Danube Cossack Host
Encyclopedia
The Danube Cossack Host was an Imperial Russian Cossack Host
formed in 1828 prior to the Russo-Turkish War (1828–1829), on the order of Emperor Nicholas I
from descendants of the Zaporozhian Cossacks living in Bessarabia
and in particularly the Budjak
. Russian Cossack Host named Lower-Danube Budjak Host had been formed there in 1807 but was disbanded soon afterwards. The Host also included many volunteers from the Nekrasov Cossacks
and the Balkan peoples such as Romanians, Serbs and Bulgarians. Initially three selos of the Akkerman poviat where in the Cossacks control: Akmangit, Starokazachye, and Volonterovka.
s, and it had outposts in Odessa
, Izmail
and Akkerman, which also housed the central headquarters. Initially as Wallachia
was administered by Russia
, the Tsar expected all of the Nekrasov Cossacks that remained in the Danube Delta
to join this Host as well, however most refused further military service. Instead in 1839, concerned with extent of Gypsy activities, Russia suggested to enlist them as Cossacks. Although most Gypsies chose to decline the offer, those that did would make nearly quarter of the Cossacks in the Host
During the Russo-Turkish War, 1853-56, the Danube Cossacks became famous for their Rocket artillery
in the capturing of Tulcea
, Isaccea
and Măcin
, which supported the main armies in covering their bridgeheads and preventing the Turkish Army from breaking to the Danube
. Both Danube Cossack regiments were awarded the Georgian Banners. After the 1856 Treaty of Paris
, Russia ceded some of the Budjak
territory and the Host moved to stanitsa
Nikolayevka-Novorossiyskaya (modern selo within the Odessa Oblast
, Ukraine
), consequently, losing the Danube river, the Host was renamed to Novorossiyan Cossack Host in 1856.
By 1858 the new Host had 10 stanitsas and numbered twelve thousand men. However in the next decade, a time of relative peace, most lost their combat ability and were involved in internal customs and police service, and in 1868 in wake of the administrative reform of Emperor Alexander II
, the Host was disbanded, and most of the Cossacks continued service in customs and police, but now under civil administration. With that, ended the nearly of Cossack presence in the Budjak territory. Today there are efforts to re-create the Cossack lifestyle centered in that province by local enthusiasts, though it has made little progress yet.
Cossack host
A Cossack host or Cossack viysko was an administrative subdivision of Cossacks in Imperial Russia...
formed in 1828 prior to the Russo-Turkish War (1828–1829), on the order of Emperor Nicholas I
Nicholas I of Russia
Nicholas I , was the Emperor of Russia from 1825 until 1855, known as one of the most reactionary of the Russian monarchs. On the eve of his death, the Russian Empire reached its historical zenith spanning over 20 million square kilometers...
from descendants of the Zaporozhian Cossacks living in Bessarabia
Bessarabia
Bessarabia is a historical term for the geographic region in Eastern Europe bounded by the Dniester River on the east and the Prut River on the west....
and in particularly the Budjak
Budjak
Budjak or Budzhak is a historical region in the Odessa Oblast of Ukraine. Lying along the Black Sea between the Danube and Dniester rivers this multiethnic region was the southern part of Bessarabia...
. Russian Cossack Host named Lower-Danube Budjak Host had been formed there in 1807 but was disbanded soon afterwards. The Host also included many volunteers from the Nekrasov Cossacks
Nekrasov Cossacks
Nekrasov Cossacks, Nekrasovite Cossacks, Nekrasovites, Nekrasovtsy are descendants of Don Cossacks which, after the defeat of the Bulavin Rebellion fled to the Kuban , headed by Ignat Nekrasov, hence the name. The Kuban was then under the rule of the Crimean Khanate...
and the Balkan peoples such as Romanians, Serbs and Bulgarians. Initially three selos of the Akkerman poviat where in the Cossacks control: Akmangit, Starokazachye, and Volonterovka.
Overview
After the War, the Host was tasked with guarding the borders of the Bessarabian and Kherson GovernorateKherson Governorate
The Kherson Governorate or Government of Kherson was a guberniya, or administrative territorial unit, in the Southern Ukrainian region, between the Dnieper and Dniester Rivers, of the Russian Empire. It was one of three governorates created in 1802 when the Novorossiya guberniya was abolished...
s, and it had outposts in Odessa
Odessa
Odessa or Odesa is the administrative center of the Odessa Oblast located in southern Ukraine. The city is a major seaport located on the northwest shore of the Black Sea and the fourth largest city in Ukraine with a population of 1,029,000 .The predecessor of Odessa, a small Tatar settlement,...
