Cossacks

The question of the Cossacks is still open: is the Cossacks a social group or a special ethnic community? However, the Cossacks have their own long-standing traditions and deep historical roots.

The first Cossacks came to Siberia with Ermak Timofeevich. After Yermak’s death, some of the Cossacks returned to Russia. Again in Siberia, the Cossacks found themselves in the detachments of the Moscow voivodes. They were among the founders of Tyumen and Tobolsk. In Tobolsk, in the "old" Cossack hundred Ermakov veterans served for thirty years or more. From Tobolsk, the Cossacks went to the north and east, to discover new lands for Russia.

Cossacks as a military class

Cossacks were a special category of the military. The main occupation of the Cossacks was farming, they formally belonged to the category of "rural inhabitants". Cossacks serving in the cities performed duties to maintain public order and escort prisoners.

In the second half of the 19th century, there were changes in the service of the Cossacks. On March 13, 1861, a new regulation was issued on the Siberian Linear Cossack Army, which henceforth became known as the Siberian Cossack Army. The army consisted of 12 cavalry regiments, 3 infantry half battalions with rifle half companies, one horse artillery brigade, one team of military craftsmen and one merchant Cossack society. The regiments were numbered from 1 to 12. The headquarters of Regiment No. 6 was in Omsk, and Regiment No. 12 was in Tobolsk. The strength of the regiment was estimated at 600 people. The team of craftsmen consisted of 264 Cossacks, the trading company of four hundred. The regulation of 1861 abolished the permanent service of Cossacks in the villages and left only the outfits in the steppe and internal detachments. After two years of service, the Cossacks began to use rest (benefits) for 3−4 years for farming and fishing. For these benefits, Cossacks from 1861 were obliged to serve on their own horses, with their own uniforms and equipment.

The service was the same — 30 years. In 1866, the service was reduced to 22 years. The periodic privilege used for farming was not popular, since the land had to be abandoned for two years, while many Cossacks employed a single workhorse.

After the adoption of the regulations of 1861, the Cossacks, who were not accustomed to independent economic activity, found themselves on the verge of poverty. In addition, seven lean years followed after 1861, but "it was necessary to equip yourself for service." As a result of all this, the Cossacks began to be branded with "dirty" epithets: cowards in the war and lazy at home." In the Central Asian War of 1864, the Siberian Cossack army appeared in the background.

In 1868, the Tobolsk Cossack regiment and the foot Cossack battalion were abolished, about 6,600 Cossacks were converted to the bourgeois class. In 1869, officers of Cossack origin, retired and non-serving Cossacks were allowed to leave the Cossack army.

In 1871, the so-called "field order" was established, under which the composition of the Siberian Cossack army of 8,200 people was preserved. All young men who had reached the age of 19 were called up by lot. Conscripted into the army, they served for 15 years in the field camp, leaving for two years, in field regiments. Then, for 7 years, he was assigned to the category of internal employees, after which he was dismissed. Young people who were released from military service enlisted in the non-military Cossacks.

In 1874, universal military service was introduced in Russia. From now on, military service has become the responsibility not only of the petty-bourgeois and peasant, but also of other estates.

In 1882 "by the opinion of the State Council, most highly approved on May 19, the Cossack teams in Surgut and Berezov were abolished, the Cossacks of these cities, who did not want to enroll in the Siberian Cossack army, had to transfer to the burghers of those cities where they have settled…" An interesting fact is that during the visit of the heir to the throne, Tsarevich Nikolai Alexandrovich, to Surgut on July 8, 1891, Surgut Cossacks tried to break through to him.

Discharged Cossacks

A special category of the Siberian peasantry consisted of discharged Cossacks. They were recruited from state peasants (one person from three families) for military service. The peasants themselves determined those who would be recruited into the discharged Cossacks.

They were sent to the border lines, where they stood guard, traveled, performed yamskaya and postal services, while all the expenses of the service (purchase of guns, gunpowder, maintenance of horses, their own food, clothing) were at their own expense. The discharged Cossacks paid the poll tax, and some of them also cultivated the sovereign’s tithe arable land.

