Siberian Cossacks or Siberian Cossack army- irregular army in the XVII-XX centuries in Russian Empire, on the territory of Western Siberia and Northern Kazakhstan. Seniority from December 6, 1582 from the Cossacks who served from the 16th century in the cities and on the border (Siberian) line. Military holiday, military circle - December 6 (19), St. Nicholas the Wonderworker. The capital of the army was Omsk, where all the combined arms institutions were located. The Siberian Cossack army should not be identified with and.

Siberian Cossack army: general information

The army consisted of three military departments: the 1st - with a center in Kokchetav, the 2nd - in Omsk, the 3rd - in Ust-Kamenogorsk. The departments were divided into stanitsas (by 1914 there were only 48 stanitsas).

The population of the army by January 1, 1914 (O.S.) totaled 298,284 people, including 167,985 souls of the military class, the rest were raznochintsy (“out-of-town”). The Cossacks were divided as follows: 1,349 people. - generals, officers and officials with families, lower ranks with families - 166,636 people.

Ethnic composition: 94.3% - Cossacks, 4.89% - Mordovians, 0.81% - Tatars. The latter are Muslims. Raskolnikov and sectarians among the Siberians was 1%, the remaining 98.19% were Orthodox.

The Cossacks lived in 48 stanitsa settlements (stanitsa centers), 123 settlements and 16 settlements. The surviving Yermakovites and their children, having laid the foundation for the military service class of Russian Siberia, soon disappeared into the mass of the so-called newly-appointed Cossacks. During the next, XVIII century. part of the city Cossacks were moved to the border lines, and they gave rise to the Siberian linear Cossacks. The army as such was formed only in the second half of the 18th - first half of the 19th century. a number of different orders of the central government, caused by military necessity. The Provision of the city can be considered a milestone, from which the history of the Siberian linear Cossack army itself is usually counted, which was recruited from different sources human resources.

"Enrollment in the Cossacks of the captured Poles of Napoleon's army, 1813" The drawing by N. N. Karazin depicts the moment the captured Poles arrived in Omsk after they, already deployed among the Cossack regiments, under the supervision of the Siberian army of the Cossack captain (esaul) Nabokov, one by one change into Cossack uniforms.

Many of the captured Poles who served in the Napoleonic army were enrolled in the Siberian Cossacks. Shortly after the end of the campaigns of 1812-1814. these Poles were granted the right to return to their homeland. But many of them, having already managed to marry Russians, did not want to use this right and remained in the Siberian Cossacks forever, later receiving the ranks of conscripts and even officers. Many of them, having a completely European education, were appointed teachers in the military Cossack school that opened soon after (the future cadet corps). Later, the descendants of these Poles completely merged with the rest of the population of the army, becoming completely Russian, as appearance and language, and according to faith and the Russian spirit. Only surviving surnames like: Svarovsky, Yanovsky, Kostyletsky, Yadrovsky, Legchinsky, Dabshinsky, Stabrovsky, Lyaskovsky, Edomsky, Zhagulsky and many others show that the ancestors of the Cossacks bearing these surnames were once Poles.

Particularly indicative in this regard were 1846 and 1849, when due to the enrollment of peasants (both old-timers and settlers from European Russia) into the Cossacks, the number of troops almost doubled! That is why the “native” Siberians, who were direct descendants of the urban Cossacks of Western Siberia in the 17th century, made up only a part of the military class, its core.

In 1861, the army underwent a significant reorganization. The Tobolsk Cossack Cavalry Regiment, the Tobolsk Cossack Foot Battalion and the Tomsk City Cossack Regiment were assigned to it, and a set of troops from 12 regimental districts was installed, fielding a hundred in the Life Guards Cossack Regiment, 12 cavalry regiments, three foot half-battalions with rifle half-companies, one a horse artillery brigade of three batteries (subsequently the batteries were converted into regular ones, one was included in the Orenburg artillery brigade in 1865 and two in the 2nd Turkestan artillery brigade in 1870).

