Danylo Nechai

Danylo Nechay (Ukrainian: Дани́ло Неча́й, Polish: Danylo Nieczaj or Neczaj) (1612 – February 20, 1651) was a Ukrainian Cossack military commander and activist, a leader during the Cossack-Polish War, Colonel of Bratslav in Podolia from 1648–51 and the brother of Ivan Nechay. He led the slaughter of thousands of Jews in Ukraine.

The Nieczaj family coat of arms, version of Pobóg Polish coat of arms

Nechay was thought to have been born in the Podolian town Bar to a noble family. On July 20, 1648, Nechai and Maksym Kryvonis led the Cossack's slaughter of Medzhybizh 2,500 Jewish residents. He was honoured for his role in Medzhybizh, Zbarazh, and in the Battle of Zborov (Zboriv) in 1649.[1][2] The Jewish population in Medzhybizh was virtually eradicated, and there were no burials recorded for several years after 1648, consistent with depopulation.

In 1651 he commanded the south-western front. He was opposed to the signing of the Treaty of Zboriv in 1649; he believed it compromised the position of the Cossacks. With Tymish Khmelnytsky he took part in the campaign against Moldavia, and captured the city of Iaşi in September 1650. He died in battle with numerically superior Polish forces, led by Polish hetman Marcin Kalinowski, who stole the Nechay coat of arms/ made a copy and changed it. This matter was in the town of Krasne, in the Podil region. Nechay is Ukrainian folk hero, he is often sung about in folk songs like ideal Cossack's knight.

A granite obelisk was erected on his grave in 1954.