word "Cossack" in Turkic language means "free man."This definition is most accurately reflects the meaning of the concept, although various nations has its own interpretation of its meaning.Heated discussions about the origin of the word do not stop until now.Not everyone knows about who these Cossacks, and when they are generally formed as a class.
first of them is mentioned in the XIII century.The French Ambassador William of Rubruck even in 1253 went to the Mongols and saw Don Cossacks.
Most Russian historians on the question of who the Cossacks, states that it is an integral part of the Slavic nation, its special branch.Some experts argue that the above class emerged from the nomadic peoples of Indo-Iranian race, which left the territory of the eastern part of Lake Baikal and went to live on the shores of the Angara.Other scientists, responding to a question about who the Cossacks, suggest that the descendants of the Black Sea and Azov tribes who tied the kinship and formed a unique nation.There is a point of view, the birthplace of "Cossacks" has always been the North Caucasus.
argue about who the Cossacks, is endless.It is not clear one thing - how tribes such as Khakassia, tanaity, Alans-Ases, Bothrops atrox, considered the ancestors of the described class, were able to learn Russian culture, traditions and customs, thus de facto becoming Slavs.The reason probably lies in the fact that a huge horde of belligerent Rousseau won the southern territories, in number was much greater than the forces of local tribes.Among other things, the vast expanses of the south were completely deserted, so the Slavic tribes there was no one to assimilate - no one bothered them live according to their centuries-old foundations.
On the basis of the above it can be concluded that the Cossacks is a unique symbiosis of the Slavic peoples, which was formed for the territory of the Russian state in the conditions, independent from him.Before leaving for various reasons beyond its homeland, the Russian people reached the southern steppe borders of Russia, where he "settled", despite the fact that there were a number of hostile neighbors.This is where the "born" Kuban Cossacks.They defended their homes against the attacks of nomadic tribes, and later raided themselves.The war has become for them a professional occupation, she steeled their character and influence their life.In between the military battles Cossacks grown cattle, hunted and fished.
As already emphasized, the Don Cossacks were first mentioned in 1253 by the French Ambassador William of Rubruck.Don Cossacks officially began to take shape after the collapse of the Golden Horde.His "skeleton" made Russian Christians.Some scientists claim that they were soldiers who refused to serve with the Mongol-Tatar khans, while others believe that they were robbers with Khlynovsky land.Anyway, the army of the Don Cossacks were the most numerous and militant in the Russian Empire.