Key dates in the history of the Siberian Cossack Host (SKB)

If we take the Regulations of 1808 as the basis for the history of the SLE, then the main dates are as follows:

• g., August 19 (O.S.) - According to the new provision, the army was named the “Siberian linear Cossack army” and for the first time received the correct military structure as part of ten peacetime departments, which in war time transformed into 10 Siberian linear Cossack cavalry regiments N 1 - N 10 and two horse artillery companies. The Siberian linear Cossack army consisted of 5950 people, with the obligation to serve from the age of 17 for life, to receive a land allotment of 6 acres per capita, to use a salary of 6 rubles. 16.5 kopecks, flour - 3 quarters and oats 7 quarters each per year, hay at a price of 2 kopecks. from a pud and to fish in the Irtysh, above Bukhtarma.
• - the regiments were granted ten banners in the form of bunchuks, and the banner of the Tomsk Cossacks, received in the city, became the military banner. The officers were granted scarves for uniforms.
• g. - departments in peacetime are called regiments N 1 - N 10. For services to Russia, the army was granted:
  • special uniforms of the uhlan type, which had no analogues in any other Cossack troops;
  • on the Cossack peaks of the weather vane of the established colors "In the greatest distinction, diligence and serviceability in the highest service." Only Siberian Cossacks were allowed to carry weapons according to ancient custom Siberians - a carbine on the left side, and ammunition on the right.
• g. - many of the prisoners of war of the Poles, who wished to remain forever in the Siberian Cossack army, were enlisted in the Cossack rank. In Omsk, a Cossack school was opened with military funds. The Siberian military army remains the only cavalry in Western Siberia.
  • the management of the Siberian linear Cossack army is entrusted to the head of the 24th division (the former inspector of the troops of the Siberian inspection - he is also the commander of the troops of the Siberian line), and with the establishment of the Separate Siberian Corps in the city - to the commander of the corps. A military office was established under the chairmanship of the military ataman, two members, two assessors and a prosecutor, it was subordinate to the local provincial authorities and the Siberian governor-general.
• - the Separate Siberian Corps was established.
• city ​​- in the Kyrgyz steppe, outer districts were formed - Karkaralinsky and Kokchetavsky.
• g. - The village of Karkaralinskaya was founded by Siberian Cossacks - 53 men and 38 women.
• - 1847 - Siberian Cossacks fought against the uprising of the Kirghiz under the leadership of Kenesary Kasymov.
• February 18 (O.S.) - all military settlers in Siberia were converted to stanitsa Cossacks. Cossacks of the Siberian linear Cossack army were granted the right to trade without established certificates in their villages and cities of Omsk, Semipalatinsk, Petropavlovsk, Ust-Kamenogorsk.
• g. - the population in the army reached 37 thousand people of both sexes, of which over 8 thousand Cossacks were in active service. According to the recall of Major General Gurko, who inspected the army, in the 30s, “Siberian Cossacks, who replaced the dragoons withdrawn from Siberia, received a regular arrangement and, making up the indispensable regiments located on the very border, are kept according to the combat unit on almost the same rules as exist now in the whole army. Equipped with state allowances, they should be more honored by the sent cavalry regiments than by the Cossacks.
• 31 January (O.S.) - the dispatch of 30 Siberian line Cossacks for service in the Life Guards Horse Grenadier Regiment was approved (service continued for 48 years until the city).
• December 5 (O.S.) - more than 6 thousand state peasants and 4 thousand settlers were assigned to the army, as a result of which its number grew to 29,138 males.
  • the new “Regulations on the Siberian linear Cossack army” was approved: 9 regimental districts were established, fielding 9 cavalry regiments (No. 1-9), 3 horse batteries (No. 20-22), 1 team in the Life Guards and 9 reserve teams. At the same time, the horse regiments were divided into 3 brigades.
  • The Omsk Cossack School was transformed into the Siberian Cadet Corps.
