Opryshky

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Opryshky (Ukrainian: опришки, singular opryshok, опришок) were groups of brigands active in the region of Ukrainian Carpathians between the 16th and early 19th century. Consisting of runaway peasants, noblemen's servants and, in a latter period, dodgers from conscription, they formed small groups headed by individual leaders and attacked noble estates, keeps, tax farmers, tavern keepers, merchants and wealthy peasants. In some cases part of their booty would be distributed among the poorer peasantry. This contributed to the image of Opryshky as popular heroes and protectors of the common folk, which rooted itself in Ukrainian folklore and literature. The Ukrainian "opryshok" is analogous to the Polish zbójnik and the Balkan hajduk, as similar bands of bandits (often romanticised in folklore and later popular media) were present in other parts of the Carpathian Mountains as well, including the Polish and Slovak Tatras that have birthed the legendary highwayman Juraj Jánošík.