History of the Cossacks in Russia. History of linear Cossacks

KUBAN COSSACK ARMY, an irregular army in Russia in the 19th and 20th centuries, located along the middle and lower reaches of the Kuban River; administrative center - Ekaterinodar (Krasnodar). Formed in 1860 from the Black Sea Cossack Army (9 cavalry regiments, 12 foot battalions, 2 horse artillery batteries, 1 garrison artillery company) and parts of the Caucasian Line Cossack Army. The entry into the Kuban Cossack army of the oldest Khopyorsky regiment, which distinguished itself in the Azov campaigns of 1695-96, determined its seniority among other Cossack troops since 1696. In the spring of 1862, about 28 thousand Cossacks, as well as state peasants and lower ranks of the Caucasian army, were resettled to the foothills of the Caucasus. enlisted in the Kuban Cossack army. With the abolition of the Azov Cossack Army (1864), most of its Cossacks joined the Kuban Cossack Army. According to the “Regulations on military service and the maintenance of combat units of the Kuban and Terek Cossack troops” dated August 1 (13), 1870, the Kuban Cossack army consisted of 2 Life Guards Kuban Cossack squadrons (part of His Imperial Majesty’s Own Convoy), 10 cavalry regiments ( 1st - Tamansky, 2nd - Poltava, 3rd - Ekaterinodar, 4th - Umansky, 5th - Urupsky, 6th - Labinsky, 7th - Khopyorsky, 8th - Kubansky, 9- y - Caucasian and 10th - Yeysky), 2 Plastun battalions (see Plastuny), 5 horse artillery batteries, 1 artillery battalion (stationed in Warsaw) and 1 training battalion. Since 1882, the service personnel of the army was divided into 3 categories, and combat personnel into 3 stages, the total service life was 22 years, of which 15 years were field and 7 years of internal service. In addition to serving at the place of deployment, the Kuban Cossack Army also served “outside the army.” Military administration and service in the Kuban Cossack army was organized as in other Cossack troops. A feature of the Kuban Cossack army was the relatively large number of foot (Plastun) units.

The mandated (appointed by the emperor) ataman of the Kuban Cossack army was the ex officio head of the Kuban region. Cossacks aged from 17 to 55 years old carried out various duties: general in the army, village and economic. In the villages, hired labor and leasing of Cossack lands were widely used. Since 1863, the newspaper “Kuban Military Gazette” was published, and in 1879 a military local history museum was created. By 1916, Cossacks made up about 48% of the population of the Kuban region and lived in 278 villages and 32 hamlets.

Since its formation, the Kuban Cossack Army has participated in almost all wars waged by Russia. Kuban Cossacks participated in 1860-64 in the Caucasian War of 1817-64 in the North-West Caucasus, in the Khiva campaign of 1873 (see Khiva campaigns), in the Russian-Turkish war of 1877-78 (see Russian-Turkish wars), in the capture of the Turkmen fortress Geok -Tepe in 1881, in the Russo-Japanese War of 1904-05. During the Revolution of 1905-07, part of the Kuban Cossack army participated in maintaining order in the country. The performance of police functions led in December 1905 to unrest in the Plastun battalions and in the 2nd Urup Regiment. During the 1st World War, the Kuban Cossack army fielded 2.5 guards hundreds, 37 cavalry regiments, 1 separate cavalry division, 1 separate Plastun division, 51 hundreds, 6 artillery batteries, 22 Plastun battalions and 49 different hundreds and teams (in total over 110 thousand people).

After the February Revolution of 1917, a self-government body was formed by the Kuban Cossack Army - the Kuban Rada, which after the October Revolution of 1917 proclaimed itself the supreme state power in the Kuban. Although some of the Kuban Cossacks supported the Soviet government and in April 1918 the Kuban Soviet Republic was formed on the territory of the Kuban region, which then became part of the Kuban-Black Sea Soviet Republic, in mid-1918 the majority of Cossacks supported the White movement and with the help of the Volunteer Army by the end of 1918 eliminated Soviet power in Kuban (see the article Kuban Campaigns of the Volunteer Army). During the Civil War of 1917-22, the bulk of the Kuban Cossacks fought as part of the Armed Forces of the South of Russia. With the establishment of Soviet power in Kuban (1920), the Kuban Cossack Army was abolished. In the 1920-30s, Kuban Cossack cavalry units were created in the Red Army. During the Great Patriotic War, Kuban Cossacks fought as part of the 17th Cossack Cavalry Corps (formed in January - April 1942 in the Krasnodar region from units of the people's militia), which, for the valor and courage of its personnel, was renamed the 4th Guards Cossack Cavalry Kuban Corps (disbanded in October 1946). In connection with the revival of the Cossacks (including the Kuban) at the end of the 20th - beginning of the 21st century, a number of legislative acts were adopted in the Russian Federation, including the Federal Law of December 5, 2005 “On the State Service of the Russian Cossacks.”