• summer - part of the Cossacks and peasants from the Orenburg and Saratov provinces settled in the southeastern part of the Kyrgyz steppe and founded here the villages of Shchuchinskaya, Koturkulskaya, Zerendinskaya, Lobanovskaya, Akanburlukskaya.
• December 6 (O.S.) - by the highest decree, the ranks of the army were granted the rights and advantages of the ranks of the army.
• On September 6 (O.S.) - the 10th regiment was formed from the linear Cossacks and migrant peasants who arrived in the new Kokchetav villages, the command of which was entrusted to the military foreman Kazachinin.
• December 2 (old style) - the 10th regiment was renamed and named the "Siberian linear Cossack cavalry regiment No. 1." All regiments of the troops are divided into 4 brigades.
• d. - A trading company of 200 Cossacks was established in the army. Cossacks entering a trading company contribute 57 rubles to military capital for 30 years. 50 kop. every year and then they do not carry out any personal service, and they do not receive maintenance either from the treasury or from the army.
• 1860-1861 - Siberian Cossacks participated in "deals" with the Kokand and Kirghiz at Uzun-Agach, Pishpek, Tokmak, etc.
• March 5 (O.S.) - a new regulation on the army was approved. The army was named "Siberian Cossacks", the Tobolsk Cossack cavalry regiment, the Tobolsk Cossack foot battalion and the Tomsk City Cossack regiment were included in it. As a result, a set of troops was established from 12 regimental districts, recruiting 12 cavalry regiments (Nos. 1-12, 11 and 12 regiments were made up of newly enlisted units); three foot semi-battalions No. 1, 2, 3 with rifle semi-companies; one team in the Life Guards; one horse artillery brigade of three batteries No. 20,21 and 22 (subsequently, the batteries were converted into regular ones: one was included in the Orenburg artillery brigade in 1865 and two in the 2nd Turkestan artillery brigade in 1870).
• and gg. - Siberian Cossacks were in the detachment of Chernyaev and participated in the capture of Tashkent, Chimkent, Turkestan and Aulie-Ata.
• g. - Siberian Cossacks participated in a clash with the Chinese at Borokhudzir.
• 20 October (O.S.) - postal chase (was the duty of the troops) along the Siberian cordon line and in the Kirghiz steppe was transferred to a civilian department. Zemstvo persecution was left to the duties of the army and had to be served by the Cossacks either in kind or by hire, without any allowance from the treasury or the army.
• g., July 14 (old style) - a special Semirechensk Cossack Army was formed from the 9th and 10th regimental districts.
• d. - The 11th and 12th Cossack districts were turned into a civil state, with the exception of the Berezovsky, Surgut and Narym Cossacks, from whom they formed Cossack foot teams, later abolished.
  • Also, during the formation of the steppe regions, the lands of the 1st, 2nd, 3rd, 4th, 5th and part of the 6th regimental districts became part of the Akmola region, and the other part of the lands of the 6th, as well as 7 th and 8th regimental districts became part of the Semipalatinsk region. The main control of these regions and the army was entrusted to the Governor-General of Western Siberia, who was also the commander of the troops of the West Siberian region. in the rank of military ataman. The military governors of the above regions were assigned the rights of chief atamans of the troops located in their regions. The affairs of the troops were in charge of the Cossack department, which existed under the Main Directorate. Economic issues were resolved in the military economic boards established in the regions, and in military terms, the troops were divided into four military departments.
• August 6 (O.S.) - a regulation on public administration in the Cossack troops was issued: the Cossack population is administratively subordinate to the general regional and county administration.
• - Altaiskaya and Zaisanskaya villages were founded in the Semipalatinsk region.
• - Siberian Cossacks participated in the Kuldzha campaign.
  • The new provision on military service - the composition of the Siberian Cossack army was determined in peacetime by a set of 3 regiments of 6 hundreds each and a team of 30 Cossacks in the Life Guards, in wartime it was supposed to field 9 regiments of 6 hundreds each, foot battalions at the same time were abolished.
