Alberto Vimina da Ceneda

Alberto Vimina da Ceneda

Alberto Vimina da Ceneda (1603–1667) was one of the contemporary foreigners who wrote about the Cossacks. He was an Italian priest, poet, and diplomat. In 1650, he was the Republic of Venice’s ambassador to Bohdan Khmelnytsky.

This embassy aimed to sway the hetman to the side of the anti-Ottoman coalition, as well as to collect information about the relations between the Ottomans and the Tatars and to arm the latter.

Reports on the Origin and Customs of the Cossacks, written by A. Vimina based on his direct impressions from his time in Ukraine, is a valuable source on the history of the Cossacks. The work was first published in Ferrara in 1890 and partially in “Kyivska starovyna” in 1899.

The “Сommuniques” contain geographical, historical, and ethnographic information about Ukraine and the Cossacks, as well as a portrait of B. Khmelnytsky—perhaps the only verbal description of the hetman.

Vimina refers to the Cossack lands as Ukraine and emphasizes that it has a republican state system. Additionally, the author describes Zaporozhzhia and the Cossacks, providing a direct description of B. Khmelnytsky.

Zaporozhzhia impressed the author with its richness. “The part of this land called Zaporozhzhia is so fertile that it can be put on a par not only with the most cultivated countries in Europe but also with those that satisfy the most ardent farmer’s demands. There is no less abundance of bread than of dairy products, meat, and fish, thanks to the numerous pastures and reservoirs. In addition to the riches as mentioned earlier, the fertile soil provides the inhabitants with delicious vegetables, which they despise, and a large crop of asparagus so luxurious that it rivals the finest Verona varieties.”

Regarding the Sich Cossacks, Vimina states that they are neither simpletons nor devoid of quick wits, and their Spartan upbringing aids them in challenging campaigns. The Italian was pleasantly impressed by the Cossacks’ sincerity, truthfulness, sociability, and selflessness.

Regarding B. Khmelnytsky himself, Vimina says, “By birth, he is the son of an exiled nobleman who was stripped of his title. He is taller than average, stocky, and strong. His speech and manner of management demonstrate that he possesses a sober judgment and a penetrating mind. His demeanor is characterized by gentleness and simplicity, qualities that naturally draw the admiration of any warrior. However, he maintains strict discipline among them, meting out severe punishments when necessary. He shakes hands with everyone who enters his room and invites them to sit down if they are Cossacks.”