Lit.: Kuban Cossack army 1696-1888. / Edited by E. D. Felitsin. Voronezh, 1888. Krasnodar, 1996; Dmitrienko I.I. Collection of historical materials on the history of the Kuban Cossack army. St. Petersburg, 1896. T. 1-3; Korolenko P. P. Bicentennial of the Kuban Cossack Army. Ekaterinodar, 1896; Shcherbina F.A. History of the Kuban Cossack Army. Ekaterinodar, 1910-1913. T. 1-2; aka. Kuban Cossacks and their atamans. M., 2008; Ladokha G. Essays on the civil war in Kuban. Krasnodar, 1923; Russian Cossacks: Scientific and reference publication. M., 2003; Plekhanov A. A., Plekhanov A. M. Cossacks at the borders of the Fatherland. M., 2007.

The art of war has always been a fairly significant part of the life of many nations and states. After all, as soon as a person picked up a stick, he began to use his strength to subjugate his own kind. This negative love of violence has haunted humanity throughout history. This fact led to the emergence in each nationality of a separate class of warriors, distinguished by professionalism and ruthlessness.

It should be noted that similar warlike castes also existed on the territory of the Slavic states. The history of their formation is quite interesting, given the fact that on the territory of modern Russia, Ukraine, Belarus and other CIS countries there were constant wars for territorial dominance between different states. Thus, constant military conflicts have significantly hardened the population living in the countries represented.

If we talk specifically about the Russian Federation, then in this state the most famous military community is the Kuban Cossacks. The creation of this army took years, and their activities are still alive today.

The article will examine the most striking stages in the development of the Kuban Cossacks, as well as the specifics of this military formation.

Who are the Kuban Cossacks?

The history of the Kuban Cossack army goes back to very distant times. Today, it is quite difficult to imagine the entire chronology of the existence of this military formation, since it still operates on the territory of the Russian Federation, which will be discussed later in the article. However, if we take into account historical facts, the Kuban Cossack Army is part of the entire Cossacks in the Russian Empire, which was based in the North Caucasus. In other words, this formation played the role of modern border guards.

From historical sources it is known that the military headquarters of the Kuban Cossacks was based in Yekaterinodar (the modern name of the city is Krasnodar). Despite the fact that the Kuban Cossack Army was a typical military group, one of the elements of the army of the Russian Empire, its own ethnic group was formed on its basis. This fact today allows us to talk about the Cossacks not just as warriors, but as a separate nationality, along with Russians, Chechens, Kazakhs, etc.

History of creation

The Cossacks of the Kuban Cossack Army were not initially a homogeneous ethnic mass of patriots of their state. After all, as stated earlier, the history of the creation of this formation is quite complex. The Kuban Cossack army was formed from several groups of Cossacks, of whom there were quite a lot on the territory of the Russian Empire by the middle of the 18th century.

Of course, the Zaporozhye Cossacks, who appeared back in the 16th century, should rightfully be considered the ancestors of the Cossack regiments of Kuban. As we know, they were originally based on the territory of modern Ukraine, which is located near the modern city of Zaporozhye. Subsequently, they became a threat to imperial power, because from an organized military formation they turned into ordinary bandit groups. Therefore, by the end of the 18th century, the Cossacks as such received the status of “outside the law.” However, this fact did not become the final point in the development of such formations.

Black Sea Cossacks

In 1774, the Russian Empire gained access to the Black Sea. At this stage, Turkey ceased to pose a threat, and the Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth, one of the most powerful states in the west, was on the verge of complete collapse. Therefore, the need to keep the Cossacks in their historical place was no longer required. In addition, these formations began to turn into gangster structures by the end of the 18th century. Confirmation of this fact is the support by the Cossacks of the Pugachev uprising. Thus, in 1775, a decision was made to completely destroy all its inhabitants. Only 12 thousand Cossacks were able to survive this massacre, who subsequently fled to the mouth of the Danube.

Army of loyal Cossacks

It should be noted that the emergence of the Transdanubian Sich became a powerful argument for Turkey, which acquired additional forces consisting of 12 thousand soldiers. In turn, the Russian Empire, seeing a threat to its territorial interests in the south of the state, stops the process of eliminating the Cossacks. Moreover, in 1787 he created the Army of the Loyal Cossacks from among the previously persecuted members of the regiments of the same name. With their help, the Russian Empire not only strengthened in the south, but also won the Russian-Turkish campaign of 1787-1792.