• d. - a military economic board was formed, the army was divided into three military departments, and the governors were deprived of the titles of atamans.
• - Siberian Cossacks participated in the Khiva campaign.
• d. - Siberian Cossacks participated "in cases" against the Kokand under Khake-Khowat and the assault on Andijan.
• May 7, June 9 (old style) - the Siberian Cossacks were granted the right: to allocate to the lower ranks from 30 to 60 acres per capita for a land plot, and to give reinforced land plots to Cossack officers upon their resignation.
• d. - the Cossack branch of Western Siberia was abolished, all office work for the management of the Siberian Cossack army was concentrated in the Cossack branch at the headquarters of the West Siberian Military District.
  • In Omsk, a preparatory boarding school was opened to prepare the children of officers and officials of the Siberian Cossack army for admission to the Siberian military gymnasium (cadet corps).
• - A military veterinary paramedical school was established in Omsk.
• d. - The law on military service was approved. The Siberian Cossacks were obliged in peacetime to give 3 six-hundred cavalry regiments for the "state service" and in wartime - 9 of the same regiments.
• 1880-1882 - participation of the 1st Cossack regiment in the Kuldzha campaign and the occupation of the Ili valley.
  • Under Emperor Alexander II, they were awarded badges for headdresses "For Distinction" (in the city - the 2nd division of the 21st horse artillery battery, the 1st and 2nd hundred of the 1st cavalry regiment) and silver St. George's pipes ( in the city - the 4th hundred of the 1st cavalry regiment).
• December 12 (old style) - in memory of the 300th anniversary of the conquest of Siberia and in order to perpetuate the name of its glorious conqueror, Cossack Ermak Timofeevich, it was ordered to assign his name to the Siberian Cossack N 1 Regiment.
• December 24 (old style) - the day of the military holiday is set - December 6.
  • 1890s - Endowment of the Cossacks and officers of the army with lands.
• May 24 (old style) - a new name of the regiments was established: without a number, but with a number in front of the name.
• g., August 2 (old style) - a simple banner was granted to the 9th Siberian Cossack regiment.
  • The Siberian Cossack regiments 4, 5, 7, and 8 as part of the Siberian Cossack division participated in the campaign in Manchuria, but were not involved in the cessation of hostilities.
• g., December 6 (O.S.) - the military banner of St. George was granted to the "Valiant Siberian Cossack army for the excellent, military exploits marked service" 1582-1903 "with the Alexander jubilee ribbon. The seniority of the troops was established from December 6, 1582 and the inscription was approved on the bracket of the military banner.
• - gg. - Siberian Cossack regiments 4, 5, 7 and 8 took part in the Russo-Japanese War.
• May 31 (O.S.) - A ten-verst strip of 1.5 million acres was granted to the military property by the Highest.
• - gg. - to maintain order within the Empire, the entire army was mobilized.
• April 23 (O.S.) - all the lands that it previously owned and used were assigned to the army "for all eternity".
  • September 10 (old style) - St. George's banners were awarded "For distinction in the war with Japan in 1904-1905." - 4, 5, 7, 8 Siberian Cossack regiments.
    • - The State Council, in view of the special merits of the Siberian Cossack army in the Russo-Japanese War, folded the entire debt from its population into military capital.
      • The formation of the Life Guards of the consolidated Cossack regiment began again, which included fifty from the SLE.
• g., December 6 (O.S.) - in commemoration of the special Royal favor and as a reward for faithful and zealous service, both in peacetime and in wartime, single white buttonholes were granted on the collars and cuffs of the uniforms of the lower ranks of the combat units of the army .
• April 14 (old style) - simple commemorative banners "1582-1909" with the Alexander commemorative ribbon 1, 2, 3 were granted to the Siberian Cossack regiments.
• March 29 (O.S.) - The Emperor agreed "to leave for storage in the Siberian Cossack Army the old banners of the 1st Yermak Timofeevich, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8 Siberian Cossack regiments and the Highest certificates for the award of these banners.

