The interaction between the state and the Cossacks during the development of border areas of southeastern Russia (17th - 18th centuries)

The development of Russia’s border areas lasted for several centuries, which facilitated the creation of the largest country in the world. In the 17th - 19th centuries Russia’s the central authority spread its influence on peripheral territories which were used for further expansion of national borders trying to get the support of local population, with the Cossacks being in the lead of this process. Frequently, the state provided varied assistance to the Cossacks. In the 16th - 17th centuries when there were free Cossack communities living in the periphery of Russia the central as well as local authorities had to hold the Cossacks back as the latter were “too active” in their efforts to expand their own and, correspondingly, the state’s lands. As early as in the 18th century the authorities tried to settle all territorial issues at the outskirts of the Russian Empire by peaceful means. By resorting to the example with Russia’s south-eastern border areas the authors of the article aim to answer the complicated question: were the Cossacks a tool in the hands of the state or were the relationships between the state and the Cossacks mutually beneficial? Based on previously unknown archival documents from central and regional archives the article analyses the interaction between the state and Yaik (Ural) and Orenburg Cossacks as they developed the south-eastern border areas of Russia in the 17th - 19th centuries. A special attention is paid to the control function of the state, the unique policy of settling inevitable conflicts between the Cossacks and local population.