Battle of Kazan (1774)

Infobox Military Conflict


caption=Pugachev's path in what is today Tatarstan
conflict=Battle of Kazan (1774)
partof=Pugachev War
place=Kazan, Russian Empire
date=12-15 July, 1774
result=Kazan, except the citadel was sacked by rebels, but later rebels were defeated by governmental forces
combatant1= Russian Imperial Army
noble militants
civil population of Kazan
combatant2= Cossack and peasant rebels
Tatar and Bashkir nobles
civil population of Kazan
commander1=Ivan Michelson
P. S. Potyomkin
von Brandt
commander2=Yemelyan Pugachev
Ivan BeloborodovPOW
Andrey Ovchinnikov
MineyevPOW
Bakhmutov
formations1=Cossacks
peasants and workers
Bashkirs
formations2=Kazan garrison
noble and civilian militants
Michelson forces
strength1=2,000-6,000 in Kazan
9 cannons + citadel cannons
, Michelson's troops N/A
strength2=25,000 men first battle
20 cannons
15,000 men second battle
casualties1=at least 215 killed
casualties2=2,000 killed
10,000 captured
all cannons|

The Battle of Kazan (1774) was a major battle during Pugachev Rebellion. It took place on 12-15 July, 1774 in Kazan, Russia, and the surrounding area. The first stage began in the morning of July 12, when rebels under Yemelyan Pugachev defeated government troops and besieged them in the Kazan Kremlin. During the battle some government forces defected to the rebels' side. However, in the evening, tzarist forces under Ivan Ivanovich Mikhelson reached Kazan and defeated the rebels in two battles which took place on 13 and 15 July, forcing Pugachev to retreat to Tsaryovokokshaysk and then to cross the Volga. Out of 25000 and 15000 rebels who participated in the first and last stages of the battle respectively, only 500 escaped. [ru icon К. Амиров. Казань: где эта улица, где этот дом, Казань, 1995., стр 214-220]

Prelude to the battle

Kazan was threatened by Pugachev as early as the autumn of 1773. Many of the town's nobles escaped to Moscow, inspiring fear there. A defensive plan was formulated by the Russian high command and was approved personally by Catherine the Great.

Kazan's defenders

There were 3 sectors of defense in Kazan. The first, under general Banner, extended from Kazanka and Arsk Field to Qaban lakes. There, governmental troops were reinforced by gymnasium pupils under headmaster Kanitsa and armed town militiamen. The second was from the Pleteni to Yamskoy quarter under general-mayor Larionov, and the third was from Yamskoy to Kazanka, under colonel Svechin. The area north from the citadel was defended by Admiralty troops under Shchelin. The citadel itself was reinforced and garrison under Letskoy was ready to fight. Zilantov Monastery and the Admiralty were turned to strongholds, and redoubts were installed at Kazanka's bank and Arsk Field, a system of knife-rests was installed around the city. Nine cannons were placed behind the knife-rests. The suburbian settlements were left to defend themselves without governmental assistance.

There were 1500 regular troops in Kazan, along with policemen, Admiralty troops and firemen defenders numbered 2000. 2 July the governor von Brandt announced a coming siege.

Rebels

Ten mullahs sent by Catherine's officers to agitate against Pugachev were killed by rebels. The Orthodox bishop Veniamin appealed to Christians to refuse from joining Pugachev army. However, many peasants from the entire region of modern Tatarstan joint the rebellion and marched to Kazan.

On 10 and 11 July Pugachev's troops encamped to the north-east of Kazan, between Troitskaya Noksa and Tsaritsyno. The army numbered 25,000, mostly Cossacks supported by Tatar and Udmurt peasants and Bashkir cavalry. Only the Cossacks had firearms; the Bashkirs were armed with bows while the peasants were mostly equipped with clubs and stakes. On July 11, Pugachev with an interpreter approached Kazan borders and demanded that the loyalist forces surrender. The Tatar community was invited to support the rebellion. Von Brandt refused to disarm; however, the Tatars quarters sent seventy emissaries with presents to Pugachev. They also disclosed weaknesses in the Kazan defense.

