Iemelian Pougatchev

Iemelian (or Emelian) Ivanovitch Pougatchev (into Cyrillic: Емелья́нИва́новичПугачёв) 1740 - January 10th 1775 (January 21st of the Gregorian Calendar) with Moscow, was an applicant with the throne having carried out an insurrection in particular Cosaque during the reign of Catherine II. Wire of a cossack of the Gift, land small holder, married to a cossack Sofia Nedioujeva in 1758, it took part, the same year, with the Guerre Seven Year old under the command of the count Zakhar Tchernychev. In the first Russo-Turkish War, 1768-74, Pougatchev, maintaining a cossack khorunjiy (corresponding to the row in the army of podporoutchik , or second lieutenant), were useful under the count Pierre Panine and took part in the seat of Bender.

Returned to the civil life, it spent several years to be wandered and more once authorities made it throw in prison for vagrancy. In 1773, after having attended the monasteries of the old believers who exerted a considerable influence on him, he proclaimed suddenly the tsar Pierre III and organized the insurrection of the Yaik cossacks which started a jacquerie of all small-Russia (the low Volga). The capacity did not take the movement with serious and was satisfied to put its head at price.

They seize the fortresses of the the Ural. Bachkirs Moslems carried out by Salavat Ioulaiev are raised in their turn and unite with the movement. In March 1774, the town of Orenburg is besieged. With Nijni, the serfs burn the manors and cut the throat of their Masters. The government, taking the measurement of the danger finally, decides to react. The army of the Bibikov general releases Orenburg. Especially the Cossacks, wearied by excesses of the new “tsar”, do not support to see their interests confused with those of the revolted serfs; they decide to finish some with Pougatchev.

In August 1774, the Mikhelson general inflicts a decisive defeat close to Tsaritsyn, and Pougatchev is delivered on September 14th. It is presented in an iron cage to show to the people his forfeiture. It is carried out, then its skin is torture victim (quartered).

Alexandre Pouchkine will make revolt of Pougatchev the framework of its historical novel published in 1836 the girl of the captain . The character of the cossack appears itself in the intrigue and under one day more mysterious than antipathetic.

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