In 1751, the commander of the Siberian Corps, Major General Christian Christianovich Kinderman, appealed to Empress Elizabeth Petrovna with a request to alleviate the situation of peasants of the Yalutorovsky and Ishim districts who had been converted to discharged Cossacks. The Major General proposed to leave only the poll tax for them, and to issue gunpowder and lead from the treasury. Do not take carts for the transportation of goods from discharged Cossacks and do not involve them in any work other than service. According to him, there were 1400 Cossacks in Siberia, of which 800 in the Yalutorovsky district and 600 in the Ishim district. In total, 7,700 discharged Cossacks were registered in Siberia.

At the end of the XVIII century, when the danger from the steppe disappered, there was no need in the discharged Cossacks and this category disappeared from the class structure of Siberian society.

Ermak's campaign

On September 1 (14), 1581, the Cossacks set out from the Lower Chusovsky town on their famous campaign. Scientists are arguing about the reasons for the hike. Many agree that this was the so-called "zipun campaign", that is, the Cossacks wanted to plunder, as it was on the Don, Volga, and Nogai steppes, and return to the Stroganovs before the cold weather.

Ermak’s squad on the ploughs went up the Chusovaya. They reached Tours along Tagil and reached Kuchum’s possessions. The Cossacks took the first battle at Epanchin, a town that was located on the site of modern Turinsk in the Sverdlovsk region. Here Ermak, with the help of squeakers and cannons, dispersed the army of Murza Epanchi.

Then the Cossacks occupied the town of Chingi-Turu, which was located on the site of Tyumen. A few days later, the Cossacks reached the mouth of the Tavda. Battles took place on Tobol near Karaulny Yar, Babasansky yurts, Long Yar (modern village of Khudyakova, Tobolsk district) and Karachin-gorodok (modern village of Karachino).

The decisive battle took place at the Chuvash Cape, from where the Cossacks moved up the Irtysh to the capital of the Siberian Khanate. On October 26 (November 8), 1582, Ermak entered the abandoned Siberian capital. Four days later, ostyaks from the lower reaches of the Irtysh came to Ermak, who brought yasak — meat, fish and furs.

Rachevsky town (near the village of Demyansky) was taken without a fight. In the town, the Cossacks were looking for the idol of the god Racha.

On May 20, 1583, the detachment reached the Ob. The Ostyak prince Samar ruled here, who decided to fight back against the Cossacks. In battle, the prince was killed, and his army fled. The Cossacks stayed in the town of Samara for a whole week.

In the early spring of 1584, Ermak undertook a new expedition north along the Irtysh and the Ob. The locals did not resist or surrendered after a short siege.

In the same year, Ermak undertook a campaign against Tavda. In the lower reaches of the Tavda, the town of Knyazka Labuta was taken. At the Pachenka River, the battle was so fierce that the bodies of the dead filled the whole lake, which was called Filthy. According to Gerard Miller, their bones lay at the bottom of the lake and were visible a hundred years later.

On August 6, 1584, Ermak descended to the town of Koshuki. Local voguls greeted the chieftain amicably, brought furs, fish and meat.

Climbing further up the Tavda, the detachment occupied the Taborinsky town without a fight.

On October 4, the Cossacks turned back to Siberia. The detachment was carrying furs and fish taken from Taborinsky and Koshuksky voguls.

Ermak did not take any active actions until June 1585. In June, the chieftain led his Cossacks on a new campaign up the Irtysh. Ivan Glukhov and Matvey Meshcheryak with a hundred Cossacks remained in Siberia.

The first collision occurred near the town of Murza Begisha. Ermak launched an offensive with such force that the enemy was thrown into confusion, and the victory went to the Cossacks.

After a short respite, the Cossacks headed to the Tatar towns of Shamshu, Supra, Renchik, Saly and Kaurdak. The residents did not resist. Next came the town of Tebendya. The ruler of the town of Elygai greeted Ermak affectionately. According to legend, Elygai even offered his daughter to the chieftain as a wife, but Ermak refused to accept such a gift.

The Cossacks reached Ishim relatively calmly. Another battle took place at the mouth of this river. A detachment of Tatars suddenly attacked the camp. Five Cossacks died in the melee. After burying their comrades, the detachment went further up the Irtysh.

