About the same time, when piracy have flourished in the Caribbean, a very similar phenomenon flourished in what is now Ukrainian steppes. Cossack "golden age" not only coincided with that of pirates but had a lot more in common with the latter than was initially apparent.
To begin with a little bit of background. In 17th century a peculiar territorial anomaly emerged in the Steppes of Ukraine. The reason for that anomaly were Crimean Tatars. Tatars were semi-nomadic people who often went on raids to pillage villages and capture people into slavery. The northern states of Polish Lithuanian Commonwealth and Russia could reasonably stop them in more forested areas further north, but in open steppe Tatars were unbeatable. Nipping the problem in a bud was also impossible, as Tatars enjoyed protection of then superpower, the Ottoman Empire.
That produced a peculiar situation where both Commonwealth and Russia wish to expand south but could not be due to constant Tatar raids. On the other hand, Tatars did not wish to settle the steppes at all, preferring to keep it as a playground for nomadic side of their lifestyle. Ottomans too had no interest in settling the area beyond the vert coast of the Black Sea.
This situation produces a situation where a very large and fertile swathe of land remained completely uninhabited for a period of several centuries. Later it will be called Wild Field or Wild steppes. The borders of this land went from approximately Uman - Old Kodak fortress - city of Kharkiv in the north all the way to coastal cities of Kara and Aq Kerman (modern Ochakiv and Bilhorod Dnistrovski) together with Dzhankoy in Crimean Peninsula. Western border was Dnistro River and there was no Eastern border as steppe continued all the way to modern China.
Such a large and lawless area attracted all sorts of people who later became known as Cossacks. The name came from a Turkic word qazaq, which means wanderer. It shares ethimology with modern Kazakh and Kazakhstan. However, while modern Kazakhs are descendants of the originally nomadic Turkic people, Cossacks were the polar opposite of that: originally sedentary people who adopted nomadic lifestyle to survive in the steppe.
Steppe was dangerous of sedentary lifestyle, such as agriculture. A prominent home with large fields around it will be easy to stop many miles away and thus could easily become a target of a raid. A single Cossack with nothing but horse and their weapons much less so. Even if they were to be spotted, they could just hop on their horse and ride away. It would be nigh pointless to chase them down across the near endless steppe.
Final ingredient that sparked the age of Cossacks were domestic pressures in the north. Population grew; free lands were running short and aristocratic class kept increasing burdens on common peasants, making them ever poorer. One way to get away from ever encroaching greedy nobility was to flee south and live freely as Cossack.
That is how first Cossacks came to be. Those from Russia tended to flee to the steppe for good. Some of those from Commonwealth were instead seasonal Cossacks, living in the steppe during the summer then returning home for winter.
At first, they were on their own, roaming the steppe, hunting and occasionally robbing careless travellers. However, ss time went, they became ever more numerous. It became necessary to somehow share the steppe. At the same time, it became possible for Cossacks to band together and start raiding just like Crimean Tatars did.
Eventually a several Cossack Hosts Emerged: Zaporozhian, Don, Kuban and Yaik ones. They were centered around major rivers as rivers provided Cossacks with water and a form of protection from both Tatars and their own governments. Zaporozhian host (Sich) was located on Khortytsia Island in the middle of Dnipro River. River provided a good defence from strictly land-based Tatars. Other Cossack hosts were in less immediate danger and likely just settled along the river.
Hosts were government in a surprisingly democratic manner. There were certain differences in governance between hosts, but they government mostly as follows: Each host was divided into several Kurins, each 100 homes large. Each Kurin will elect two officials: a Kurenniy, who will be in charge of living arrangements, and a Sotnik, who will command them in battle. In turn all Kurenniys will elect Koshevoy who will manage living arrangements for the entire host, akin to a quartermaster. Likewise, Sotniks will elect Hetman (Ataman in Don and other eastern hosts) who will be overall military commander.
