Table of contents:
- A little from the history of the Cossacks
- Why did the Cossack need a sealed forelock and an earring in his ear?
- Cossacks on the canvases of Russian classical artists
- Zaporozhye Cossacks in the painting of Sergei Vasilkovsky (1854-1917)
- Cossacks in the works of Roubaud Franz Alekseevich
- Cossacks in the painting of Jozef Brandt
- Cossack freemen on the canvases of Andrey Lyakh
Video: Which of the Cossacks was allowed to wear long forelocks, and why did the fearless warriors need them?
2024 Author: Richard Flannagan | [email protected]. Last modified: 2023-12-15 23:55
In the perception of many images of the Cossacks are inextricably linked with the images of brave and freedom-loving male warriors with a stern warlike look, stately bearing, long mustaches and forelocks, with earrings in their ears, in hats and wide trousers, which is really quite historically authentic. And the history of the Cossacks itself, reflected in the work of classical artists and contemporaries, is very unique and interesting.
A little from the history of the Cossacks
The first representatives of the Cossacks appeared in Russia at the turn of the 14-15th centuries, and the term "Cossacks" in the Slavic lands was coined to name the free armed population who settled in the so-called "Ukraine". At that time, several large Cossack communities arose, living in the lower reaches of the Dnieper, Don, Volga.
As a result of the "Great Famine" in 1601-1603, many landowners who could not feed their slaves drove them out of their possessions. People, fleeing from starvation in masses, fled to the free "Ukraine" and joined the Cossack communities.
As a result, large free Cossack troops were formed, namely Zaporozhye, Donskoe, Volga, Yaitskoe. The first mention of the Cossacks in the historical annals was in the message of the Tatar prince Yusuf to Ivan the Terrible. The Horde governor complained to the Russian tsar that
In the 17th and 18th centuries, the state power began to restrict the freedom of the Cossacks, trying to subordinate them to their will. The uprisings followed the uprisings, but punitive measures by the Russian authorities forced the Cossacks to swear allegiance to the tsar-father. So, in 1671, immediately after the suppression of the Razin uprising, the Cossacks were forced to take an oath to Tsar Alexei Mikhailovich and henceforth coordinate all their military operations.
Throughout the history of the Cossacks, there have been many great Cossacks - pioneers and discoverers, peacekeepers, real patriots of the fatherland. There were also simple Cossacks - defenders of the native land, who served as an "outpost" on the borders of the motherland. There were others - the Cossacks of the Time of Troubles, which they try not to remember.
- Napoleon's eloquent phrase about the Cossacks, testifies to their glory, courage, daring and courage.
Why did the Cossack need a sealed forelock and an earring in his ear?
Long forelocks-oseledtsy were worn by mature Cossacks, who sniffed gunpowder and showed heroism on the battlefields. For young people who were just starting to undergo a baptism of fire, such a hairstyle was prohibited. The forelocks were not only an element of the Cossack image, but also an important attribute related to the Cossack legend. It was believed that the Cossacks, who had ruined many lives in battles and committed many sins before God, were sentenced after death to “burn in hell”. Therefore, among them there was a belief, thanks to which the Cossacks sacredly believed that the forelocks would help them avoid an evil fate: namely, for him, the merciful Lord would still pull the poor fellow out of the hellish flame.
By the way, young Cossacks were called "dzhurami" and were usually cut under a pot. The hairstyle was "shortened" gradually in the process of training in military skills and the accumulation of combat experience. The most shameful punishment for the Cossack was shaving off his forelock.
Moreover, for all that, the forelock had to be worn so that it fell to the left side. This was necessary in order for the hair to brush away the evil spirits, which allegedly sat on the Cossack's left shoulder and tried to push him to atheism. The oseledent was the hallmark of a real Cossack who did not forget about faith and realized all his unrighteous deeds. That is why the Turks often cut off their long forelocks from the captured Cossacks so that their faith was shaken, and salvation from hell could not be expected.
Earrings made of silver in the shape of a crescent were also worn by the Cossacks not for fun. They carried in themselves information about the social status of the warrior. The earring in the left ear meant that the Cossack was the only son in the family. And when the earring was worn in the right, it indicated that its owner was the last man in his family. But there were times when earrings were worn in both ears.
At all times, the Cossacks were an example of courage and heroism, patriotism and loyalty for their contemporaries and for new generations. All these qualities attracted special attention of painters to them from Repin, Surikov, Vasilkovsky and up to modern masters of genre painting.
Cossacks on the canvases of Russian classical artists
Speaking about the Cossack freemen, the first thing that comes to mind is, of course, the painting by Ilya Repin "The Cossacks write a letter to the Turkish Sultan", which has become a symbol of the Zaporozhye Cossacks.
It is also impossible not to recall the famous paintings of Vasily Surikov, a hereditary Siberian Cossack. This is the famous canvas "The Conquest of Siberia by Yermak" (1895) and "Stepan Razin" (1906).
Zaporozhye Cossacks in the painting of Sergei Vasilkovsky (1854-1917)
Sergey Ivanovich Vasilkovsky is a Ukrainian painter originally from the Kharkov province. His works, dedicated to the Zaporozhye Cossacks, entered the historical chronicle of the Zaporozhye Sich as one of the brightest episodes in the history of Ukraine.
And this interest is not accidental: the Cossacks played a leading role in the development of statehood, formed the richest traditions based on deep faith in the patronage of the Mother of God, and developed their own code of honor.
Cossacks in the works of Roubaud Franz Alekseevich
Roubaud Franz Alekseevich, an outstanding Russian battle painter. Author of the famous panorama "Battle of Borodino". A large part of his work is devoted to Russian and Ukrainian Cossacks.
Cossacks in the painting of Jozef Brandt
Many canvases and drawings by the Polish artist Jozef Brandt are unique, in which he reflected the life of the Cossacks from everyday scenes to combat and battles.
In fairness, it should be noted that the images of the Cossacks are depicted historically truthfully, since Brandt spent many years in Ukraine studying the history of the Cossacks.
Cossack freemen on the canvases of Andrey Lyakh
The romanticized image of the Cossack freemen is reflected in many paintings by the contemporary artist Andrei Lyakh.
Interesting facts about the painting "The Cossacks write a letter to the Turkish Sultan" by Ilya Repin can be read in review
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