Why the ax of war between Russians and Alaska Indians was buried only in 2004
Why the ax of war between Russians and Alaska Indians was buried only in 2004

Video: Why the ax of war between Russians and Alaska Indians was buried only in 2004

Video: Why the ax of war between Russians and Alaska Indians was buried only in 2004
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The sale of Alaska by the decision of Alexander II in 1867 was accomplished not out of someone's stupidity and short-sightedness, but for a number of very good reasons. And one of them was fierce resistance to the Russian colonists from the warlike Indians of the Tlingit tribe.

Alaska
Alaska

The development of Alaska looked beautiful only on paper, but in reality the Russians had many problems there. Moving south along the coast of America, Russian colonists reached the lands where the Tlingit Indians lived.

Indian settlement
Indian settlement

Although the Russians came there in peace, the Indians did not like the fact that they were engaged in a predatory, in huge quantities, fishery of sea animals - sea otters (sea beavers) and sea lions (sea lions) in their territories. The Russians moved forward, looking for new places to hunt, while giving the Indians nothing in return. And they should have been more circumspect - after all, there were only about 400 Russians in Alaska, and thousands of Tlingits. Of course, the Russians needed peace in these territories. They also treated the Indians arrogantly, robbed and ruined them. And the response from the Indians was hostility and hatred towards uninvited guests.

Russian settlers and Indians
Russian settlers and Indians

Under Alexander Andreevich Baranov, the first governor of Alaska, Russian possessions here expanded significantly. The fortress of Michael the Archangel was founded on the island of Sitka, where the Tlingits used to live, and the fortress of Yakutat.

Alexander Andreevich Baranov - chief ruler of Russian settlements in North America from 1790 to 1818
Alexander Andreevich Baranov - chief ruler of Russian settlements in North America from 1790 to 1818

Russian-Indian War

Finally, the Tlingits decided it was time to get the ax of war. In June 1802, choosing the right moment when most of the Russian settlers went to the fur trade, they attacked the Mikhailovskaya Fortress and captured it. Russian historian Khlebnikov wrote: The Tlingits “ suddenly they silently emerged from the shelter of impenetrable forests, armed with rifles, spears and daggers. Their faces were covered with masks depicting animal heads and smeared with red and other paint; their hair was tied and entangled by an eagle. Some of the masks were imitated by ferocious animals with sparkling teeth and monstrous creatures. They were not seen until they were close to the barracks; and the people lounging around the door barely had time to rally and burst into the building when (the Tlingits), surrounding them with a moment of wild and wild screams, opened strong fire from their guns on the windows. A terrible scandal was continued, imitating the screams of animals depicted in their masks, with the aim of causing even greater horror. ».

Battle of Sitka, June 1802
Battle of Sitka, June 1802

In the next few days, the Tlingits killed almost all the settlers who returned from the hunt. The loss of Sitka Island was a heavy blow for the Russian colonists and personally for the Governor of Alaska Baranov.

Indian ships
Indian ships
In battle
In battle

Only two years later, Baranov was able to muster forces for a retaliatory strike. Four ships headed for the captured island, accompanied by several hundred Aleuts in kayaks.

Battle of Sitka
Battle of Sitka

The sloop "Neva", which at that time sailed here, being on a voyage around the world, also joined the offensive.

Russian military sloop "Neva", which took part in the Battle of Sitka
Russian military sloop "Neva", which took part in the Battle of Sitka

At first, Baranov, trying to avoid bloodshed, entered into negotiations with the Indians. Negotiations continued for a month, but to no avail. Then Baranov gave the command to shell the settlement with naval guns and storm. But although a garrison of only a hundred soldiers defended the Indian fortress on the island, the powerful attack of the Russians was repulsed. The fortress, built by the Indians from thick logs, turned out to be very strong and became a reliable defense for them, so they "". With the onset of darkness, after long mutual shelling, the Russians still had to retreat.

Louis Glazman "Battle of Sitka"
Louis Glazman "Battle of Sitka"

But the defenders of the fortress, realizing that they would not be able to hold out anyway, secretly moved to the other side at night. The Russians burned the wooden fortress left by the Indians, and the Russian flag was raised over the island again.

Russian America flag
Russian America flag

The Russians immediately began building a new city on the island called Novo-Arkhangelsk, which became the capital of Russian Alaska. Although in 1805 Baranov nevertheless concluded a truce with the Tlingits, the Indians no longer allowed the Russians to fully engage in fur trade. Moreover, in 1805 they dealt another very tangible blow - they burned down the second fortress of the Russians, Yakutat, killing its inhabitants.

Alaska Sale

In 1867, under the reign of Emperor Alexander II, Alaska was sold to the Americans.

Signing of the agreement for the sale of Alaska on March 30, 1867. Left to right: Robert S. Chu, William G. Seward, William Hunter, Vladimir Bodisko, Eduard Steckl, Charles Sumner, Frederick Seward
Signing of the agreement for the sale of Alaska on March 30, 1867. Left to right: Robert S. Chu, William G. Seward, William Hunter, Vladimir Bodisko, Eduard Steckl, Charles Sumner, Frederick Seward

Why was it sold? The fact is that more and more problems accumulated around Alaska every year. Income from the fur trade decreased significantly, the maintenance of Alaska for the Russian treasury became unprofitable. At that time, Russia, which entered the Crimean War (1853-1856), was in great need of money, both for military purposes and for carrying out reforms. Moreover, these Tlingits did not allow to live in peace. For ten years Alexander II tried to avoid this deal, but in 1867 it did take place. A huge territory (1,519,000 sq. Km) was sold for $ 7,200,000 in gold, in terms of $ 4, 74 per sq. Km. km. And just 30 years later, the famous gold rush began in Alaska.

Alaska Gold Rush
Alaska Gold Rush

The completion of the Russian page in the history of Alaska was the symbolic ceremony of the conclusion in 2004 of peace between Russia and the Tlingits. The fact is that the ceasefire, concluded back in 1805 by A. Baranov, was not officially recognized by the Tlingits, referring to the fact that then all the subtleties of the "Indian protocol" were not observed. And so, in the sacred meadow, at the totem pole of the leader Catlian, in the presence of Alexander Baranov's great-great-granddaughter, Irina Afrosina, the ax of war between the Russians and the Tlingits was finally finally buried. And after all, for two hundred years the Tlingits believed that they were at war with the Russians, and we did not even know about it))).

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