was a notable military leader and politician of the
Crimean Tatars.
Toğay descended from the Arğıns - one of noble Crimean families, and his full name is
Arğın Doğan Toğay bey. "
Bey" is actually a title, which he received on becoming the chief of
Or Qapı (
Perekop)
sanjak, an important position in the
Crimean Khanate, since the
Isthmus of Perekop is the neck to
Crimean Peninsula and was crucial to its defense.
Tugay Bey became the bey of
Or Qapı (Or Bey) sometime between 1642 and 1644, an important position of the
Crimean Khanate who was in charge of Or Qapı fortress - the gateway to the peninsula. By 1644 he had enough authority for the
Khan of Crimea to entrust to him leadership of the major Tatar expedition against Poland. However, Tugay Bey's army was intercepted by the Polish army under hetman Koniecpolski before reaching the densely populated regions of Ukraine and defeated in the
First Battle of Okhmativ.
In 1648 he brought an army (estimated 6,000-20,000) to help
Bohdan Khmelnytsky during the
Cossack's
Khmelnytsky Uprising against the
Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth. There he took part in several important battles and was eventually killed during the
Battle of Berestechko.
He was portrayed in the Polish novel and film
With Fire and Sword. In the film he was played by
Daniel...
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