Azov seat 1637 - 1642 briefly. Azov seat of the Don Cossacks

History - science is very exciting and interesting. The events of the past days are impressive and amaze with their expressiveness and dynamism, they make you think and learn by your example.

On the other hand, historical sciences are very multifaceted and contradictory. For example, something that used to be so simple and generally accepted, is completely incomprehensible to us-modern people; Or something that in the old days seemed necessary and useful, can now be considered stupid and negative.

However, in the domestic history there are such bright moments and events that are still revered as heroic deeds, they are written about books and legends, they are idealized and imitated by them.

One of such positive historical episodes is the Azov sitting of the Don Cossacks (1637 - 1642). Briefly about this incident, we'll talk in this article.

But in order to better understand the presented question, let's first know its causes. What warring parties affected the Azov siege seat (1637 - 1642), and what preceded it.

Don Cossacks

The Don Cossack Host was stationed on the territory of the modern Rostov and Volgograd regions, and also occupied part of the Lugansk and Donetsk regions. Don Cossacks were considered the most numerous army of all Cossack troops of the Russian Empire.

The first mention of the Donets refers to the period of 1550, that is, about a hundred years before the events, which will be discussed in this article. It is believed that in those days the Don Cossacks were absolutely independent in relation to the surrounding countries. Later they began to cooperate more closely with the Russian tsar, connecting their hopes and aspirations with the Russian empire.

Religiously, the Don people were called Orthodox, but among them there was a considerable number of Old Believers, Buddhists and Muslims.

Turkish army

Another participant in the events of the Azov seat was the Turks, who founded the great Ottoman Empire of several nationalities living in Asia Minor - Greeks, Armenians, Jews, Georgians, Assyrians and others.

The Turks were famous for their belligerent character, territorial ambitions and the characteristic cruelty of military operations. Most of the inhabitants of the Ottoman Empire were Muslims.

And now let's find out why the Don Cossacks and Turks decided to fight for the Azov fortress.

History of Azov

Azov is a city in the mouth of the Don River. Already in the VI century BC it could be assumed that serious military battles and clashes will be fought for him, one of which is the Azov seat of the Don Cossacks (1637-1642).

The founders of Azov are the Greeks, who built a city on a high hill and named it Tanais. Fifteen centuries later, the city entered the territory of the Tmutarakan principality of Kievan Rus, then was captured by the Polovtsians, and a little later by the Mongols. In the XIII-XV centuries on the territory of Azov was located the Italian colony of Tana, famous for its trade and luxury.

However, in 1471 the Ottoman army captured the city and turned it into a powerful fortress, surrounded by a high stone wall with eleven towers. The fortification structure controlled the steppe expanses of the North Caucasus and the Lower Don.

Apparently, Azov from time immemorial occupied an important strategic position, since he had a convenient location relative to the Azov Sea.

Therefore, it is not surprising that the Cossacks wanted to assign this territory to themselves, and therefore made an attempt to take the city away. Azov seat (1637 - 1642) was the result of their attack on the fortress.

Raid and Attack

What provoked the Azov seat 1637-1642? Briefly about this you can learn from the historical reports of the time.

The fact is that the Azov fortress, or Azak (as it was then called), was a constant source of military danger both from the Crimean Tatars and from the Turkish khan. Tatar-Turkish raids on the lands of the Russian state inflicted enormous damage to both the common people and the economy of the state as a whole. The ruined fields and farms, the taken away inhabitants, the fear and confusion of the civilian population - all this undermined the power and splendor of glorious Russia.

However, it must be noted that for their part the Cossacks did not remain in debt with the neighboring aggressor. For raids, they responded with raids, attacks - attacks.

Several times the Cossacks seized the fortified fortress, freed their captives and took hostile hostages with them. They plundered and devastated the city, charging from its inhabitants a considerable tribute in the form of salt, money and fishing gear. Such campaigns were prepared by the brave Don to the memorable and noteworthy defense of Azak, which went down in history as the Azov seat of the Cossacks (1637-1642). Briefly about the capture of the strengthening itself can be read further.

Start of operation

Who made the decision to seize Azov? In the winter of 1636 the general military council of the Cossacks decided that it was necessary to undertake a campaign against the enemy Azak with the aim of mastering the fortress and all the privileges associated with its possession.

The chasers from the Cossack Circle went through all the villages to gather everyone who wanted to go on a warlike expedition. Four and a half thousand Don Cossacks and one thousand Zaporozhye were ready for the battle.

The military council, assembled in the Monastery campus, established a specific day of attack, defined the plan for the operation and chose a campaign leader. It turned out to be Mikhail Tatarinov - a brave and wise Cossack who, most likely, was a native of the Tatars or once was in their captivity.

Start attack

How did the Azov seat (1637-1642) start? Briefly about this you can learn from the mouth of the ataman himself.

He urged fellow fighters to go against Busurman not at night, stealthily, and in the afternoon, with his head held high.

