Did a group of defiant Cossacks actually insult a powerful Sultan?

Countries & Cities · Published 12 October 2026 Swipe more like this →

In short: Ilya Repin's masterpiece depicts a legendary moment of pure, vulgar defiance. Whether the Zaporozhian Cossacks truly sent a profane letter to Sultan Mehmed IV in 1676 remains a matter of historical debate, caught between historical legend and 19th-century folklore.

The painting, titled 'Reply of the Zaporozhian Cossacks,' was a massive undertaking for Russian realist artist Ilya Repin, who worked on the canvas from 1880 until 1891. The scene is set in 1676 and depicts the Zaporozhian Cossacks—inhabitants of the lands around the lower Dnieper River—responding to an ultimatum from Ottoman Sultan Mehmed IV. Despite having suffered losses to the Cossacks in battle, the Sultan demanded their submission. The legend claims the Cossacks, led by Ivan Sirko, responded with a letter filled with insults and profanities.

While the painting is a cultural icon, historians note that the event's authenticity is disputed. There is no concrete or reliable evidence that this specific exchange occurred. Historian Daniel C. Waugh observed that the correspondence may have undergone a textual transformation during the 18th century. He suggests that the original correspondence involving the Chyhyryn Cossacks was likely more satirical, but was later debased into the vulgar version that gained widespread popularity in the 19th century.

Repin's work was deeply influenced by the era's romanticized view of the Cossacks, who were often portrayed in picaresque tales as symbols of primitive vitality and a disregard for authority. To ensure authenticity, Repin consulted the historian Dmytro Yavornytsky and used various study drawings from locations like Yekaterinoslav and Kachanivka. The painting's legacy is vast, ranging from parodies in Russian culture to musical adaptations by Dmitri Shostakovich and Léo Ferré, and it remains a subject of cultural identity, with Russia and Ukraine claiming it as part of their respective heritages.

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