Creation of the Kuban Cossacks

The Kuban Cossack Army, photos of which are presented in the article, was formed in 1792. After the Russian-Turkish campaign, a delegation was sent to the capital of the Russian Empire, headed by the judge of the Black Sea Army, Anton Golovaty. The delegation was assembled to ask the “enlightened monarchy” for land to resettle the Black Sea Cossacks. Negotiations took place from March to May 1792. The “leadership” of the empire did not want to allocate the surroundings of Taman and the lands on the right bank of the Kuban to the Cossacks. In this case, the position of the imperial authorities was clear - the reluctance to create a formation similar to the Cossacks, which could betray at any moment. However, agreement was still reached. Thus, from 1792, the regiments of the Kuban Cossack army began to be located on the territory of Taman and Kuban. These lands were transferred to them “for eternal and hereditary possession,” which is generally confirmed by the existence of the Kuban Cossacks today.

History of linear Cossacks

It should be noted that the Kuban Cossack army was formed not only exclusively from the Black Sea Cossacks. The Kuban regiments also included the so-called "linear Cossacks", who became part of a large military formation in 1860. However, the history of the Caucasian linear Cossack army begins in the middle of the 15th century. The ancestor of the linear regiments were the Khoper Cossacks.

History of the Khoper regiments

Khoper Cossacks lived in the territory of Medveditsa since 1444. But in the 18th century, these regiments launched an uprising against the power of Peter I. The monarch’s reaction was immediate and cruel.

In the period from 1708 to 1716, virtually no one lived in the areas between these rivers. However, since 1716, Cossack regiments that were participants in the Northern War have returned here. For their military valor during the war with Sweden, the Khoper Cossacks were allowed to build their fortress in their historical homeland. Subsequently, the army developed so much that part of it was transferred to the North Caucasus to protect the borders of the Russian Empire. And in 1860, as mentioned earlier, this part of the Cossack army was transferred to the Kuban military formation.

The current stage of development of the Kuban Cossacks

The Kuban Cossack army exists to this day in the territories that were allocated to them at the end of the 18th century. This military formation plays the role of secret border guards. It should be noted that the Kuban Cossacks were participants in the First World War and the Great Patriotic War. The last historical period, which began in 1945, significantly abolished the role of the Cossacks in the sphere of public administration and service. Nevertheless, no one disbanded this formation, even taking into account the political doctrine of the Soviet Union.

The atamans of the Kuban Cossack army, throughout the history of its existence, defended with all their might the rights of their people, who by 1945 could already be called a completely separate ethnic group. After the collapse of the Soviet Union, Cossack communities were united on the territory of the Russian Federation in order to enhance the identity and glorify the ethnic minorities of the state. Since that time, there has been such an organization as the Kuban Military Cossack Society (KVKO).

KVKO

KVKO begins its history in 1990. The first chieftain of this military organization was Vladimir Gromov. It should be noted that the combat effectiveness of KVKO units is at a fairly high level. This is confirmed by the participation of the mentioned organization in the Abkhazian war. In 1993, KVKO units were the first to enter the city of Sukhum. Later, the Kuban Cossack Army was included in the “State Register of Cossack Societies of the Russian Federation.” This means that the activities of KVKO have become legal. In addition, there are the regalia of the Kuban Cossack army and a unique structure of society. Today, the organization plays the role of more of a law enforcement agency than a military agency.

Territorial structure of KVKO

The Kuban military Cossack society has its own territorial structure, which allows us to talk about the significant development of not only the organization as a whole, but also its activities. Today, the structure of the KVKO consists of the following territorial units:

Eyey Cossack department.
Caucasian Cossack department.
Taman Cossack department.
Ekaterinodar Cossack department.
Maikop Cossack department.
Batalpashinsky Cossack department.
Black Sea Cossack district.
Sukhumi special Cossack department.

This structure allows KVKO to carry out its law enforcement functions much more efficiently and as quickly as possible.

Culture of the Kuban Cossacks

In addition to their significant role in the military sector of the Russian Federation, the Kuban Cossacks are a rather interesting ethnic social entity. Its cultural traditions go back to the Zaporizhian Cossacks. Kuban warriors are quite close in cultural matters to the native Ukrainians. There is also a Cossack uniform of the Kuban Cossack Army, the design of which was also formed historically.