The old banners of the Siberian Cossack regiments were deposited in the Military Nikolskaya Church.

• February 18 (old style) - The approval of the badge of the Siberian Cossack army followed by the highest permission.
• 21 February (old style) - a deputation from the Siberian Cossack army took part in the capital's celebrations dedicated to the 300th anniversary of the reign of the Romanov dynasty. The deputation included military ataman E. O. Shmit, retired lieutenant general G. E. Katanaev, retired major general G. Putintsev, military foreman Volosnikov, adviser to the Military Economic Board, Ya. Ust-Kamenogorsk V.Drozdenko.
  • November 15-30 (O.S.) - holding the 1st Congress of agronomists and overseers of the military lands of the North Caucasus.
• - gg. - The Siberian Cossack army sent to the front 8 Cossack regiments, 3 separate Cossack hundreds, and since May - 3 Cossack horse batteries. The Siberian Cossack units were merged into the Siberian Cossack Division ( Western Front) and the Siberian Cossack Brigade (Caucasian Front). In January-February, 3 more special Siberian Cossack hundreds were formed.
• July 31 (O.S.) - a riot of Cossacks of the 4th and 7th Siberian Cossack regiments in a mobilization camp near Kokchetav, provoked by the cruelty of one of the officers. 8 participants in the rebellion were shot, 20 were sentenced to various terms of hard labor.
  • December 21 (OS) - The 1st Siberian Cossack Yermak Timofeevich Regiment defeated the 8th Turkish Infantry Regiment with a horse attack and captured its banner.
• November 12 (O.S.) - the military council decided to establish a printing house and editorial office of the newspaper "Siberian military statements" under the Military Economic Board.
• July 13 (old style) - by decree of the Holy Synod, the Omsk Nikolaev military church was converted into a cathedral church with the name "Military St. Nicholas Cathedral of the Siberian Cossack Host."
  • December 7 (old style) - Sovereign Emperor Nicholas II took patronage of the 1st Siberian Cossack Yermak Timofeev Regiment and enrolled Tsarevich Alexei - Ataman of all Cossack troops - in the lists of the regiment.

Renaissance. Siberian Cossack Military Society

During the Soviet period, the Cossacks as an estate and as a self-organization ceased to exist on the territory of the Siberian region. The revival of the Siberian Cossacks began in the late 80s - early 90s of the XX century.

Decree of the President of the Russian Federation No. 632 of June 15, 1992 “On measures for the rehabilitation of repressed peoples in relation to the Cossacks” and Resolution of the Supreme Council on the rehabilitation of the Cossacks No. 3321-1 of July 16, 1992, these documents made it possible to discuss the problem of the revival of the Cossacks at the highest level. Since the early 1990s, there has been explosive growth Cossack societies in the form of public organizations, which led to the appearance of "false chieftains" who presented themselves as Cossack generals.

Currently, the Siberian Cossack military society consists of: Omsk Departmental Cossack Society (OKO) (Omsk region) - 2nd department, Altai OKO (Altai Territory), Ob-Irtysh OKO (KhMAO), Ob-Polar OKO (YaNAO), Kemerovo OKO (Kemerovo region), Tomsk OKO (Tomsk region), Yuzhno-Tobolsk OKO (south of Tyumen region), Novosibirsk OKO (Novosibirsk region), Gorno-Altai OKO (Republic of Altai). Established and formed: the Embassy village of the SVKO in Moscow and the Moscow region (Istra), the Embassy village in the Southern Federal District (Zheleznovodsk), the Embassy village in Germany (Berlin), the Embassy village in France (Lyon).

The center of the Siberian Cossack military society is the city of Omsk.

