Ermak Timofeevich Alenin is a historical person, a person who has done a lot for our country. His main merit is expanding the borders of the state, in particular, conquering the territory of Siberia.
Ermak lived during the time of Tsar Ivan the Terrible. Little is known about him. In most cases, the information that has reached our days is contradictory.
This article will discuss the most interesting facts about Ermak. Here are the main events of the life of the Cossack chieftain, which will be useful for every resident of Russia to learn, because this is our story. The contribution made by Ermak to the development of the country cannot be overestimated. Therefore, most historians respect his personality.
The name of Ermak is immortalized in folk art. Monuments were erected in his honor, streets, stadiums and even a sewing machine were named, commemorative coins were issued. People remember the feat of this man.
We bring to your attention 10 interesting facts about Ermak Timofeevich - the conqueror of Siberia.
10. The origin is not exactly known
The exact date of birth, as well as the place is a secret that Ermak took with him to the grave. He was born in the 30s of the XVI century. As for the origin, there are several versions, none of them are confirmed.
One legend says that he spent his childhood on the banks of the Chusovaya River (a tributary of the Kama). According to another version, he was born in the Kachalinskaya village on the Don (Volgograd region).
At that time, it was not customary to record information about newly born children, so it is difficult to say which version is true. Historians are even inclined to believe that Ermak was born on the shores of the Northern Dvina.
9. Commanded the Cossack Hundred in the Livonian War
Ermak took part in the Livonian War, which lasted for 25 years (1558 - 1583). He acted as commander of the Cossack hundreds. A lot of military battles fell on his lot.
So, in 1581, Ermak, under the leadership of the famous Russian commander Dmitry Hvorostinin, carried out an attack on Lithuania. He participated in the battle of Shklov, in which the Russian army defeated the enemy. The siege of Pskov, the battle of Lyalitsy - these military events also did not go unnoticed by Yermak.
8. Disputes about the name
Historians who studied the biography of Ermak, could not come to a consensus. However, and now it’s not known what this man’s name really was. It is believed that the name is derived from the word Armac What means "boiler". Ermak was a cook for some time. Another version is an abbreviated version of the full name. Yermolai, Erem, German and even Vasiliy.
Did the Cossack chieftain have a surname? In most sources, it is indicated, but in those days, it was worn only by noble people or foreigners. These disputes will probably never subside. They will continue as long as people are interested in the personality of Yermak.
7. The Stroganovs invited him to protect their possessions
At that time, the Urals were owned by the merchants of the Stroganovs. They promised the tsar to protect these lands from the Siberian nomads, but the local population did not want to participate in such events. These were merchants far from military operations.
The Stroganovs had one way out - mercenaries. The Livonian war ended, and the army of many thousands was left without work. The choice of merchants fell on Ermak and his squad. Not all Cossacks agreed to leave their free life, but Yermak managed to gather about 500 people who agreed to serve the Tsar “faithfully.”
6. The first conquered the peoples of Siberia and the Trans-Urals
According to the chronicles, Yermak himself took the initiative and offered help in the conquest of Siberian lands. In 1581, he, along with his squad, took the direction to the Urals.
The squad consisted of 500 people, was well equipped with everything necessary. On rooks-plows, she went to the depths of Siberia, in which power was seized by the ruthless Khan Kuchum. He was very cruel, and local residents tried to find protection among the Cossacks.
Kuchum owned a large army, in his submission was about 10 thousand soldiers. That's just their equipment left much to be desired. They had never before seen firearms. Also at the service of the khan were local residents who were ready to betray him as soon as possible.
Not right away but Ermak managed to defeat the 10-thousandth army of Kuchum. Khan was forced to flee to the Ishim steppes, leaving his army to the mercy of fate.
5. Ivan the Terrible appreciated Ermak, gave him two chain mail
Of course, the king could not leave this event unattended. A small team of Cossacks gave him a wonderful gift in the form of new possessions, a vast territory.
He generously thanked the heroes, forgave them all their sins, and there were a lot of them: theft, robbery for the Cossacks was a common thing. Ermak became the owner of two chain mail. One of them formerly belonged to Pyotr Shuisky, a famous Russian military leader.
These gifts were very useful to Yermak, so hostilities were not yet over. It is known that the chieftain wore both chain mail at once, without removing them even during sleep.
4. Robbed en masse on the Oka
Popular rumor attributed to Yermak many exploits that he did not perform at all. He was represented by the intercessor of the people. Historians claim that later this "post" was taken by Stepan Razin.
In fact, Ermak was a free Cossack. The Kungur Chronicle describes his “exploits”, in a crowd (5,000 Cossacks) robbed ships on the Oka. Ermak and his team acted in a similar way on the Volga and at sea.
After the robbery of the Persian ambassadors, Ivan the Terrible sent people under the supervision of the stolnik Murashkina with the aim of "hang thieves". Again, there is no official confirmation of this information. If we consider this version in detail, it will most likely turn out to be unreliable. So, at least, historians say.
3. Brought large revenues to the state treasury
Ermak brought large revenues to the state treasury. After the Tatars fled from Siberia, local residents brought gifts to the Cossacks. Fur, fish, other food ... Ermak warmly received everyone: Khanty, Tatars. He imposed the entire local population with a tax called yasak. People paid tax in kind, mostly furs.
2. Assessment of personality in history
Ermak’s personality assessment cannot be called unambiguous. Each historian has his own opinion, different from the others. There are two leading directions. The first is the condemnation of Yermak, he is considered a thief and a robber. The exploits and conquest of Siberia cannot reduce his guilt.
Representatives of the second direction are also categorical: they consider Ermak a defender of the Orthodox, the robber Cossack past is forgotten.
What can I say? Any person has the right to their personal opinion.
1. Folk art dedicated to Yermak
One way or another, Ermak became a real national hero. His name is forever immortalized in folk art. He became the hero of many works of oral folk art: fairy tales, traditions.
Surprisingly, Russian poets became interested in Ermak only at the end of the 18th century. But all this time the people sang him. For this purpose, they even created a new genre of oral folklore - a poetic narrative. Ataman was considered the new hero. They composed epics about him, sang songs.
Modern authors also do not forget about Ermak. Not one historical novel was written, the film was shot, and in the summer of 2019, the premiere of the opera about the life of the Cossack chieftain took place at the Krasnoyarsk Theater.