Zaporozhye Cossacks gathered in the army to the most distant times.Historical evidence suggests it occurs to one thousand five hundred years.Some contemporaries base Zaporozhye Sech believed that the emergence of the Cossacks began with the unification of the peasants, who sought to destroy serfdom.According to other chroniclers, this army was created from Kozar, who lived in Central Asia, and Ukraine have moved during the Mongol-Tatar yoke.
Men of this class did not work, and spend their time practicing in the military science.Since the time of the settlement in Ukraine, they were called Cossacks.Forcing to serving soldiers unaccustomed labor service became Polish and Lithuanian magnates.These events occurred after the seizure of Ukraine.However, the Cossacks, to avoid forced labor, withdrew from populated land.They have chosen a place for the rapids of the Dnieper.According to historians, and thus were Zaporozhye Cossacks.Seeing the courage of the troops, the Polish kings began to entice them into the service.A well-born representatives of the gentry was considered a great honor to be the leaders of the brave troops.
Arsenal troops consisted of the most advanced weapons of the time.Zaporizhzhya Cossacks owned guns and howitzers, mortars and mortars, samopaly and pistols, spears and swords, knives and daggers, bows and arrows.These archaeological and historical science confirmed evidence of a large arsenal of weapons, which were selected among the nations which were fighting.However, the main priority Zaporozhye Cossacks gave saber.
As part of the brave troops had infantry, cavalry and artillery.The total number of armed Cossacks ranged from ten to twelve thousand people.It has always been considered an elite unit of cavalry.It was a most formidable force for fighting qualities.The unit consisted of troops and hundreds of shelves.During campaigns the Cossacks stopped for the night encampment, which was a set around a series of carts, fastened by chains.
main source of income was the production of Zaporozhye Sech reclaimed during campaigns, as well as trade, sale of wine, a tribute received from the transport, and the royal and the royal salary.Part of the good received in battle, to give the custom in the church.The remaining production was divided equally, and her Ukrainian Cossack could drink to the penny.Significant amount Sich collected from merchants traveling on the Zaporozhye lands.Most income includes tax and homes located within the boundaries of troops.
feudal lords looked with fear at the growing influence of the Cossacks.After all, it was on the side of the oppressed peasants and could always help them.Aspirations lords were reduced to the problem of the destruction of Zaporozhye Sech, and return it to serfdom.By the end of the fifteenth and early sixteenth centuries, Lithuanian and Polish magnates were able to assign large areas of land belonging to the Cossacks.Consequently, in 1648 an uprising broke out.It was headed by Colonel Cossack Bohdan Khmelnytsky.Going under his leadership has been completed the victory.
Given the large impact on the Sich Cossacks of Ukraine, diplomatic struggle troops were Peter I and Hetman Mazepa.However, the Cossacks took the side of Charles XII and Russian troops fought against fighting.After signing the contract Mazepa allied with the Swedes, Peter I brought to the capture of three regiments of Zaporizhzhya Sich.In front of them was given the task to destroy the base of the nest of rebels.In May 1709 the fort was taken completely destroyed and burned.
final point in the fate of the Cossacks set of Catherine II.In August 1775 it issued a manifesto approving the destruction of the Sich and its attribution to the Novorossiysk province.
