Power and Cossacks: the look through the century

The author of the article sets the task of examining the relations between the Soviet authorities and the Cossacks of Kuban in the first years after the October Revolution and the Civil War in connection with the events taking place, not assessing the period under study, but relying on real soil and showing a steep historical turn in the fate of the Kuban Cossacks. Contrary to the prevailing opinion, the researcher tried to overturn the "Bolshevik postulate on the counter-revolutionary essence of the Cossacks" to isolate the causes that dragged the Cossacks "into the orbit of political currents and intrigues" and split them into two hostile camps. Based on archival materials, the author shows the actions of the Bolsheviks, aimed at strengthening the Soviet power in the Kuban villages. The author of the article draws attention to the fact that under the strict state regulation of economic, political, social life of the Cossacks, the traditions and centuries-old foundations of family life under the influence of deep social upheavals proved to be unstable. The disputed territories with the appearance of new administrative-territorial entities led to an exacerbation of relations with neighboring peoples. The Bolsheviks applied severe punitive measures against the Cossacks who opposed the Soviet regime, as a result, the number of Kuban Cossacks was reduced by 2 times, they were territorially divided between administrative and territorial entities.