remained for a long time in local folklore. Organization and government The Zaporozhian Host was led by the Sich Rada that elected a Kosh Otaman as the host's leader. He was aided by a head secretary (pysar), head judge, and head archivist. During military operations the Otaman carried unlimited power supported by his staff as the military collegiate. He decided with an agreement from the Rada whether to support a certain Hetman (such as Bohdan Khmelnytsky) or other leaders of state. Some sources refer to the Zaporozhian Sich as a "Cossack republic", because the highest power in it belonged to the assembly of all its members, and its leaders (starshyna) were elected. The Cossacks formed a society (hromada) that consisted of "kurins" (each with several hundred Cossacks). A Cossack military court severely punished violence and stealing among compatriots, the bringing of women to the Sich, the consumption of alcohol in periods of conflict, and other offenses. The administration of the Sich provided Orthodox churches and schools for the religious and secular education of children. The population of the Sich had a cosmopolitan component, including Ukrainians, Moldavians, Tatars, Poles, Lithuanians, Jews, Russians and many other ethnicities. The social structure was complex, consisting of destitute gentry and boyars, szlachta'' (Polish nobility), merchants, peasants, outlaws of every sort, runaway slaves from Turkish galleys, and runaway serfs (as the Zaporozhian polkovnyk Pivtorakozhukha). Some of those who were not accepted to the host formed gangs of their own, and also claimed to be Cossacks. However, after the Khmelnytsky Uprising these formations largely disappeared and were integrated mainly into Hetmanate society. Army and warfare The Cossacks developed a large fleet of fast, light vessels. Their campaigns were targeted at rich settlements on the Black Sea shores of the Ottoman Empire, and several times took them as far as Constantinople and Trabzon (formerly Trebizond). Zaporozhian Sich centers and locations Khortytsia Sich (1556–1557) Khortytsia Island (today, part of Zaporizhzhia) Tomakivka Sich (1564–1593) submerged (located near today's Marhanets) Bazavluk Sich, (1593–1638) submerged (located near today's village of Kapulivka, Nikopol Raion) Mykyta Sich (1639–1652) Nikopol Chortomlyk Sich (1652–1709) submerged (located near today's village of Kapulivka, Nikopol Raion) Kamyanka Sich (1709–1711) near village of Respublikanets, Beryslav Raion Oleshky Sich (1711–1734) eastern outskirts of the city of Oleshky Nova [Pidpilnenska] Sich (1734–1775) near village of Pokrovske, Nikopol Raion (about same location of Chortomlyk and Bazavluk) Zaporozhian Siches and their leaders Khortytsia Sich