Ermák (Tolstoy)
Short summary
Russian Empire, reign of Ivan the Terrible. The wealthy merchants Stroganóvs received land from the Tsar near the Káma River and settled it with Russian people. Twenty years later, they wanted more territory beyond the Ural Mountains, ruled by the Siberian prince Kuchum who threatened their towns. The Tsar permitted them to conquer Kuchum's land. The Stroganóvs recruited the fierce Cossack ataman Ermák Timoféich.
In September, Ermák led his Cossacks beyond the Urals with guns and supplies. They defeated Tartar forces, including Kuchum's son-in-law Mametkul, whom they captured. Ermák took the city of Sibír and ruled there, sending furs to the Stroganóvs. After two years with no reinforcements from Russia, the Tartars tricked Ermák. They killed forty men he sent to help them, then ambushed him at night by the Irtýsh River.
He threw himself into the river. That was the last time he was seen. His body was not recovered, and no one found out how he died.
Detailed summary
Division into chapters is editorial.
The Stroganóvs expansion and recruitment of Ermák
During the reign of Iván Vasílevich the Terrible, wealthy merchants called the Stroganóvs lived in Perm on the river Káma.
They heard of fertile land along the Káma River, 140 versts in circumference, with unploughed soil and uncut forests full of wild animals and fish lakes, inhabited only by passing Tartars. The Stroganóvs wrote to the Tsar requesting this land, promising to build towns, settle people, and prevent Tartar passage.
The Tsar granted their request, and they successfully settled the land with Russian people. After twenty years, wanting more territory beyond the Ural Mountains, they faced opposition from Kuchum, a small Siberian prince who had rebelled against Russian rule and threatened their towns.
Journey across the Urals and first Tartar encounters
The Stroganóvs recruited Cossacks from the Vólga and Don rivers, particularly seeking Ermák Timoféich, a fierce ataman with a thousand men whom even the Tsarian army feared to confront.
When Stroganóv complained about the Cossacks' unruly behavior, Ermák replied:
I do not like it myself, but I cannot control my people, they are spoiled. Give us work to do!
On September 1st, the Cossacks departed with thirty-two barges, crossing rivers and mountains for ten days before reaching navigable waters again. They sailed down the Túra River, encountering Tartar towns and people along the way.
River conquests and the approach to Sibír
The Cossacks easily conquered towns along their route. They captured an old respected Tartar named Tauzik, a commander serving King Kuchum.
Tauzik boasted that Kuchum was the greatest king in the world with countless forces in the largest city of Sibír. Ermák demonstrated Russian firepower by shooting through trees and declared:
We Russians have come here to conquer your king and to take his city, and to put it into the hands of the Russian Tsar. We have a large force.
He sent Tauzik to warn Kuchum to surrender or face destruction. Continuing their advance, the Cossacks encountered Mametkul, Kuchum's son-in-law, leading a large army at the river Babasán.
The Cossacks defeated Mametkul's forces with their firearms. They continued down the Irtýsh River, facing another fortified town defended by Atik Murza Kachara, who refused to surrender despite Ermák's demands.
After fierce fighting with casualties on both sides, the Cossacks captured the town and found much wealth. Soon they faced an enormous Tartar army entrenched behind fortifications. Some Cossacks became frightened and complained:
Why did you bring us here? Already a few of ours have been killed, and many have been wounded; and all of us will perish here.
The conquest of Sibír and Ermáks reign
Ermák's sub-ataman Iván Koltsó supported attacking the Tartars, saying they would die anyway. The Cossacks agreed, declaring:
A man does not die twice, and one death cannot be escaped.
Ermák divided his forces into three groups, with Koltsó commanding the right flank and Meshcheryákov the left.
When the center advanced, the Tartars rushed forward, only to be attacked from both sides. The frightened Tartars fled, and the Cossacks achieved decisive victory. Ermák proclaimed:
If we beat these, we shall not have to be afraid of anybody. We shall ourselves be kings.
Ermák entered Sibír and ruled like a king. Local kinglets came to bow before him, while Kuchum and Mametkul circled warily, seeking ways to destroy him. In spring, Ermák captured Mametkul alive and conquered vast territories along the Irtýsh and Ob rivers. He sent word to the Stroganóvs of his success, declaring:
There is no end to the wealth in this country.
Ermáks decline and death
Two years passed without reinforcements from Russia, leaving few Russians with Ermák. The Tartar Karacha deceived Ermák by requesting help against the Nogays, then ambushed and killed forty Cossacks including Iván Koltsó.
Later, Bukhara merchants requested Ermák's help against Kuchum's forces blocking their passage. Ermák took fifty men to clear the road but found no merchants at the Irtýsh River. During a dark, rainy night, Tartars attacked the sleeping Cossacks. Ermák fought desperately, was wounded, and fled toward the river with Tartars pursuing him. He threw himself into the water and was never seen again. His body was never recovered. The following year, the Tsar's army arrived and pacified the Tartars.