The emergence of city Cossacks as a category of service people

The formation of city Cossacks as a category of state service people according to the device in Russia in the 14-17th centuries is closely connected with the strengthening of the south-eastern outskirts of the Russian state. City Cossacks carried out garrison and border guard duty on the fortified («zasechnye») lines. The author describes the military service of city Cossacks, and examines their social composition.