War with Napoleon: Forced Mobilization and Deception (1812)
The authorities' false promise to return the lost Cossack liberties to the indigenous population in exchange for blood. The empire squeezed the maximum out of the land: "on both of its banks, Ukraine was used for the recruitment, equipping, and movement of troops… including a 75-thousand-strong militia from the Kyiv, Podillia, Chernihiv, and Poltava governorates"[1], and after the war the formations were disbanded and the promises forgotten[2]; when the Buh Cossacks refused to be turned into military settlers in 1817, their uprising was crushed by four regiments with artillery[1].
Actors
| ID | Name | Procedures |
|---|---|---|
| G0009 | Russian Empire | 2 |
Instruments Applied
| ID | Name | Procedures |
|---|---|---|
| S0010 | Regular Army | 2 |
Procedures Carried Out
Mass conscription into the militia and the formation of Cossack regiments on the basis of false promises to restore Cossack liberties: "Ukraine was used for the recruitment, equipping, and movement of troops… including a 75-thousand-strong militia from the Kyiv, Podillia, Chernihiv, and Poltava governorates"[1].
The use of regular troops to brutally suppress the unrest of the deceived population: the 1817 uprising of the Buh Cossacks against being turned into military settlers was crushed by four regiments - over 10,000 soldiers with artillery; the rebels were cut down with sabres, drowned in the Southern Buh, and flogged with whips[1].