The Brief History of the Cossacks.
Who are they?

Have you ever head about Cossacks? Very many people would think they know something about them. But for some reason you will never find two people whose conception about this subject would be the same.

From the one side there is a lot of information about them, their origin, and the role they played in history which causes numerous contradictions and arguing and certainly requires honest scientific analysis. From the other side a great public interest to this period of Russian history has brought to life a lot of opuses which don't stay even close to the real historical facts.

In pre-revolutionary Russia cossacks were considered as the most trusted Czars' guardians and the protectors of the Russian lands. After the Great October Revolution (1917) when the "true Bolshevics" came to power, they suddenly became the symbol of the class enemies and the suppressors of the liberal protests and manifestation. We are not able to change the history. But perhaps the truth as usually is located somewhere in between these two statements.

The earlier existence of the Cossacks is dated to the tenth century. Most researches agree that these people are inter mixture of the settled Slavic races who lived in the vast steppe area stretched from southern Europe to Asia and the migrating Turks and Tatars people.

In old Russian chronicles they were described like "the brave and strong knights", who lived separately from Russians, Tatars or Poles. An Ataman, or Hetman, elected by the people, was at the head of each tribal units. At time of war the Hetman became their supreme commander.

The structure of the State didn't have any official laws, but everyone obeyed the unwritten "Cossack Traditions" which declared principles of every day life, social behavior, and war traditions. In the 16th century separate clans were consolidated into two large centers - Zaporojian Sich, on the river Dniepr and the Don State on the river Don.

The Don and Zaporojie military settlements were the sovereign nation of the professional soldiers with a unique structure, spirit of freedom, and warrior culture. These two independent States became a protecting barrier for the villages and towns from the militant invaders from the east and south. At the same time they were the place where men who didn't like the idea of becoming somebody's slave could find refuge and freedom.

For almost 300 years Ukrainian history was connected with the history of Cossacks. In Ukraine you still can hear folklore songs about glorious days of Zaporozhskaya Sech, its legendary Hetmans, and their heroic military raids. Ukrainian youth has a great interest to these period of the state history. In 1985 the new and very popular type of the Cossack's martial art-Boyoviy Hopak was introduced in Ukraine.

During the centuries of their struggle against enemies severe life conditions cultivated physical and moral qualities which made these warriors a unique military organization. They were taught to be content with little and easily endured conditions of military life. They were high-skilled, brave, and quick-wit solders whose the major life value was freedom.

The fast growing Russian Empire least of all wanted to have these military settlements as an independent state. Their historical existence was a chain of raids, wars, invasion into hostile areas, and expending of Russia's borders at the expense of their neighbors. In 1709 Peter the Great annexed the Don to his Empire and put an end to the Don Cossack's freedom. The last Hetman of Ukraine was forced by Empress Catherine II to resign in 1764.

So many years have passed since those battles. But people's memory keeps them live in drawling songs, bandura music, ancient relics and numerous monuments. People remember national heroes, but they still argue about their role in Russia's and Ukraine's history.

There is pretty interesting information about Cossack History. presented at Wikipedia also.

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