Yuri Bohun

Jur Bohun
File:Jur Bohun.jpg Portrait of Bohun
First appearance	With Fire and Sword
Created by	Henryk Sienkiewicz
Portrayed by	Aleksandr Domogarov
In-universe information
Nickname	Jurko
Gender	Male
Title	Ataman
Family	Unknown
Religion	Christian
Nationality	Cossack

Jur Bohun (also Yuri Bogun) is the main antagonist in the novel With Fire and Sword by Henryk Sienkiewicz. He is a famous Cossack colonel of unknown origin, and originally a friend (more like an adopted son) of the Kurcewicz family. He falls in love with Helena Kurcewiczówna and wants to marry her. However he is thwarted by his rival, Jan Skrzetuski, a Polish nobleman, who forces the matron, Princes Kurcewicz to promise him Helena's hand, with Helena's approval. Betrayed and rejected Bohun raids the Kurcewicz estate, slaughters the family, kidnaps Helena and joins the ongoing Cossack uprising. The novel revolves around the struggle between Skrzetuski and Bohun with the Khmelnytsky Uprising as historical background.

The character is based on the historical figure, Ivan Bohun.

Bohun is portrayed by Aleksandr Domogarov in 1999 Jerzy Hoffman's film With Fire and Sword.

Character history

Date of Bohun's birth is unknown, as well as the origin of his parents. He grew up in Zaporizhia, from early age becoming familiar with expeditions to the Black Sea and skirmishes with Tartars. He quicky gained fame among Cossacks for his outstanding courage and became their leader (ataman). He became a friend of Kurcewicz brothers, who often joined Cossacks during expeditions. He was treated like a member of their family. Their mother, widowed princess Kurcewicz, regarded him as her own son.

Bohun fell in love with Kurcewicz's orphaned cousin, princess Helena but she despised him since he killed a man in her presence. Her aunt, however, agreed to give Bohun Helena's hand in marriage when he promised to let her keep Rozłogi (which was Helena's dowry).

Bohun and Zagłoba by Juliusz Kossak

In 1648 Bohun served Poland as the lieutenant-colonel of Pereiaslav regiment. In this time Helena and the Polish lieutenant Jan Skrzetuski fell in love with each other. Bohun discovered that Kurcewiczs had betrayed him and promised the girl to the Pole. In the company of Zagłoba and some Cossacks from his regiment, he rushed to Rozłogi, intending to kidnap Helena and take revenge on her family. During the fight he killed Symeon and Mikołaj. The old princess was strangled by Cossacks.

Helena escaped from Rozłogi with Zagłoba and Bohun with his men set off in pursuit. On his way, Bohun attacked a group of Polish troops, which was equivalent to joining the Cossack rebellion. Despite long and desperate search, he didn't manage to find Zagłoba and Helena. The novel doesn't say, how he finally discovered that the girl was in Bar. He captured the city and saved his beloved from the slaughter. Helena, at the very sight of him, stabbed herself with a knife. Bohun took her to Devil's Valley at the Dniester. He put her in witch Horpyna's care and left.

He was sent against Polish troops as a spy. He defeated a group led by Zagłoba and imprisoned him. However, soon came Polish relief led by Michał Wołodyjowski. He rescued Zagłoba and forced Bohun to escape with Cossack survivors. When Bohun travelled as an envoy, he challenged Wołodyjowski to a duel. After a long fight, he became seriously wounded. He recovered with the help of Rzędzian. He asked the boy to go to the Devil's Valley and take Helena to Kiev. Rzędzian, being Skrzetuski's servant, helped Zagłoba and Wołodyjowski to find Helena and free her.

Soon began the Siege of Zbarazh. Bohun didn't manage to get there on time. He arrived a few days after the battle was over, when the peace treaty was signed. Enraged with such news, Bohun attacked the whole Polish army along with 300 men. He was wounded by Wołodyjowski and taken prisoner. Skrzetuski, admiring Bohun's courage, set him free.

In the Epilogue of the novel, Bohun is said to have taken part in the Battle of Berestechko in 1651. He became then the leader of Cossacks while Chmielnicki's absence. Although the battle was lost by Cossacks, Bohun managed to save himself and some part of Cossack army from the slaughter. He lived in rebuilt Rozłogi and fought against Poles in the next wars.

Description

Bohun is a tall, strong, young man. He's black-haired and has got dark eyes.

He saw now a young hero, straight as a poplar, with splendid brunette face, and rich, dark, drooping mustache. On that face gladness burst through the pensive mood of the Ukraine, as the sun through a mist. The leader had a lofty forehead, on which his dark hair drooped as a mane above his powerful brow. An aquiline nose, dilated nostrils, and white teeth, shining at every smile, gave the face a slight expression of rapacity; but on the whole it was a model of Ukraine beauty, luxuriant, full of character and defiance.

Although Bohun is a villain in the novel, his personality is rather ambiguous. He is very passionate and hot-tempered. As an impulsive person, he often takes risk and hardly ever acts reasonably. He often shows the cruel and violent side of his personality - he murders Kurcewicz brothers and nearly kills Rzędzian in the heat of anger. He is also wilful and arrogant, he disobeys commands and doesn't care much of its possible consequences. After falling in love with Helena, he doesn't accept her refusal, he wants to force her to marry him.

On the other hand, Bohun is a man of incredible, almost insane bravery. He has no fear of death, many of his actions are simply reckless. He is a fine soldier who eagerly fights for the Cossack's freedom and always stays true to himself. He is also able to love one woman deeply and faithfully. Although Helena despises him, he respects her and is willing to do anything for her.

In the Epilogue of the novel we learn that after many years Bohun didn't change at all. As before, he wanted to stay independent and, most probably, still loved Helena.

The haughty Bogun refused every guardianship, and was ready to defend his Cossack freedom with the sword. It was said, too, that a smile never appeared on the lips of this strange man. He lived not in Lubni, but in a village which he raised from its ashes, and which was called Rozlogi.

See also

• Ivan Bohun
• Zaporozhian Cossacks