Conquest of Siberia. The history of the annexation of Siberia and the Far East to Russia

The conquest of Siberia is one of the most important processes of the formation of Russian statehood. The development of the eastern lands took more than 400 years. Throughout this period, there have been many battles, foreign expansion, conspiracies, intrigues.

The accession of Siberia is still in the center of attention of historians and causes a lot of controversy, including among the public.

Conquest of Siberia by Ermakom

The history of the conquest of Siberia begins with the famous campaign of Ermak. This is one of the Cossack atamans. There are no precise data on his birth and ancestors. However, the memory of his exploits has reached us through the ages. In 1580, the rich merchants of the Stroganovs invited the Cossacks to help them protect their possessions from constant raids by the Ugrians. Cossacks settled in a small town and lived relatively peacefully. The bulk consisted of Volga Cossacks. A total of just over eight hundred. In 1581 a campaign was organized with the money of merchants. Despite its historical significance (in fact, the trip marked the beginning of the era of the conquest of Siberia), this campaign did not attract Moscow's attention. In the Kremlin, the detachment was called simple "bandits".

In the autumn of 1581 the group of Ermak plunged into small ships and began to sail along the river Chusovaya up to the mountains. Upon landing, the Cossacks had to clear their way, cutting down the trees. The coast was completely uninhabited. The constant ascent and the mountainous terrain created extremely difficult conditions for the transition. Ships (plows) carried literally on their hands, because of the solid vegetation failed to install the rollers. As the cold weather approached, the Cossacks set up camp on the pass, where they spent the whole winter. After that the rafting started on the Tagil River.

The Siberian Khanate

The conquest of Siberia by Yermak met the first resistance from the local Tatars. There, almost over the river Ob, the Siberian Khanate began . This small state was formed in the 15th century, after the defeat of the Golden Horde. It did not have significant strength and consisted of several possessions of small princes.

Tatars, accustomed to the nomadic way of life, could not properly equip cities or even settlements. The main occupations were still hunting and raids. The warriors were mostly mounted. As a weapon used scimitars or sabers. Most often they were of local manufacture and quickly broke. There were also trophy Russian swords and other high-quality equipment. The tactic of sweeping horse raids was used, during which the riders literally trampled the enemy, then retreated. Foot soldiers were mostly archers.

Cossacks equipment

Cossacks Ermak received modern at that time armament. These were powder guns and guns. Most of the Tatars had not even seen this before, and this was the main advantage of the Russians.

Near the modern Turinsk the first battle took place. Then the Tatars began to shower cossacks with arrows from ambush. Then the local prince Epanchi sent his cavalry to Ermak. The Cossacks opened fire on them from long rifles and cannons, after which the Tatars fled. This local victory allowed to take Chingi-tour without a fight.

The first victory brought a lot of different benefits to the Cossacks. In addition to gold and silver, these lands were very rich in Siberian fur, which was highly valued in Russia. After other service people learned about the extraction, the conquest of Siberia by the Cossacks attracted many new people.

Conquest of Western Siberia

After a series of quick and successful victories, Ermak began to move farther to the east. In the spring, several Tatar princes united to fight back the Cossacks, but quickly defeated and recognized the Russian authorities. In the middle of summer in the modern Yarkovsky district the first major battle took place. Mametkul's cavalry launched an attack on the position of the Cossacks. They sought to quickly get closer and crush the enemy, taking advantage of the rider in close combat. Ermak personally became in the trench, where the guns were located, and began to fire on the Tatars. After a few volleys, Mametkul fled with the whole army, which opened the way to Karachi for the Cossacks.

Arrangement of occupied lands

The conquest of Siberia was characterized by considerable non-combat losses. Complex weather conditions and severe climate caused many diseases in the camp of freight forwarders. In addition to the Russians in the detachment of Ermak were also Germans and Lithuanians (the so-called natives of the Baltic States).

They were the most susceptible to disease and the hardest to tolerate acclimatization. However, the hot Siberian summer, these difficulties were not, so the Cossacks were advancing without problems, taking more and more territories. Taken settlements were not plundered or burnt. Usually the jewels were taken from the local prince, if he dared to expose the army. Otherwise, he simply presented gifts. In addition to the Cossacks, the settlers took part in the march. They walked behind the soldiers together with the clergy and representatives of the future administration. In the conquered cities, fortresses were built - wooden fortified forts. They were both a civil administration and a stronghold in the event of a siege.

Conquered tribes were subject to tribute. For her payment, and had to follow the Russian governors in the prison. If someone refused to pay tribute, he was visited by a local squad. In times of great uprisings, Cossacks came to the rescue.

The final rout of the Siberian Khanate

The conquest of Siberia was facilitated by the fact that local Tatars practically did not interact with each other. Different tribes waged war among themselves. Even within the Siberian Khanate, not all princes rushed to help others. The greatest resistance was rendered by the Tatar Khan Kuchum. To stop the Cossacks, he began to collect the army in advance. In addition to his squad, he invited mercenaries. They were Ostyaks and Voguls. Among them I met and knew. In early November, the Khan brought the Tatars to the mouth of Tobol, intending to stop the Russians here. It is noteworthy that the local residents in their majority did not render Kuchum any substantial assistance.

The decisive battle

When the battle began, almost all mercenaries fled the battlefield. Poorly organized and trained Tatars could not long resist the battle-hardened Cossacks and also retreated.

After this devastating and decisive victory before Ermak, the road to Kishlik opened. After taking the capital, the detachment stopped in the city. A few days later representatives of the Khanty with gifts began to arrive there. Ataman accepted them cordially and spoke kindly. After that, the Tatars voluntarily offered gifts in exchange for protection. Also, all who knelt down, pledged to pay tribute.

Death at the height of fame

The conquest of Siberia was initially not supported from Moscow. However, rumors about the successes of the Cossacks quickly spread throughout the country. In 1582, Ermak sent a delegation to the tsar. At the head of the embassy was the companion of the ataman Ivan Koltsov. Tsar Ivan the Fourth provided a welcome to the Cossacks. They were presented with expensive gifts, among them - equipment from the royal forge. Also, Ivan ordered to gather a squad of 500 men and send them to Siberia. Already the following year Ermak subdued almost all the lands on the coast of the Irtysh.

The famous ataman continued to conquer unexplored territories and to subjugate more and more nationalities. There were insurrections that could quickly be suppressed. But near the river Vagai the detachment of Ermak was attacked. Having found the Cossacks by surprise at night, the Tatars succeeded in practically killing all. The great leader and Cossack ataman Ermak died.

Further conquest of Siberia: briefly

The exact place of burial of the ataman is unknown. After the death of Ermak, the conquest of Siberia continued with new strength. Year after year, all new territories were submitted. If the original campaign was not coordinated with the Kremlin and was chaotic, then the subsequent actions became more centralized. The king personally took control of this issue. Well-equipped expeditions were sent regularly. The city of Tyumen was built, which became the first Russian settlement in these parts. From that time systematic conquest continued with the use of Cossacks. Year after year, they conquered all new territories. In the cities taken, the Russian administration was put up. Educated people were sent from the capital to conduct business.

In the middle of the 17th century, a wave of active colonization was taking place. Many cities and settlements are founded. Peasants come from other parts of Russia. The settlement is gaining momentum. In 1733 the famous Northern Expedition was organized. In addition to conquest, the task was also to study and discover new lands. The data obtained after was used by geographers from around the world. The end of the annexation of Siberia can be considered the entry of the Uryakhan Territory into the Russian Empire.