Polish-Lithuanian Black Sea ports

[Peterski]

Poland-Lithuania was a federation, but both of its parts (both Poland and Lithuania) had access to the Black Sea.

The coastline area under Lithuanian control was known as Yedisan. There were two coastal towns in that region - Hadjibai (Turkish: Yeni Dünya; Polish: Chadżybej), today known as Odessa; and Ochakiv (Turkish: Achi-Kale). In the 15th century the area was inhabited by Kipchaks and Slavs (Ulichs), not by Tatars (Tatars settled there after 1526):

"In the early Middle Ages areas of Yedisan were inhabited by nomadic Kipchak tribes and by settled Slavic groups. After the Mongol invasion this area became part of the Golden Horde. In the 14th century the area briefly belonged to the Principality of Moldavia, and in the 15th century it became part of the Grand Duchy of Lithuania. In 1526 Yedisan became an Ottoman province. It was then when Crimean Tatars and Nogai Tatars started to settle in Yedisan."

Apart from Hadjibai (Odessa), there was also Ochakiv.

Here is what wikipedia says about the history of Ochakiv (Kara Kermen):

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ochakiv

"Ochakiv was founded in 14th century, named after the Turkish fortress Achi-Kale. It stands close to the site of the old Miletan (ancient Greek) colony of Olbia, and the Greek colony of Alektor. Strong fortifications were built at Ochakiv and on the Kinburn promontory, to protect the entrance to the Dnieper, by the medieval Poles and then by Crimean khan Meñli I Giray in 1492 when it was known as Kara Kerman [or Kara Kermen?]. Several decades later, the fortress fell to the Ottomans and was subsequently known as Özi."

Poland had access to Black Sea ports via Moldavia. Moldavia was a vassal state of the Kingdom of Poland in period ca. 1387 - ca. 1499. That area had 3 ports - Bilhorod (Polish: Białogród) and Akkerman at the Dniester (now they are one city, but they used to be two towns located several km from each other) and Kilia (Kilja) at the Danube.

The main trade route was: Sandomierz <-> Lwow <-> Kamyanets <-> Suceava <-> Jassy <-> Kilia, Bilhorod, Akerman.

That trade, however, ended for some time when the Turks captured Kilia in year 1484.

There was also a short episode with Caffa (Teodosia) - in 1462 the city of Caffa pledged allegiance to King of Poland Casimir IV and on 01.11.1462 Casimir accepted the request. But in 1484 Caffa was captured by the Turks.

[sean]