Weapon of remote battle and military equipment of Siberian Tatar archers (based on the Siberian chronicle and graphic sources)

Purpose. The present article analyzes bows and arrows, their application in combat conditions and their use as symbols of power authorities by Siberian Tatar warriors and commanders according to Russian Siberian chronicles, as well as the images of weapon of remote battle, quivers and cases for a bow on the miniatures of the front arch of «Remezov Chronicle». These valuable informative written and graphic sources describe and illustrate the events of the history of the Cossack troop campaign to Siberia under the direction of a Cossack chieftain Yermak together with certain other significant historical evidence of the period when the Russian State annexed Siberian lands at the end of the XVI-XVII centuries. Their analysis promotes objective evaluation of the role and meaning of remote battle weapon in the structure of the armament complex of Siberian Tatar warriors. Results. We studied scenes of military collisions between Siberian Tatar warriors before the arrival of the Russian Cossacks, battle compositions with involvement of Russian Cossacks and Tatar warriors, and scenes with the image of Tatar warriors with quivers and cases for a bow. The bows and arrows analyzed according to the present graphic source provide valuable information on the types of bows and arrows used by Tatar warriors, the methods of fighting against enemies on foot, and additional information on the course of fighting conflicts between the Russian Cossacks and the Service class people, who were armed with manual firearm weapon and artillery. Essential for reconstructing the conduct of remote battle are the images of military equipment designed for keeping custody and bearing arrows and bows, quivers and cases for bows. Due to these images we have been able to describe and define the distinctive features of the weapons that were used in the Late Middle Ages. As a result of our analysis, the data from Russian Siberian chronicles and the graphic materials of «Remezov Chronicle», that recounts the application of bows and arrows by Siberian Tatar warriors, are to be introduced as a source for studying the military history of the Siberian region in the final period of the Late Middle Ages and the beginning of New Time. Conclusion. The bows and arrows, cases for a bow and quivers of Siberian Tatar warriors examined testify that weapon for remote battle and the military equipment of Siberian Tatar warriors entirely conformed to the level of development of similar armament in Central Asia in the Late Middle Ages. However, bows and arrows were quite inefficient in resisting the enemy armed with long-range firearm weapon and artillery of greater destructive power as well as highly protective metallic armour.