Cossack and peasant movement against serfdom led by the famous Cossack Ataman is the most powerful and widespread in the XVII century in the history of Russia.Revolt of Stepan Razin began to spread to the Don and the Caspian and Volga lands covering large areas and affecting many people.
sharp change in the social situation in the Cossack regions of the Don was the reason that started the uprising of Stepan Razin.Year after year, the situation of the peasants worsened.On the Don and Volga lands flocked runaway peasants who wanted to get rid of enslavement.But here, their situation remained grave as indigenous Cossacks reluctant to take them on their lands.This forced "golutvennyh" Cossacks to unite and engage in robbery and looting.
Revolt of Stepan Razin began as a predatory incursion of the Cossacks on the Volga lands.In 1667 Razin captured Yaitsky town on the Volga, where he was joined by many of the Cossacks.In 1668 razintsy ravaged the coast of the Caspian, and then entered into a confrontation with Iran.The Cossacks captured the city Ferahabad, won a major victory over the Iranian Navy, and in 1669 returned to the Don.Advances Razin boost its prestige among residents of the Don and Volga, which allowed him to make up for the loss and gain new army.
very peasant uprising of Stepan Razin began in 1670.In the spring he moved to the Volga.His campaign was accompanied by acts of riots and unrest serfs who wanted to free themselves from enslavement.In May he was captured Tsaritsyn.Astrakhan, Saratov and Samara opened the gates to the Cossacks, where under his start moved many archers and townspeople.
autumn Stepan Razin army besieged the fortified city of Simbirsk.At this time, an uprising joined by many local people: the Tatars, Chuvash, Mordvinians.However, the siege dragged on, which allowed the king's magistrates to gather large armies.The tsarist government in a hurry to mobilize all forces to suppress the rebellion and sending 60-thousand army Simbirsk.October 3, 1670 at Simbirsk between the Cossacks and the tsarist forces was a decisive battle in which the rebels were defeated.
Wounded Stepan Razin loyal Cossacks were taken to the Don, where he was about to gain a new army, but thrifty Cossacks captivated him and gave the king's commanders.June 6, 1671 Stepan Razin was quartered in Moscow.However, his death did not stop the uprising, many Cossack chieftains continued to struggle even for six months.Only in November 1671 the king's troops managed to take the last bastion razintsev - Astrakhan.
uprising led by Stepan Razin 1670-1671 biennium. unlike previous campaigns already bore his acute social in nature, and many historians call "peasant war," as against the royal power and serfdom acted as population of the Don and the Volga region, fighting against the dominance of power and lack of rights of the peasantry.
Thus, the uprising of Stepan Razin Cossack began with robberies and gradually turned into a full-scale peasant movement, whose goal was to weaken the taxes and duties, and to improve the lives of the peasantry.