And it happened. On April twenty-first the Cossack army approached the walls of Azak from two sides-part of the soldiers swam along the Don on ships, and part went by the cavalry along the shore.

The Turks were already waiting for the attackers. They were informed of the preparations of the Cossacks by the Turkish ambassador, Thomas Cantacuzen.

Therefore, the first attempts to seize the fortress were unsuccessful.

In addition, the structure itself was masterfully strengthened and equipped. The garrison was guarded by a four thousand-strong infantry army and several galleys with many cannons and other guns.

Victory of Cossacks

When did the famous Azov seat (1637-1642) begin? The siege of the city lasted two months. All possible methods and techniques were tried. The Cossacks dug trenches and trenches, fired cannon on powerful fortress walls, and repulsed individual attacks of the besieged.

Finally, it was decided to make a dig (which lasted more than a month) and bring under the wall, the so-called "mine". Due to a powerful explosion in the defensive wall, a break (about twenty meters in diameter) was formed, through which the attackers burst into the fortress.

This happened on the eighteenth of June 1637.

However, to penetrate the city is half the battle. It is still necessary to completely capture it. Courageous Cossacks, not sparing themselves, fought for every inch of the long-awaited fortress.

They stormed all four towers of Azov, where stubborn enemies settled, and then in hand-to-hand combat brutally dealt with all those who resisted, and also exterminated all the inhabitants of the fortress.

Cossack Azak

Thanks to the capture of the fortress, the Cossacks liberated about two thousand Slavs, seized cannons of enemies and declared Azov a free city of Christians. The old temple of the fortress was again consecrated, trade and political ties were established with Russian and Iranian merchants.

Who became the owner of Azak after the fall of the fortress, when the Azov seat (1637-1642) began? The Russian sovereign himself answered this question briefly. He refused to accept the fortress as a property of Russia, for fear of violating peace agreements with the Turkish sultan. Therefore, the full owners of the city were considered to be the Don Cossacks of Zaporozhye.

They briskly fought the trade, rebuilt and fortified the fortress, realizing that the revenge of its former masters will not take long.

And it happened. At the beginning of 1641 literal Azov seat began (1637-1642).

Attack of the Turks

Sultan Ibrahim did his best to assemble a strong and well-trained army. In his army, he called all - Greeks, Albanians, Arabs, Serbs, to re-attach to their lands the beloved fortress of Azak. According to various sources, the number of Turkish-Tatar attackers ranged from one hundred to two hundred forty thousand warriors, who had two hundred and fifty galleys and a hundred wall-cannons.

The number of Cossacks at the time of the siege was about six thousand (including women who also took an active part in defending the city).

The enemy troops marched under the leadership of the experienced commander-in-chief Huseyn-pasha. The Cossacks chose Naum Vasiliev and Osip Petrov as their lords.

At the beginning of June Azak was besieged from all sides. The Azov seat (1637-1642) was in full swing. The Donets brutally defended themselves, but the forces were unequal.

Near the walls of the Turks dug a lot of trenches, where they placed guns and warriors to attack. Such a cunning trick made the attackers unattainable for Cossack shelling.

Then the Cossacks began to use pre-dug undermining to arrange unexpected forays into the camp of the enemy. This tactic took the lives of several thousand enemy soldiers.

From the end of June, daily shelling began from heavy cannons. In many places the fortress walls were destroyed to the ground. The Donians had to hide in the middle of the medieval structure.

The Siege

For a while the Azov seat (1637-1642) was marked by a truce. The Turks had to wait for reinforcements from Istanbul in the form of food, ammunition and manpower.

The loyal comrades also made their way to the Cossacks, at the risk of being captured alive in the Donas waters.

Regular negotiations were held on the voluntary surrender of the fortress. However, the Don people understood that behind them was their homeland, which the Janissaries could capture, so they did not agree to any tempting enticements and suggestions.

Then came an even more fierce shelling, which did not stop at night or day. But he did not lead to anything either. Cossacks steadfastly held the defense, without stopping every minute to respond to the artillery fire.

Then the Turks, losing heart, losing strength and confidence in themselves, decided to remove the environment and resume the siege only a year later.

the end

What ended the courageous Azov seat (1637-1642)? The Donets, having inflicted enormous, irreparable damage to the enemy army, themselves suffered considerable material and force losses: several thousand defenders were killed, the destroyed fortress became unadapted for wintering, the lack of food and weapons reserves worsened, the Russian government continued to refuse assistance to the besieged. All this prompted the Cossacks to destroy the city to its foundations and leave the fortress with its head held high.

This happened in the summer of 1642. Thus ended the Azov seat (1637-1642) - a feat worthy of praise and imitation of the Cossacks.

Impact

What benefit did the heroic Azov seat bring to the Russian people (1637-1642)?

1. Thousands of Slavs were liberated.
2. The enemy army suffered huge losses.
3. Economic relations between Cossacks and other peoples are established.
4. The moral and patriotic spirit of the entire Cossacks is strengthened.
5. The Azov seat became one of the first steps for the unification of the Don Cossacks and the tsarist army.