MILITARY SERVICE OF THE BASHKIRS

MILITARY SERVICE OF THE BASHKIRS, compulsory military service of the Bashkirs based on the regulations of the governments, which ruled in Bashkortostan at the times. In the 1st half of the 10th century (according to other data, in the 1st half of the 9th century) the leader of bashkir tribes Bashgird with 2 thous. horse­riders served Khazar Khanate on the border with Kimek–Kipchak confederation. According to Zhalovannyye Gramoty, Shezhere and other historical sources, M.s.o.t.b. was one of the conditions for Accession of Bashkortostan to Russia. Every year since 1744, the Bashkirs and Mishars protected the Orenburg Fortified Line (1.5 thous. people in 1744; 5–6 thous. people since 1798). Since 1760, the Bashkir teams served on the Sib. Fortified Line (service term – 1 year, since 1769 – 2 years; in 1800 the compulsory service was replaced by timed service). The summer service period – between May 15th–November 16th; winter service period – between November 16th– May 15th. The Bashkir team (regiment) provided themselves with provisions and forage, 100 versts off the assembly point the team switched to state supplies. Since 1797, each employee during the summer service period was paid a ruble per month (the salary did not cover the expenses for 2 horses, food, weapons and ammunition). In 1834, the Bashkir­Meshcheryak troops were formed. In 1847, a 30 years term of service was established. Every 100 soldiers were headed by a Yesaul, Sotnik and Khorunzhy; every 250 soldiers – by a Starshina, Sotnik or Yesaul. In the middle of the 19th century, the military service started to be replaced by labour and logistics service. The Bashkirs participated in the Livonian War of 1558– 81, repelled the attacks of the Sib. Tatars and Kalmyks on the territory of Ufa Uyezd (16–17th centuries), helped Russia fight the Polish interventionists (1st quarter of the 17th century), participated in Kalmyk Campaign of 1643–44, Crimean Campaigns of 1687 and 1689, Azov Campaigns of 1695 and 1696. The Bashkir teams and regiments operated in the Great Northern War of 1700–21 (1 thous. people), Seven Years’ War of 1756–63 (1.5 thous. people), Russian­Swedish War of 1788–90 (4 regiments), Russian­Prussian­French War of 1806–07 (10 thous. people), Patriotic War of 1812 and Foreign Campaigns of the Russian army of 1813–14 (20 regiments), Russian­Turkish War of 1828–29 (0.5 thous. people, including the number of Orenburg Cossacks), Khiva (1839–40) and Kokand (1852 and 1853) campaigns, Crimean War of 1853–56 (4 regiments). In 1792, the Russian­Polish border in the Baltic States was protected by 2 Bashkir regiments. Between 1828–33, border service in Bessarabia was performed by 2 Bashkir regiments. More than 3 thous. Bashkirs were involved in the liquidation of the 1768–72 Bar Confedera­ tion in the Polish­Lithuanian Commonwealth, and 2.5 thous. – in the convoying of participants of the 1830–31 Polish Uprising. According to the Regulations on the Bashkirs of May 14th, 1863, the M.s.o.t.b. was abolished, the Bashkirs got the status of free country men. In 1865, the Bashkir Army was disbanded. Between 1874–82, the Bashkirs from 3 uyezds of Orenburg Gub. held military service in the Bashkir Cavalry Regiment. Since 1882, the Bashkirs were called up for military service based on the general military service rules of the time.