Taurian Gubernia. The time of development and prosperity of the Crimean land.

Tavricheskaya guberniya was an administrative-territorial unit of the Russian Empire and existed from 1802 to 1921. The center was the city of Simferopol. After joining Russia and the wise reforms of Catherine the Great, there was a significant upsurge in all spheres of life. Turkey, seeing the successes and prosperity of the Crimea, wanted to return the peninsula under its control, but was defeated. As a result of these events, Russia further increased its influence in the Crimea, and also strengthened its authority not only over the Black and Azov Seas, but also over the Bosporus and the Dardanelles.

Crimea departs to Russia

In 1784, on January 8, a state act was signed between the Turkish and Russian sides. This was an important historical event. This act said that Crimea will be joined to Russia. However, this event was not news. Crimean fate was predetermined in the course of the Russo-Turkish war, which lasted from 1768 to 1774. According to the peace treaty Crimea gained independence. Turkey no longer had influence in these territories. Russia received Kerch and the possibility of movement along the Black and Azov Seas.

By decree of Catherine II Crimean Murzas (Tatar aristocrats) acquired the status of the Russian nobility. They retained their territories, but they did not receive the right to own serfs, who were Russian. Thanks to this decree, most of the nobility moved to the side of Russia. The imperial treasury was replenished with the incomes and lands of the Crimean Khan. All Russian prisoners who were in the Crimea were freed.

Education of the Taurida Gubernia

Taurian province was formed due to the division of Novorossiysk, which happened in 1802. Then one of the three separated parts became part of Tauris. The Tauride province was divided into 7 counties:

• Evpatoria;
• Simferopol;
• Melitopolsky;
• The Dnieper;
• Perekopsky;
• Tmutarakan;
• Theodosius.

In 1820, the Tmutarakansky county retired and became part of the region of the Black Sea Army. In 1838 Yalta was formed, and in 1843 - Berdyansk district. By the beginning of the twentieth century there were 2 city governorships and 8 counties in the Tauride province. According to the 1987 census, the city of Simferopol was the third largest (141,717 people).

Changes in the Crimea

In 1784 the city of Sevastopol appeared, which is the base for the Russian fleet. Formed Nikolaev and Kherson. In the latter, the first ships for the Black Sea Fleet are built. In order to increase the population of the city, Kherson, Sevastopol and Feodosia are declared open. Here foreigners can freely enter, work and live here. At will they could even become Russian subjects.

In the following year, the customs duty was abolished in all Crimean ports (for 5 years). This entailed a significant increase in turnover. The former poor Crimean territory has become a prosperous and developing land. Here, agriculture and winemaking have significantly increased. Crimea becomes the largest naval base of the Russian fleet. As a result, the population of Tauris is considerably growing.

Requirements of Turkey

In 1787, the Turkish side demands the restoration of the vassalage of the peninsula, and also wants to inspect Russian ships going through the Dardanelles and the Bosporus. It is supported by Prussia, France and England. Russia sends a refusal to these requirements. In the same year, Turkey declares war and is defeated in the attack on Russian ships. At the same time, the attacking party had numerical superiority. The Russian army takes Anapa, Izmail, Ochakov. Suvorov's troops finally smashed the Turks. The attacking country did not expect such a turn of events - it had to sign the Ias Peace Treaty. Thanks to this document, the Russian Empire consolidates its rights over the Crimea and the Northern Black Sea Coast. It belonged unconditionally to the whole Taurian province. The map shows the boundaries of the region. Its territory was captured by the modern lands of Ukraine.

Census of the Taurida Gubernia 1897

In 1897, a census was conducted in all 10 counties of the province. Crimea has always been a territory with a multinational population. The census data show that most of the residents spoke in the Little Russian (Ukrainian) language. The second most popular was the Great Russian language. Further, the spread of the Crimean-Tatar, Bulgarian, German, Jewish, Greek, and also other languages was noted. The total number of inhabitants of Gubernia was almost 1.5 million. In 6 counties the Russian population prevailed: in Kerch, Simferopol, Sevastopol, Evpatoria, Dzhankoisk, Feodosia. In Balaklava, slightly more than half of the population turned out to be Greek speakers. Also, many people of this nationality lived in the Old Crimea.

Tauride province existed for more than a century, its territory was wanted to take over other states, but the Russian Empire finally strengthened its influence on these lands.