The article presented the Kuban Cossack army. The origins of the formation and structure of this organization go back to the time of the existence of the Zaporozhye Cossacks, who, in fact, became the ancestors of the Kuban army. This ethnic formation is still active on the territory of modern Russia. Let's hope that this island of Slavic culture will not be lost in the abyss of centuries!

If we take as a basis the modern, scientifically proven characteristics of the Cossacks in Rus', then in the old days it was an ethnic and social phenomenon with a complex structure. Cossacks are a special class with their own subculture. Without these people it is impossible to imagine the past, present and future of Russia. The Kuban Cossack army, history, and features of this part of the Cossacks will be covered in this article.

Facts from history

The Kuban Cossacks were part of the Cossacks living in the North Caucasus.

The Kuban Cossack Army was formed in 1860. It consisted of the Black Sea and part of the Caucasian linear troops, which had their own foundations, features of organization and military service.

By the end of the eighteenth century, due to the large number of political victories won by Russia, the need for Cossacks to live in the territory of their homeland (Little Russia), in order to protect the borders of the south of the country, lost its relevance. Catherine II disbanded the Zaporozhye Sich.

Certain circumstances pushed the empress to make this decision. The Cossacks constantly carried out pogroms of Serbian settlements, during the same period of time they supported the uprising led by Emelyan Pugachev.

Several thousand Cossacks fled. They settled at the mouth of the Danube, received the patronage of the Turkish Sultan and formed the Transdanubian Sich.

After a certain time, they again “turned their faces” to Russia. The Cossack army made an invaluable contribution to the victory over the Turks and for this received the lands of Kuban and Taman for eternal use.

Cossacks of the Kuban Cossack Army

This army consisted of certain groups of Cossacks:

Black Sea Cossacks. In 1792, Catherine II advised Ataman Golovaty to resettle the Black Sea residents to new territories. By 1793, about 25,000 Cossacks changed their place of residence. They were given certain tasks: the development of populated lands, the creation of a line of defense.
Linear Cossacks. These are the Cossacks of the Don land, who changed their place of residence to Kuban.
Assigned Cossacks. In the 19th century, retired soldiers, state peasants, and recruits moved to Kuban. All of them were enrolled in the Cossacks, settled in existing villages, and in some cases, even created new settlements.

The Kuban Cossack army can be called a free military formation. The Cossacks lived in one place and were engaged in agriculture. They fought only when necessary, defending the interests of the Russian State.

Newcomers and fugitives from the central parts of the country flocked to the Kuban lands. They mixed with the population living here, they were accepted as “their own”.

Cossack uniform

Every nation has its own customs and distinctive features, which are reflected in clothing. The uniform of the Kuban Cossack army was distinguished by a certain style. The village warriors were proud of her.

The form has been changed many times. This circumstance was significantly influenced by the traditions of the peoples of the Caucasus. It was fully approved in the mid-19th century.

The Kuban Cossack army (history testifies to this) had a uniform that included certain elements of clothing:

Loose-fitting trousers called harem pants.
Cherkeska - a caftan made of cloth, flared at the waist.
Shirt, quilted half-caftan - beshmet.
Arkhaluk is a caftan that fits close to the body and has a high stand-up collar.
Hood - bashlyk.
Winter burka.
A headdress made of sheepskin or astrakhan fur, called a papakha.
Boots.

The bashlyk was a source of information about the Cossack who wore it. If he was tied with a knot on his chest, this indicated that the Cossack was in military service. The hood crossed over the chest indicated that its owner was on a business trip. The ends of the hood, thrown over the back, symbolized the end of military service.

Management organization

The regiments of the Kuban Cossack Army were a powerful military force. The Cossacks paid special attention to military organization and everyday life.

At the head of the army and the Kuban region was an ataman appointed by the state authorities. This person was equivalent to the division commander, and was also endowed with the power of the governor. He had the right to appoint atamans, who were subordinate to the people in power in each individual village or village.

The main body of power in the village was the village gathering. He chose the members of the board: the ataman and his assistant, judges, clerk and treasurer, who constituted the top of the government in the village.

Cossack tradition

House building was one of the main cultural traditions of the Cossacks living in the Kuban. After completing the construction of the house, the owners always celebrated a housewarming party, inviting all the people who took part in the construction work.

The hut usually included two rooms. The interior decoration of the smaller room included a stove, benches and a table made of wood. In the larger room there was a chest and a chest of drawers for storing linen, and a cupboard. In each house in the “red corner” there was an icon decorated with a towel, and there were paintings and photographs that were family heirlooms.

Cossacks and their families strictly observed their customs. Their non-compliance caused general condemnation and censure. The organization of everyday life while the Cossacks were doing military service fell entirely on the fragile shoulders of women.

