The dashing free Cossack popularly known as Stenka Razin did not appear on the Don by accident. The oppression of serfdom became more and more difficult, the dependence of the peasants became more and more consolidated. The governors and the bureaucratic apparatus were rotten, bribery, red tape flourished in Russia, there was no fair trial. The flight of the peasants acquired colossal proportions, even in the petitions of that time there were often threats to "scatter apart". In such an environment, the emergence of a strong leader and protector was a rule. The riot was not caused by Razin, it was rather Stepan Timofeevich who became the product of the people's anger.
An amazing, adventurous life of a freedom-loving, extraordinary person, a successful chieftain passed on the battlefield. The personality of Stepan Timofeevich, fanned with glory, which any crowned autocrat can envy, is attractive to the Russian people, first of all, by its open and desperate character. Stepan Razin in folk legends personifies the leader of the peasants and valiant Cossacks, defender and liberator.
The future formidable ataman was born in the village of Zimoveyskaya on the Don. A lot is connected with this mysterious place for the Russian people. A little later, Emelyan Pugachev will also be born, having passed through the territory of our country no less bloody road than the accursed Stenka Razin. What kind of anomaly in these places is not known. However, the fact remains that it was here that the two most desperate rebels, so dearly loved and respected in Russia, were born.
Vasily Surikov. Stepan Razin. 1903-1907.
By the middle of the sixteenth century, the Don Cossacks consisted of two specific strata: indigenous people and fugitive or newcomers. Having no permanent place of residence, the "hungry" often went off on campaigns with the aim of robbing passing ships with goods and nearby territories. Such thieves' actions were called by the Cossacks campaigns "for zipuns", and although the indigenous wealthy residents did not approve of such raids publicly, they still secretly financed them for a certain share in the booty. One of these campaigns began the people's "storm", whose name is Stepan Timofeevich Razin.
A small detachment of Cossacks, according to some data, its number was about 2 thousand people, went to robbery down the Volga. At the head of the detachment was a young and successful ataman Stepan Timofeevich. The campaign quickly went beyond the usual raid, characteristic of the Don Cossacks. The government made at first rather sluggish attempts to pacify the Cossacks, and time was lost. Already in May 1667, the Cossack detachments defeated the archers and plundered Shorin's caravan of ships, accompanying the ship with the exiles. The prisoners were released and willingly joined the Cossacks. Razin invaded Yaik, then went to the Persian shores, where he captured the Persian princess, known from folk songs. Whether Stepan Timofeevich threw the Persian woman into the water or not has not yet been established unambiguously, but one thing is known,that the daughter of Mamed Khan of Astara never returned from the captivity of the Cossacks.
The return to Astrakhan was triumphant for Stenka Razin. A confession was brought to the governors in exchange for a passage to the Volga. During his stay in the city, the chieftain rode on plows and in every possible way emphasized his independence and disobedience. Despite the promise to give the authorities all the booty and prisoners, the Cossacks gave them absolutely nothing, and left for Tsaritsino.
In the city, an attempt to ban the Cossacks from visiting taverns was severely punished by Razin. In fact, Stepan Timofeevich refused to obey the tsarist administration and captured the city. The ataman responded to all threats with abuse and reciprocal promises of reprisals. Razin in every possible way emphasized his rejection of the existing regime of oppression, preached equality, severely punished the unwanted, but did not directly dishonor the tsar. The desperate ataman understood well that in the minds of the population the tsar could easily be opposed to the hated governors and greedy boyars, which he actively used in his speeches and deeds. The defeated voivods and military commanders Stepan Timofeevich publicly flogged with rods, which also raised his authority in the eyes of his subordinates.
Promotional video:
Buzulukov S. A. Stepan Razin in Saratov. 1952.
Each city occupied by Razin passed to the Cossack administration and adopted their way of life. Many joined the valiant and riotous army. The chiefs, gentlemen, boyars objectionable to the local population were ruthlessly exterminated, and daughters from noble and noble families, at best, were married off to ordinary peasants or Cossacks. It is interesting that Stepan Timofeevich completely refused to recognize the wedding ceremony and organized the wedding ceremonies himself. The sacrament consisted of crazy dances for a short time, after which the couple was declared legal spouses.
After Tsaritsyn, Razin occupied Samara, Saratov and a number of other cities. Moving on the crest of the peasant war, which began in 1670, the forces of the Cossacks all came and looked more and more like an insurgent army. In order to attract the people, Razin ordered to sheathe one of his ships with red cloth and seat an unknown prisoner as Tsarevich Alexei, and the second boat was covered with black veils and rumors about the presence of Patriarch Nikon on it were spread. Thus, Stepan Timofeevich actively tried to discredit the image of the sovereign, without expressing direct intentions to overthrow the autocracy. Razin pointed out that he was fighting for the tsar, but against the stealing governors, boyars and other nobility.
However, on the campaign, the chieftain constantly drank, rowed and indulged in various bloody entertainments. Gradually, he lost his original image of a defender and transformed into a demoniac, ruthless killer, led by the opinion of the crowd, glorified by his achievements and victories. The measures used by Razin's entourage against the sovereign's henchmen were very cruel. The unfortunate were hanged, wheeled, drowned and tortured in various sophisticated ways. The punishments were intimidating. The Cossack detachments were divided and occupied more and more cities, the excitement covered not only the Volga region and the Central part of Russia, but even reached the territories of the White Sea.
In 1670, Razin's army suffered the first failure in the siege of Simbirsk, and in early October it was defeated by the tsarist army of 60 thousand soldiers under the command of Baryatinsky. Stepan Trofimovich was seriously wounded and, leaving the main part of his detachment, fled to his native Don. Subsequently, Razin was betrayed by the Cossacks together with his brother Frol.
They tortured the people's chieftain in the royal dungeons, but his courage evoked respect even among the executioners. The hardy Cossack did not say a word, he did not ask for mercy and did not beg for leniency. A proud and surprisingly strong man, even in the face of imminent death, he retained his dignity. The execution was terrible and painful. Stepan Trofimovich's arm was cut off, and then his leg, and only then the executioner, who took pity, cut off the chieftain's head. According to the verdict, Razin was to be drawn and quartered, but death came faster. The ataman's indignation was caused by the behavior of his brother Frol, who, frightened by the bloody spectacle, uttered words of repentance. According to eyewitnesses, only then did Razin swear hard at him.
The amazing desperate life of a rebel ended on the chopping block, which is typical for the leaders of popular uprisings in Russia. The bloodthirsty stray robber remained in the people's memory a hero-liberator. Is this so everyone decides for himself. Stenka Razin belongs to those great and mysterious personalities, judged only by history.