Erofey Khabarov's regiment: organization and combat capability of Amur troops in 1650-1653

Abstract

The article examines the issues related to military units operating on Amur River in 1649-1653. They were joined together with the regiment of E. Khabarov in summer 1650. The research focuses on the problems associated with its number, structure and status of the campaigns’ participants, their supply, combat capability, conditions of transition from Yakutsk to Amur River. During this period there were many trappers in the Yakutsk district who wanted to volunteer for a campaign on Amur River. As an additional motivation for them was the opportunity to become warriors with a state salary in case if the expedition will appear successful. Generally, more than 400 people moved to Amur region in 3 stages. The supply of these people required large funds - several dozens of thousands of rubles. Most of money was received not from the treasury, but from private investors. The largest of them was the voievoda D. Frantsbekov. The financial resources of “Daurian project” were exhausted in 1649-1651, which had stopped expedition the new forces there. Troop’s transfer to Amur River took about 7 weeks and rafting down the river to its mouth took for at least 3 weeks. Amur inhabitants were significantly inferior in military organization and armament to the regiment of E. Khabarov so that its number was sufficient to take control on the entire Amur. However, the Manchurian intervention made this impossible.