Burliai, Kindrat

Burliai, Kindrat [Бурляй, Кіндрат; Burljaj], 17th century; dates unknown. First colonel of the Hadiach regiment (1648–9), a close associate of Bohdan Khmelnytsky, and a leading Cossack diplomat. As Khmelnytsky’s emissary at the beginning of 1648, he led negotiations with Khan Islam-Girei III concerning an alliance against Poland. In 1653 he headed the Cossack legation to Moscow to prepare for the Treaty of Pereiaslav of 1654. In 1655 he again traveled to Moscow, in an unsuccessful mission to obtain the tsar’s approval of an alliance between Khmelnytsky and Sweden against Poland. Burliai’s further activities are unknown.

[This article originally appeared in the Encyclopedia of Ukraine, vol. 1 (1984).]