Military units

• 1st Siberian Cossack Ermak Timofeev Regiment 1909.14.4. Yub. banner arr. 1900. In the usual Cossack uniform, the regiment wore uniforms and chekmen-dark green, the cloth is dark green, the border is red, the embroidery is silver. The pommel sample 1857 (Armenian) is silvered. Wood black. "1582-1909". Savior Not Made by Hands. Alexander. yub. tapes "1909". The condition is perfect. Fate is unknown.
• 2nd Siberian Kaz. regiment. 1909.14.4. Yub.znamya arr. 1900. Dark green cloth, red border, silver embroidery. Top arr. 1857 (Armenian) silver plated. Wood black. "1582-1909". Savior Not Made by Hands. Alexander. yub. tapes "1909". The condition is perfect. Fate is unknown.
• 3rd Siberian Kaz. regiment. 1909.14.4. Yub. banner arr. 1900. Dark green cloth, red border, silver embroidery. Top arr. 1857 (Armenian) silver plated. Wood black. "1582-1909". Savior Not Made by Hands. Alexander. yub. tapes "1909". The condition is perfect. Fate is unknown.
• 4th Siberian Kaz. regiment 1906.10.9. George. banner arr. 1900. Dark green cloth, red border, silver embroidery. Top arr. 1857 (Armenian) silver plated. Wood black. "For distinction in the war with Japan in 1904-1905" (on the negative Georg. tape). Savior Not Made by Hands. The condition is perfect. Fate is unknown.
• 5th Siberian Kaz. regiment. 1906.10.9. George. banner arr. 1900. Dark green cloth, red border, silver embroidery. Top arr. 1857 (Armenian) silver plated. Wood black. "For distinction in the war with Japan in 1904-1905" (on the negative Georg. tape). Savior Not Made by Hands. The condition is perfect. Fate is unknown.
• 6th Siberian Kaz. regiment. 1809.20.4. Simple banner (bunchuk). Upper half green, lower crimson; in the middle is a red cross in a golden glow. Sewing gold. The pommel is a spear with a monogram. Wood black. The condition is bad. Fate is unknown.
• 7th Siberian Kaz. regiment. 1906.10.9. George. banner arr. 1900. Dark green cloth, red border, silver embroidery. Top arr. 1857 (Armenian) silver plated. Wood black. "For distinction in the war with Japan in 1904-1905" (on the negative Georg. tape). Savior Not Made by Hands. The condition is perfect. Fate is unknown.
• 8th Siberian Kaz. regiment. 1906.10.9. George. banner arr. 1900. Dark green cloth, red border, silver embroidery. Top arr. 1857 (Armenian) silver plated. Wood black. "For distinction in the war with Japan in 1904-1905" (on the negative Georg. tape). Savior Not Made by Hands. The condition is perfect. Fate is unknown.
• 9th Siberian Kaz. regiment. 1900.2.8. Simple banner arr. 1900. Dark green cloth, red border, silver embroidery. Top arr. 1857 (Armenian) silver plated. Wood black. Savior Not Made by Hands. The condition is perfect. Fate is unknown.

• Siberian Cossack Artillery.

Villages and settlements of the Siberian Cossack Army (for 1910)

All the hard currency, for the convenience of military management, was divided into three parts, which were called military departments. Each military department consisted of several villages, and each village insignia

• Generals have no gaps on shoulder straps.
• A cavalry general has no stars on his shoulder straps, a lieutenant general has 3 stars, and a major general has 2 stars.
• The staff officers on shoulder straps have two gaps.
• Colonel on shoulder straps does not have stars
• The military foreman has 3 stars.
• At the chief officers - on shoulder straps, one clearance
• The captain has no stars on his shoulder straps, the captain has 4 stars, the centurion has 3, the cornet has 2.
• The cadet has a longitudinal galloon stripe, an officer's cockade and a lanyard on the pursuit.
• The candidate has a galloon chevron on his left sleeve.
• The sergeant-major has a galloon transverse stripe on his shoulder straps.
• At the platoon officer - on shoulder straps, three narrow transverse stripes of braid.
• Unofficial site "Siberian Cossack army. Cossack organizations of the city of Omsk»
• Official website of the non-profit partnership to promote the revival of the Cossacks "Cossack Traditions"