Elections were held every year. To get elected Hetman, one must often propose a lucrative raid target together with a plan on how to succeed in plundering it asunder and returning safely with all the loot. Hetman that poorly performed in their role could lose their head at the end of their tenure if Cossacks vote to punish him. Other roles were less ambitious and dangerous in consequences. They mostly required to convince fellow Cossacks they could trust you.
In fact, the CGPGrey video about pirates actually closer to how Cossacks governed themselves rather than pirates.
Cossack outfits too varied between hosts. Zaporozhians wore, vyshivankas with sharovary and cut their hear in an iconic oseledets fashion: bald with a single long strand of hair. They also had colourful coats and a fur hat with upward bent brim and feathers. Don Cossacks instead wore a North Caucasus style outfit: large black fur coat with extended shoulders (I think it's called Cherkeska) and a tall square black fur brimless hat, called papakha.
Overtime Cossacks became quite notorious. They raided, plundered and then returned back to their fortified island host of Khortytsia. Once they managed to even plunder Constantinople itself.
Unlike Tatars, who would only plunder Christians in the north, as they had obligations to the Ottomans, Cossacks would more often target Muslims. Most Cossacks were Christian and would rather avoid targeting fellow Christians from countries they have recently fled.
Some of their raids were so daring, they managed to even get Ottoman Empire concerned about the damage they are causing. Ottoman Sultan even send Zaporozhian Cossacks a letter, demanding allegiance to him, just like they demand of Crimean Tatars. Zaporozhian Cossacks famously responded with a letter full of scornful insults. There is even a painting dedicated to that event.
Just like Spanish, Ottomans brought Cossack issue to rulers of Commonwealth and Russia. Their response was that Cossacks were independent outlaws, often wanted by authorities of the countries in question, and that neither ruler had any control over what Cossacks do.
In fact, aristocrats in Russia were very much on the Ottoman side of the issue for their own reasons. Russian peasants who disliked working for their aristocratic landlords, would often steal a horse and flee south to become a Cossack. That led to drain on both workforce and horses. Aristocrats too often petitioned Tsar to deal with Cossacks somehow, only to hear the same response of what could they do about it?
From their new position of power, Russia decided to pressure Cossacks into allegiance to Russia, just like Ottomans demanded some time before. In their demands Russia actually went further than Ottomans, expecting not only allegiance but also right to appoint Cossack leaders as well.
Zaporizhians refused just like they did before. Russian response was fast and decisive: Russia brough artillery and levelled Khortytsia fortifications to the ground. Zaporozhian Cossacks tried to reorganise themselves on Danube River instead, but eventually Russia got there too and destroyed Zadunaiska Sich as well.
Don Cossacks instead accepted Russian government demands. That allowed them to continue well into 19th and even 20th century. In this subordinated to Russia period, Atamans or Koshevoys were not elected. Instead Koshevoy Ataman (dual role) was appointed by Tsar out of officers of Russian army with no connection to Cossacks. Tsars also insisted that Cossacks stop admitting any new runaway peasants into their ranks and instead return them to their owners.
Despite these changes, life of ordinary Cossacks remained autonomous enough and unique Cossack culture and even dialect further developed in that time.
In this new role, Cossacks eventually became known as an elite cavalry of Russian Empire, that managed to distinguish itself in various battles in Europe. Cossack recreations in modern Russia try to recreate this version of Cossacks.
Final end of Cossacks came from October Revolution. Cossacks mostly fought for White Army, that lost Civil War. Bolsheviks eventually dissolved Don Cossacks and integrated them into broader society as part of wider reform program.
Some Cossacks managed to escape to the West and later fought in RoA on the side of Nazis, hoping to restore Cossack autonomy and culture. Nazis lost and members of RoA were suppressed.
In modern times Ukraine likes to take pride in exploits of Zaporozhian Cossacks. In Ukraine Zaporozhian Cossacks are part of national spirit, character and heritage. Iconic Zaporozhian Cossack outfits are often worn as a patriotic statement.
Separately from Ukraine, there are Don Cossack revival attempts in Russia, that instead aim to recreate Don Cossacks in their 19th century version of loyal to the Tsar elite cavalrymen.
No comments:
Post a Comment