The Cossacks are called subethnos. If we correlate this concept with the word "subculture", then it becomes clear that the Cossacks arose within some ethnos. History says that the Cossacks arose at the intersection of the South Russian and Ukrainian ethnic groups, and the meaning of the word “Cossack” means “free”.
Also, translated from some dialects, the word "Cossack" means "guardian, protector".
The history of the emergence of the Cossacks
Cossacks are very proud of their estate, they have repeatedly tried to introduce the nationality "Cossack" into everyday life, but to this day this idea has not been realized.
Meanwhile, the Cossacks are outcasts, exiles. That is, people who were driven away by the owners of the land, unable to feed them. These were mainly farm laborers - serfs. The strongest and bravest survived in exile among these people. Over time, they strayed into so-called gangs and tried to establish a joint household. Since the time of 1601-1603 was troubled and dangerous, the mobs acquired weapons, settled together and together defended their settlement. In peacetime, they were engaged in peasant labor, fishing, cattle breeding, hunting, earning food.
They settled mainly near the Dnieper, Don and Volga and on the seashore. Gradually, the settlements were enlarged, becoming like small states that were able to defend themselves. The growing children were taught military craft, so the skills of protecting the settlement were passed from father to son. The population of these places grew, and they began to be called Cossack troops with all their inherent characteristics: hierarchy, discipline, mutual responsibility.
These were free people who did not work for the landlords - if they wanted to, they were hired to work under a contract and could leave and come when they wanted.
Gradually, separate Cossack troops appeared: the Zaporozhye Sich, the Siberian Cossack army, the Terek, Yaik, Ural and others. In the 17th century, the Cossacks, as strong warriors and defenders of the southern borders of the country, were called up for public service, and they began to receive a salary.
At the beginning of the twentieth century, eleven independent Cossack districts were formed. People in the settlements lived in conditions of military service: from the age of eighteen, young men were called up to serve in the Cossack army, and this was considered an honor for the family.
The spirit of the Cossacks
By that time, the basic principles were formed by which the Cossacks lived and which they had to strictly follow.
The first thing that was considered the main thing for the Cossack was serving the Fatherland and the Tsar.
The Cossacks brought up children in reverence for the older generation, in respect for their experience and wisdom. This was reflected in the law. If a Cossack showed disrespect to an elder or a child, he was severely punished.
In families, this was reflected in everyday life and in communication: the younger ones could not interrupt the elders, they could not be the first to start eating at the table, they had no right to contradict the elders.
The honor of the Cossack was even more important than his own life, and service to the Fatherland was revered as the highest good.
In the blood of the Cossack - love for freedom, will and life independent of anyone. The Cossacks respected their laws, but what went beyond their framework was not taken into account. They had their own "Cossack truth", which they followed. Even within the framework of the Russian State, not a single emperor could place them.
Also, one of the most important principles of the Cossacks is faith in God. They believed so firmly in the highest help that it came more than once to save the Cossack army from inevitable death. There are many cases in history when several thousand Cossacks resisted hundreds of thousands of invaders and won with God's help. An example is the defense of the Azov fortress, when three thousand Cossacks repulsed the attack of three hundred thousand Turks and the fortress did not surrender.
Therefore, we can say that the spirit of the Cossacks is manifested in deeds, in actions. And deeds rest on indestructible pillars: free will, Cossack honor, service to the Fatherland and faith in God.
