Ilya Repin: Reply of the Zaporozhian Cossacks to Sultan Mehmed IV (1880–1891)

(State Russian Museum, Saint Petersburg, Russia)

A painting by the Russian artist Ilya Repin (1844-1930). This piece shows a supposedly historical event. According to the story the zaporozhian cossacks, inhabiting the lands around the lower Dnieper River in Ukraine, had defeated the Ottoman Empire in various battles. The Ottoman sultan Mehmet IV ( 1642 – 1693) wrote them a letter in which he demanded that the cossacks submit to Ottoman rule. The cossacks replied to the sultan with a letter which was full with insults and profanities:

Zaporozhian Cossacks to the Turkish Sultan!

O sultan, Turkish devil and damned devil's kith and kin, secretary to Lucifer himself. What the devil kind of knight are thou, that canst not slay a hedgehog with your naked arse? The devil shits, and your army eats. Thou shalt not, thou son of a whore, make subjects of Christian sons; we have no fear of your army, by land and by sea we will battle with thee, fuck thy mother.

Thou Babylonian scullion, Macedonian wheelwright, brewer of Jerusalem, goat-fucker of Alexandria, swineherd of Greater and Lesser Egypt, pig of Armenia, Podolian thief, catamite of Tartary, hangman of Kamyanets, and fool of all the world and underworld, an idiot before God, grandson of the Serpent, and the crick in our dick. Pig's snout, mare's arse, slaughterhouse cur, unchristened brow, screw thine own mother!

So the Zaporozhians declare, you lowlife. You won't even be herding pigs for the Christians. Now we'll conclude, for we don't know the date and don't own a calendar; the moon's in the sky, the year with the Lord, the day's the same over here as it is over there; for this kiss our arse!

- Koshovyi otaman Ivan Sirko, with the whole Zaporozhian Host.


The painting shows the cossacks having fun with writing the letter. Painting from 1880-1891.