On July 12, at four o'clock in the morning, Pugachev convened a council of war, dividing his army into 4 groups. The first two under Beloborodov and Mineyev should attack Arsk Field, the main group under Pugachev himself attacked Sukonny (Broadcloth Manufactory) quarter. The group under Ovchinnikov and Bakhmutov should attack Tatar quarters. The storm started six o'clock after Pugachev's prayer.

Battle

torm of Kazan

Beloborodov took Neyelova grove, the area of modern-day Gorky Park and approached the citadel by the avenue now known as Karl Marx Street. Pugachev's cannons neutralized government artillery and shelled the defenders of the cloth fabric under manufacturer Dryablov. Workers joined the rebel army. The fourth group of rebels reached Mokry quarter and Admiralty.

Noble army was forced to retreat and was besieged in the citadel. Nearly half of the defenders, mostly ethnic Tatars, defected to the rebels. The central stone part of Kazan, mostly settled by Russian nobles and merchants, was set on fire. Sukonny and Tatar quarters, however, stayed safe.

Pugachev ordered his troops to safeguard the lives of civilians and captives. They were convoyed to the nearby village of Savinovo, where Pugachev invited them to join his troops. Among others, a captive Lutheran priest was appointed colonel in Pugachev's army, but nobles and resisters were massacred.

Pugachev's family

Pugachev's family, the wife Sofia Dmitrievna, 11-years old son Trofim, daughters Khristina and Agrafena and his brother, were imprisoned in Kazan during the rebellion. Sofia Pugacheva should confirm, that Yemelyan isn't Peter III, but a Cossack. She could visit markets to spread this information. When Pugachev's group marched they occasionally met his family. Trofim called him, but Pugachev said that he is simply a friend of this family. So, he took them to unit transport. [Some other sources say that they were liberated from prison along with other prisoners ru icon История Татарской АССР, Казань 1980]

Michelson's arrival

Kremlin was surrounded, rebel cannons were installed near Spasskaya Tower and started shelling. After noon, Pugachev stopped the storm and retreated to Arsk Field. There he participated in thanksgiving service. Then he had a dinner at Tatar merchant Musa Apanayev's house.

At the evening governmental troops from Ufa under Ivan Ivanych Michelson reached Kazan. A harsh battle took place at the modern Gogol street [or Tsaritsyno village, ru icon История Татарской АССР, Казань 1980] , but no side won. Pugachev retreated to Savinovo and Sukhaya Reka villages. 13 July he tried to prevent unblocking of the citadel, but under the pressure of Michelson and Potyomkin rebels were defeated and were forced to retreat. 15 July Pugachyov's 15000 numbered army was defeated in the battle of Arsk Field. Pugachev with 500 men escaped to Tsaryovokokshaysk, to cross the Volga 18 July and to continue his struggle then. Michelson didn't follow him, as governmental forces hadn't horses.

Before the trial captives were imprisoned in camp near the suburb of Bishbalta. In autumn two gallows were placed in Kazan, one in Sukonny, another in Tatar quarter. Many captive rebels were executed, including Beloborodov and Mineyev.

Aftermath

After Pugachev's escaping some rebel groups under Bäxtiär Qanqayıv and Usman Timerev continued the resistance in the region, but they were shortly neutralized by governmental troops.

The battle of Kazan had a significant role in Tatarstan's history. It should be noted that the Tatar participation in the rebellion numbered up to 85000. Nevertheless the participants of the rebellion were harshly punished, Tsar's government continued policy of the support of Muslim nobility and clergy, to prevent similar as a result of religious oppression in future. Feudal oppression, however, stayed for a long time. [TES|Krästiännär quzğalışı (1773-75)/Крәстияннәр кузгалышы (1773-75)]

This battle took a major place in the Soviet culture. The first Tatar movie Bulat-Batır was devoted to Pugachev rebellion in Tatarstan and the siege of Kazan.

ee also

*Pugachov's oak

References and footnotes