The Social Organisation of Terek and Greben Cossacks in the 17th Century

Abstract. The article explores aspects of the social organization of Terek-Greben Cossacks. Special attention is given to controversial issues such as the nature of the Cossack Host in Terek Region: whether there was a single army or a combination of two separate armies. This article is based on the analysis of documents, published and kept in archives. In the 17th century “free” Cossacks formed a single Cossack army (same in the Terek and Greben regions). The main reason why there was a single Cossack army was the small number of Terek and Greben Cossacks. For the most part of the 17th century this group did not exceed 500 people (if we take into account only those who served and were part of the army). The most important social institution in the Terek-Greben army, as in the other Cossack armies, was the Military Council, which made the decisions on the most important issues. Ataman was the head of the army, there were esauls and atamans of towns. In this respect, the Terek-Greben Cossacks did not differ from other Cossack groups. Not all Cossacks living on Terek were part of the Terek-Greben army. There were Cossacks of the city Terki, who were subordinate to the voivodes of Terskii town, and small groups of Cossacks, who obeyed nobody.

Keywords: North Caucasus, Terek Cossacks, Greben Cossacks, social organization, Cossack army, atamans, Cossack Assembly.