Warrior training

The Kuban Cossack army possessed the skills of special knowledge related to military service. They had their own system of training warriors. From childhood, boys in the Kuban villages were taught horse riding and weaponry. Future warriors took part in fist fights, horse races, and special military maneuvers.

The Kuban army had its own system of survival in extreme conditions. The Cossacks, especially the Plastuns, knew how to endure hunger and cold, did not leave any traces themselves, but could read those of others, and much more.

The Kuban Cossack army took part in all wars of the late 19th and early 20th centuries. The emperors themselves presented awards to the Cossacks for their military exploits.

Valor and courage were inherent in these people, their army was famous for traditions passed down from century to century.

In 1775, the free Cossacks of the Zaporozhye Sich decided to submit to the Russian Empire. This is how the Kuban Cossacks appeared, which today remain faithful to the oath given at the end of the 18th century.

At the same time, by order of Empress Catherine II, all the settlements of the Zaporozhye Cossacks were destroyed, and the word “Sich” itself was forbidden to be uttered.

Some of the free Cossacks went to Turkey, where the “New Sich” was created. But not all Cossacks went to “foreign shores”; many decided to serve Russia officially, receiving salaries and land for this.

Little Russia needed people who would guard the empty Black Sea border. One of the first to advocate the creation of a new Cossack army was Prince Potemkin-Tavrichesky.

The empress's favorite called the Cossacks to serve. From their number the Black Sea Cossack Army was formed. Soon, the Cossacks, led by Sidor Bely, Zakhary Chepega and Anton Golovaty, distinguished themselves in the war with Turkey: they took Izmail and Ochakov.

For their courage and devotion, the Black Sea Cossacks were given new lands in Taman. The rescript of Empress Catherine II said: “The army of the faithful Black Sea Cossacks was granted the island of Phanagoria with the lands between the Kuban and the Sea of Azov.” The reward was also a military banner with the inscription “For Faith and Loyalty” and the right to trade in wine and goods.

From that time on, the Cossacks said goodbye to Ukraine forever. More than 20,000 thousand Cossacks arrived in Kuban and began colonization. Dozens of villages were built, which the Black Sea residents called kurens. The newborn capital was christened in honor of the Empress - Ekaterinodar.

On the territory of the Black Sea Cossacks there also lived the Khopersky and Line Cossacks. They, like the Cossacks, were sent here to settle empty lands and protect the border.

The Black Sea Army had its own flotilla, consisting of frigates, longboats, yachts and boats. Fame came to them in 1811, when the hundred of guards became famous for their feat near Leipzig.

The Black Sea people took part in the wars against Turkey, suppressed the Polish uprising, and had to fight a lot in the Caucasian War. A long and bloody war with the mountaineers required establishing control over the conquered territories. By the end of the war, a decision was made to divide the Caucasian Cossack line and create two troops - Terek and Kuban.

In 1860, the Kuban Cossack Army began its history, to which the Black Sea Army was added. Major General Nikolai Ivanov was appointed the first ataman. The seniority of the army has been considered since 1896. It was then that the Khopersky regiment was formed from the Don Cossacks, which later became part of the Kuban army.

A new Cossack army was formed from the Zaporozhye and Linear Cossacks, which was located on the territory of the modern Krasnodar Territory, part of the Stavropol Territory, Adygea and Karachay-Cherkessia.

Kuban Cossacks took part in all the wars of the late 19th and early 20th centuries. For their military services, they more than once received awards from the hands of the emperors themselves. But Cossack duties extended not only to military service, but also to road repairs, maintenance of post stations and village buildings, and much more. As a reward for all this trouble, a land allotment of 7 to 9 dessiatines was given.

But the Kuban people were not proud of wealth, silver and gold. The Cossacks were famous for their valor and courage, and their army was famous for their centuries-old traditions and culture. “I didn’t drink Kuban water - I didn’t eat Cossack porridge,” they said, reminding that the Cossacks are a way of life where honor and loyalty were above all.

By the beginning of the Civil War, the Kuban Cossack army numbered about 1.5 million people. During revolutionary times, the Kuban people sided with the White movement.

In 1920, tens of thousands of Cossacks, led by Ataman Naumenko, were forced to emigrate. But the descendants of the Cossacks still live in the Krasnodar region, trying to revive the glory of the Kuban army. Devoted to their land, people to this day sing a song dedicated to Kuban:

I remember you here,
Shouldn't I stand up for you?
Is it for your old glory?
Shouldn't I give my life?
We, as a tribute to our humble,
From illustrious banners
We send you, dear Kuban,
Bow to the damp earth.