Class 7 Cosacks

THE COSSACKS ARE A GROUP OF RUSSIAN MILITARY WARRIORS WHO STILL EXIST TODAY, BUT WITHOUT THE SAME MILITARY POWER THEY HAD IN THE PAST.

The CossacksClass 7, Instructor Joe Boisvert

Cossack Definition

"Cossack" means "free man" - that is man who cannot find his place in the present society and decides to live in a place, where there are no rules

At various times, different Cossack bands shifted allegiance back and forth between Poland and Russia.

Reputation as Great Soliders

The fighting qualities of the sea-going Cossacks was even admired in the Ottoman chronicles:

"One can safely say that in the entire world one cannot find a people more careless for their lives or having less fear of death; persons versed in navigation assert that because of their skill and boldness in naval battles these bands are more dangerous than any other enemy.

The word "Cossack" is derived from the Turkic term kazak that means "free man" or "adventurer". 

Supplied Soldiers During War In time of war the ten Cossack

voiskos had to supply 890 mounted squadrons (of 125 men each)

108 infantry squadrons or companies (also 125 men each), and 236 guns

Representing 4267 officers and 177,100 men, with 170,695 horses.

Cossacks Loyal to the Czar

The Cossacks united in the 15th century as a self-governing warrior organization that was loyal only to the Russian Czar.

They settled in six different areas: the Don, the Greben in Caucasia, the Yaik, near the Ural River, the Volga, the Dnieper and the Zaporozhian, west of the Dnieper.

The Cossacks accepted anyone who was considered a worthy warrior, but the new members had to believe in Christ. It is believed that most were of Slavic descent.

Photo of Cossack Soldier WW1

Cossack Accomplishments

In 16th-century Poland, the Zaporozhian Cossacks protected Poland's borders.

The Russian government used the Cossacks to expand Russia's empire and protect her frontier. Working for the Czar.

One of the greatest triumphs in Cossack history was the annexation of Siberia.

Cossacks Taught to be Warriors from Early Childhood

The Cossacks had specific customs and traditions. A child was taught the warrior-ways of the Cossacks from birth.

When a male child was born, the parents would take his hand and place it on a weapon.

The Cossacks were superior horsemen. By the time a Cossack was three years old he was riding horses.

As children, Cossack males would stage pretend battles complete with horses and sabers.

The ataman, or army chief, would praise the children who exhibited bravery in these mock battles.

The Cossack lifestyle was also based on simplicity. Members shared land and lived in communes. 

Cossack Rebellion

On this date in 1775, the Russian Empress Catherine the Great had Cossack rebel Yemelyan Pugachev chopped to pieces in Moscow for sustaining a major insurrection whose effects would haunt Russia for decades to come.

Pugachev’s Rebellion was the most spectacular specimen in populous family tree of 18th century peasant uprisings.

Cossacks was the Pretender Czar

The Cossack commander raised a revolt in the Urals in 1773, styling himself the long-lost tsar Catherine her husband whom she had overthrown a decade before.

Catherine was slow to see the import, but this hinterlands pretender set up a state-like bureaucracy and began issuing ukases as tsar — and one can readily discern from their content why he attracted a following:

Why He Was Popular

We bestow on all those who formerly were peasants and in subjugation to the landowners, along with Our monarchic and paternal compassion … tenure of the land and the forests and the hay meadows and the fisheries and the salt lakes, without purchase

We liberate all the aforementioned from the villainous nobles and from the bribe takers in the city–the officials who imposed taxes and other burdens on the peasants and the whole people …

[T]hose who formerly were nobles living on estates are enemies to Our power and disrupters of the empire and oppressors of the peasantry, and they should be caught, executed and hanged, they should be treated just as they, who have no Christianity, dealt with you peasants.

Pugachev’s Judgment

Cossacks Excellent Warriors on Horseback

Military service

 Military service was obligatory for all men, for 20 years, beginning with the age of 18.

The first 3 years are passed in the preliminary division, the next 12 in active service, and the last five years in the reserve.

Every Cossack was bound to procure his own uniform, equipment and horse (if mounted) –

The government supplying only the arms.  Three Types of Service for the Cossacks

Population and Land of the CossacksThe total Cossack population in 1893 was 2,648,049 (1,331,470 women)

They owned nearly 146,500,000 acres of land, of which 105,000,000 acres were arable and 9,400,000 under forests.

Cossacks Become Obsolete

 The Cossacks were famous as great warriors, but the development of modern warfare made their horseback fighting techniques obsolete. 

The End