, Izmail
Izmail
Izmail is a historic town near the Danube river in the Odessa Oblast of south-western Ukraine. Serving as the administrative center of the Izmail Raion , the city itself is also designated as a separate raion within the oblast....
and Akkerman, which also housed the central headquarters. Initially as Wallachia
Wallachia
Wallachia or Walachia is a historical and geographical region of Romania. It is situated north of the Danube and south of the Southern Carpathians...
was administered by Russia
Russia
Russia or , officially known as both Russia and the Russian Federation , is a country in northern Eurasia. It is a federal semi-presidential republic, comprising 83 federal subjects...
, the Tsar expected all of the Nekrasov Cossacks that remained in the Danube Delta
Danube Delta
The Danube Delta is the second largest river delta in Europe, after the Volga Delta, and is the best preserved on the continent. The greater part of the Danube Delta lies in Romania , while its northern part, on the left bank of the Chilia arm, is situated in Ukraine . The approximate surface is...
to join this Host as well, however most refused further military service. Instead in 1839, concerned with extent of Gypsy activities, Russia suggested to enlist them as Cossacks. Although most Gypsies chose to decline the offer, those that did would make nearly quarter of the Cossacks in the Host
During the Russo-Turkish War, 1853-56, the Danube Cossacks became famous for their Rocket artillery
Congreve rocket
The Congreve Rocket was a British military weapon designed and developed by Sir William Congreve in 1804.The rocket was developed by the British Royal Arsenal following the experiences of the Second, Third and Fourth Mysore Wars. The wars fought between the British East India Company and the...
in the capturing of Tulcea
Tulcea
Tulcea is a city in Dobrogea, Romania. It is the administrative center of Tulcea county, and has a population of 92,379 as of 2007. One village, Tudor Vladimirescu, is administered by the city.- History :...
, Isaccea
Isaccea
Isaccea is a small town in Tulcea County, in Dobruja, Romania, on the right bank of the Danube, 35 km north-west of Tulcea. According to the 2002 census, it has a population 5,374....
and Măcin
Macin
-Location:Măcin is located in the north-western part of the Dobrudja region, in Tulcea County. The city is located at the intersection of the DN22 and DN22D national roads. The DN22 road links it to the Romanian capital, Bucharest and to the cities of Isaccea and Tulcea...
, which supported the main armies in covering their bridgeheads and preventing the Turkish Army from breaking to the Danube
Danube
The Danube is a river in the Central Europe and the Europe's second longest river after the Volga. It is classified as an international waterway....
. Both Danube Cossack regiments were awarded the Georgian Banners. After the 1856 Treaty of Paris
Treaty of Paris (1856)
The Treaty of Paris of 1856 settled the Crimean War between Russia and an alliance of the Ottoman Empire, the British Empire, Second French Empire, and the Kingdom of Sardinia. The treaty, signed on March 30, 1856 at the Congress of Paris, made the Black Sea neutral territory, closing it to all...
, Russia ceded some of the Budjak
Budjak
Budjak or Budzhak is a historical region in the Odessa Oblast of Ukraine. Lying along the Black Sea between the Danube and Dniester rivers this multiethnic region was the southern part of Bessarabia...
territory and the Host moved to stanitsa
Stanitsa
Stanitsa is a village inside a Cossack host . Stanitsas were the primary unit of Cossack hosts.Historically, the stanitsa was a unit of economic and political organisation of the Cossack peoples primarily in the southern regions of the Russian Empire.Much of the land was held in common by the...
Nikolayevka-Novorossiyskaya (modern selo within the Odessa Oblast
Odessa Oblast
Odesa Oblast, also written as Odessa Oblast , is the southernmost and largest oblast of south-western Ukraine. The administrative center of the oblast is the city of Odessa.-History:...
, Ukraine
Ukraine
Ukraine is a country in Eastern Europe. It has an area of 603,628 km², making it the second largest contiguous country on the European continent, after Russia...
), consequently, losing the Danube river, the Host was renamed to Novorossiyan Cossack Host in 1856.
By 1858 the new Host had 10 stanitsas and numbered twelve thousand men. However in the next decade, a time of relative peace, most lost their combat ability and were involved in internal customs and police service, and in 1868 in wake of the administrative reform of Emperor Alexander II
Alexander II of Russia
Alexander II , also known as Alexander the Liberator was the Emperor of the Russian Empire from 3 March 1855 until his assassination in 1881...
, the Host was disbanded, and most of the Cossacks continued service in customs and police, but now under civil administration. With that, ended the nearly of Cossack presence in the Budjak territory. Today there are efforts to re-create the Cossack lifestyle centered in that province by local enthusiasts, though it has made little progress yet.