Whom did the free Cossacks take as wives, from whom a strong and distinctive people went

2024 Author: Richard Flannagan | [email protected]. Last modified: 2023-12-15 23:55

In ancient times, in the lands where the Cossacks were born, there was never serfdom, "corvee". AND Cossacks, as the sworn enemies of serf slavery, did not marry forced serf women. They were afraid to pass on the psychology of slaves to their generation. The free Cossack wanted his chosen one and life friend to be also free. Who and how became the wives of daring warriors further - in the review.

At the dawn of the emergence of the free Cossacks, most of the Cossacks did not have families. The dangerous and disturbing life they led was not conducive to family life at all. Women and children were a great burden for the warlike men. But over time, life took its toll and daring Cossacks began to acquire wives.

And then the question arose: where to get the girls? There were very few of their own free Cossacks, and then they began to choose brides for themselves Cossacks with "yasyrok" - free foreigners taken prisoner during the campaigns to the Caucasus, Persia, Crimea.

At that time, Russia did not fight with any country as often as with Turkey, and these wars lasted for 16-18 centuries. And the Cossacks, being one of the main striking forces in the border army, always returned with rich booty: "fabrics, shawls, adornments, chased silverware, weapons of Eastern work." And they brought Turkish meadow women, who were called "yasyrs". These were truly wonderful trophies.

Most of the captive yasyrs were Muslim women from prosperous, wealthy, and often noble families. Therefore, with their female character, they influenced the Cossack warrior for the better and brought the culture and customs of their countries into the life of the Cossack communities.

A woman's hand in the Cossack kurens was putting things in order, creating coziness. Cossacks converted their wives to the Orthodox faith, and Muslim women: Nadira, Zaira, Daira became Orthodox: Nadezhda, Zoya, Daria.

Thus, the majority of Zaporozhye and Don Cossacks married Turkish women, Tertsi married their neighbors Chechens and Dagestani women, Uralians married Nogays and Sartians, but Siberian "Cossack explorers" did not marry native women. They sent petitions to the Don and Yaik Cossacks, so that they would share their meadows. And the Cossack brothers rescued the Siberians by sending them girls.

However, already in the 19th century, marriages with yasyrs became a rarity. In the Cossack communities, there is a tendency to marry only their own. It is known that among the Don, Zaporozhye, Terek, Ural and other Cossacks it was shameful to marry a non-Cossack woman. Yes, and there was no particular need for this, since the descendants of Turkish women, Tartars, Circassian women abundantly populated the free lands, giving the world a people wonderfully strong, beautiful and original.

It should also be noted that disdain for women was brutally suppressed in the Cossack communities. For example, a Cossack could be executed for rape. The relationship between a Cossack and a Cossack woman was equal and respectful. And after the death of her husband, the wife had every right to his property, and even when the Cossacks were executed by their own. She could also count on the lifelong care of the community.

Moreover, there was a custom among the Cossacks, thanks to which a woman could save a Cossack condemned to death for any wrongdoing, agreeing to marry him. So, according to a historical note recorded by G. P. Nadkhin in the 19th century, we learn:

Cossack - a mistress of all trades craftswoman

The honor of the Cossack woman should include their concern for the cleanliness of their homes and the neatness of their clothes. This distinctive feature continues to this day. Such were the mothers and educators of the formidable Cossacks of the old times.

… And the Cossacks were always cheerful, if they get together, they will start a song right now.

Warlike Cossacks

Circumstances filled with constant danger, wars and uprisings have historically created a special type of woman - the defender of her home, family, and the interests of the Cossack community. They were very hardworking, independent, brave, hardy, courageous, who knew any job - including men's.

Seeing off their husbands on campaigns, Cossack women took on all the responsibilities of the household, raising children, and providing food for the family. Life in the steppe or small Cossack villages was full of worries, dangers and raids of warlike neighbors. She tempered the Cossacks, making them fearless and brave, they often had to take up arms, repelling the raids of enemies.

And these amazing women mastered weapons masterfully. History remembers many feats performed by the Cossacks. So in 1642, 800 women, along with the Cossacks, desperately fought off the Turks in Azov. And in 1609, Sofia Ruzhinskaya, personally commanding 6,000 Cossacks, stormed the castle of the Koretsky princes in Cheremoshny.

The last wife of Bogdan Khmelnitsky, Anna Zolotarenko, was also a daring Cossack. And the wife of Fastov's colonel Semyon Paliy - Feodosia could not only diplomatically receive ambassadors and manage the economy of the Cossack regiment, but also lead the Cossacks into battle.

Colonel Ivan Doscha's sister took part as a horseman in battles with the Poles in Volyn, where she died. And often, after bloody battles on the battlefields, they found the bodies of killed Cossacks dressed in men's clothes and shaved like Cossacks.

The qualities of female warriors were instilled in Cossack women from childhood. So, up to 13 years old, girls even played some games with boys. In them, they learned some military wisdom, such as riding a horse. Young Cossacks could not only ride on horseback, but also handle a skiff, skillfully wield a lasso, a bow and a self-propelled gun.

Noble Cossack women from high society

Time did not stand still, and with it culture and education. And in the high society, beautiful women have already begun to appear - the descendants of the former yasyrok - dark-skinned beauties, captivating not only with their appearance, but with their sharp mind and special character. These are the first countesses from the Cossack clan Daria Denisova, A. P. Orlova-Denisova - the daughter of Count Platov, as well as the maids of honor of the empresses: Sebryakov, Efremov, Zhirova, Karpova and many others. All of them graduated from higher educational institutions, universities, various higher courses for women.

However, no matter how hot the blood flowed in the veins of the educated Cossacks, their views remained very conservative and true to the precepts of antiquity. All of them were alien to the fashionable teachings of the "populists" and revolutionary ideas. The highest moral ideal for the descendants of the Cossacks was the Lord, and of earthly values - family and home comfort. By the way, there were no revolutionaries among the Cossack students, let alone terrorists.

Images of Cossack women in art

The image of a beautiful foreigner who conquered a free Cossack has firmly entered our culture through legends and legends, literature and painting. This is the "Persian princess", which Stenka Razin was forced to throw overboard, obeying the will of his dashing comrades, and the Turkish grandmother of the hero of the "Quiet Don" Grigory Melekhov, and many others.

Few people know that the army of the Don Cossacks at the beginning of the 19th century visited Paris as the victors. You can find out about the impression they left behind with the Parisians, and in particular with the Parisians. in the review.