Cossack Settlements along Russia’s Roads: the Government’s Stimulating Policies in the 18th Century (Astrakhan Governorate)

The article examines the participation of Cossacks in the implementation of the Russian Government’s plans to create a network of stationary settlements along the roads passing through the territory of Astrakhan Governorate. The paper investigates the Russian administration’s 18th century policy aimed to establish such settlements, shows the role of Cossacks in the process, summarizes the results of implementation of those projects. The work uses materials of researchers from the Lower Volga Region and documents from the Russian State Archive of Ancient Acts, Russian State Archive of Military History.
The paper notes that during the period under consideration one of the main directions of Russia’s policies in the region was the attraction of immigrants and creation of permanent settlements. At the same time, the implementation of an active resettlement policy was constrained by the absence of established and recognized borders (in the south) between Russia and neighboring states and peoples of the North Caucasus. The state could guarantee no security for the migrants and, in turn, Astrakhan Governorate’s office lacked human resources to implement such an active resettlement policy. In the then situation of affairs, the authorities ― not to disperse the scarce human and material resources ― focused on the creation and peopling of fortified military lines, as well as the establishment of most important land communications. In the long term all this opened wide opportunities for the initiation of large-scale migrations. At that stage, Cossacks were recognized as the most suitable contingent since they more adapted ― than other classes and social groups ― to live under the conditions of the frontier. By the late 18th century the Government with the help of Cossacks managed to establish settlements along the Volga part of the strategically important strategic road Moscow – Kizlyar, but the harsh natural conditions of the region and the exhausted resources of the Cossacks made it impossible to people the road Astrakhan – Kizlyar. After the Azov – Mozdok fortified line (virtually Russia’s border in the south) was created in the 1770s, there emerged good opportunities for further broad peasant colonization, and the Cossacks ceased to be regarded as one of the major contributors to the peopling of Astrakhan Governorate.

Astrakhan Governorate, road, Cossacks, 18th century, resettlement policy, Caucasus Fortified Defense Line

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