Uman

Uman () is a city located in the Cherkasy Oblast (province) in central Ukraine, to the east of Vinnytsia. The city rests on the banks of the Umanka River at around , and serves as the self-governing administrative center of the Umanskyi Raion (district).

History

Uman is known since 1616 as a defensive fort built against Tatar raids and a prominent Cossack regiment was stationed in the town. In 1670–1674, Uman was a residence of the Hetman of right-bank Ukraine.



The 1768 Massacre of Uman occurred after Cossack (Haidamaky) rebels Maksym Zalizniak and Ivan Gonta captured Uman during the anti-Polish uprising known as "Koliyivschyna" in the area (Uman's modern coat-of-arms commemorates the event depicting a "Koliy" rebel armed with a spear). Tens of thousands of Polish nobles and Jews from the surrounding areas fled to the Cossack garrison in Uman for protection. The military commander of Uman betrayed the city and let in the cossacks in exchange for the sparing of gentiles. In the span of three days, approximately 20,000 Poles and Jews were slain.

In 1793, Uman became part of the Russian Empire and a number of aristocratic residences were built there. Uman's landmark is a famous park complex, Sofiyivka (Софiївка; Polish: Zofiówka), founded in 1796 by Count Stanisław Szczęsny Potocki, a noble Polish szlachcic, who named it for his wife Sofia. The park features a number of waterfalls and...
Read More