The next village on the route of the Cossacks was the town of Tashatkany, where Ermak received news that a caravan of merchant ships was moving from the south to Kashlyk, and Kuchum intended to attack them. With a small squad (slightly more than fifty Cossacks), Ermak hurried to the rescue of the merchants. On August 5, 1585, the Cossacks stopped for the night at the confluence of the Vagai with the Irtysh. At night, the detachment was killed, and Ermak was killed. According to legend, he was trying to get to struga. But the ploughs were blown away from the shore. Ermak, before reaching the rook, got into a deep place and drowned.

In this battle, several Cossacks survived, who were on the strugs, who saw the death of the chieftain. With sad news, they returned to the town of Siberia. The news of Yermak’s death made a huge impression on the Cossacks. They decided to leave for Russia. Only 90 people returned to Russia from the campaign.

Holidays and leisure of Siberian Cossacks

"Went on a spree, so the gates are wide open"

The main holidays of the Cossacks were considered religious, when it was forbidden to work. The strictest ban was on working at the Annunciation. On big holidays, it was forbidden to go hunting, otherwise misfortune might happen.

One of the young Cossacks usually stood out — a harmonica player or a balalaika player. He sang ditties until one of the old Cossacks asked him to sing other old songs. The Cossack youth preferred active entertainment during the holiday: dancing, games, horse racing.

The major holidays included Christmas and Epiphany.

By Christmas, the Cossack houses were thoroughly cleaned and festive treats were prepared. Rich Cossacks sent mutton, tea, and sugar to the poor for conversation. On Christmas Eve, it was customary to "heat Christ", for this the owners lit bonfires in the courtyards, it was believed that the newborn Christ was cold in the manger. They went caroling on Christmas Eve.

For the feast of Epiphany, a special ice hole was made in the ice of a river, lake or pond — the Jordan. On the morning of the holiday, after the prayer service, they went in procession to the Jordan. After the water consecration ceremony, residents collected consecrated water from their homes. Many Cossacks even swam in the ice hole. The feast of Epiphany ended with universal merriment. They drank, sang, and shouted until late at night. At the same time, drunkenness was not revered among the Cossacks. A real Cossack had to be friends "with a sharp saber and a horse," but also "with a glass of green wine." However, the Cossacks' friendship with charka was limited to holidays, besides, they had fun in the company and with a plentiful snack.

The most riotous holiday was Maslenitsa. In many Cossack villages, mummers went to Maslenitsa. The central event of the holiday was the capture of the snow town. In some villages, a "ship" was arranged — a mast was placed on several scaffolding, ropes were pulled to it from all sides. There were "masks" and musicians on the stage — they sang and played. At the top of the mast, the figure of Maslenitsa was fixed on the wheel.

A common Carnival entertainment was horseback riding — in threes. Young Cossacks often rode horseback.

In all Cossack villages, according to the ancient Siberian custom, ice mountains ("coils") were made along the banks of the river and lakes. They rode with them on a sled or cowhide. Sometimes they arranged "round coils" (like a carousel).

The end of the celebration was the farewell of Maslenitsa. The effigy was carried on a sledge outside the village or in the field and burned there. The remains of the Pancake feast were thrown into the fire — pancakes, eggs, cookies.

Easter was celebrated on a large scale. The houses were cleaned, the tables were covered with tablecloths. They baked cakes, cooked Easter, and painted eggs. On the holiday, the girls had fun rolling eggs. From a distance of 20 centimeters, they tried to hit the eggs placed in a line. The egg that the girl hit was considered to be won. Young people were having fun swinging on a swing. Teenagers and boys played lapta, piggy, pile, and dough.

Girls and women dressed up a birch tree for the Trinity. She was dressed in a girlish dress, decorated with ribbons. Round dances were held around the birch tree. Then she was carried to the nearest pond, where she was bathed or drowned.

At the beginning of the twentieth century, men also began to participate in the Trinity festivities.

Other holidays of the church calendar were also celebrated: Peter’s Day, the Intercession of the Most Holy Theotokos, etc.

In the 19th century, new forms of entertainment entered the life of the Cossacks: balls, musical and theatrical evenings, ladies' meetings. Military parades have become an obligatory element of the holidays.

At the beginning of the twentieth century, new urban dances became widespread. Romances and guitars became fashionable.