Russian researcher Erofei Khabarov. What did the explorer discover?

In the Trans-Baikal Territory, among the expanses of the taiga, there is a small railway station Erofei Pavlovich. Not all the passengers of the express trains passing by her guess that in its name, as well as in the name of one of the largest cities of the Far East - Khabarovsk, - the memory of the famous Russian explorer, named Erofei Khabarov, was immortalized. What did this man discover and what is his merit? These questions will become the topic of our conversation.

In the campaign for a happy share

Historical information about his childhood is very limited. It is known that he was born and grew up in Ustyug, and, reaching the mature years, settled in Sol'vychegorsk, where he was engaged in the salt industry. But either things did not work out, or the monotonous gray life got bored with the young guy, but only abandoned Erofei's place and went to seek adventure, and if it does, then happiness, to the far edges, for the "Stone Belt" - the Great Ural ridge.

Well, we will not talk about happiness, but the adventures did not take long. First on the Yenisei River, and then on the shores of the taiga forests of the Lena River, a new settler was engaged in sable fishing. The fur of the Siberian beast was in value, and the hunt brought a fair profit, but once stumbling in the woods to the salt keys, Khabarov again took up the habitual business of boiling salt. In addition, he plowed up the empty coastal meadows and started farming. The case seemed right, because without bread and salt no one could do ...

A dream born in a prison

However, the future explorer Yerofei Khabarov this time was mistaken. The Yakut voevoda, taking advantage of the powerlessness of the authorities at that time, took away from him both arable land, and salt cooking, and the entire harvested crop - three thousand poods of bread. The farmer, who tried to resist his will, hid himself in a jail, where he was with taiga robbers and murderers.

But the time spent behind bars was not in vain. From his cellmates - people experienced, flowing taiga along and across - he heard stories about the Amur lands and their inexhaustible riches. What Erofei Khabarov dreamed about in those days, which he discovered for himself in conversations with other prisoners, is unknown, but, having gone to freedom, a man, ruined and not having a penny for a penny, bravely ventured into a desperate enterprise.

At the head of the squad of explorers

By that time, fortunately, his abuser was no longer in Yakutsk. Either he himself was imprisoned, or he went to the promotion (which is more likely), but a new voivode Franzbekov was appointed to his post. He turned out to be an official who was ill not only for his pocket, but also for the interests of the state, and therefore willingly agreed to Khabarov's offer to send him with a detachment of Cossacks to the banks of the Amur River - to open new lands for Russia and seek sources of revenue for the treasury. Moreover, the voevoda instructed Erofey to pick up suitable people for the expedition, and himself lead the detachment.

At this stage, the first difficulties began. Many of the Cossacks were deterred by the stories of the Poyarkov satellites, the explorer who had previously visited the Siberian lands inhabited by the Tungus, Daur, Achani and other wild taiga tribes. Too great was the risk associated with this journey. The campaign of Yerofey Khabarov was in jeopardy. Only with great difficulty did he manage to score eighty people, as desperate adventurers as he himself.

The way from Yakutsk to the Amur

The voevoda, a sensible and far-sighted man, instructed him not only to collect yasak tribes from the encountered on the way (obrok in the form of pelts of fur-bearing animals), but also to describe the new lands, and most importantly - to put them on the map. And then in the summer of 1649, after serving in the God's temple a parting prayer and blessing, the detachment came from Yakutsk.

In the XVII century the only transport arteries of Siberia were the rivers, therefore the journey of Erofey Khabarov and his brave souls began with the fact that, moving up the Lena, they reached the mouth of its largest tributary - Olekma. Overcoming its rapid current and numerous rapids, late autumn the Cossacks reached another taiga river - Tugir, on the banks of which they also wintered.

In January the journey continued. Moving on deep snow and dragging moving sledges, loaded with boats and all other property, the expedition overcame the Stanovoi Range. The people were extremely tired, since strong winds and snowstorms prevented a heavy load from being pulled up the slope. But, being on the opposite side of the ridge, Khabarov and his detachment, descended on the river Urka, reached the goal of the journey - the Amur.

First meetings with taiga residents

Even in its upper reaches the Cossacks met settlements of local residents - daurs. They were real fortresses, surrounded by log walls and surrounded by moats. However, to everyone's surprise, they were uninhabited. Their inhabitants fled, frightened by the approach of the Cossacks.

Soon the first meeting with the local prince took place. It was hoped for by Khabarov. Erofei Pavlovich, through an interpreter, spoke about the purpose of the arrival of the detachment and suggested starting a joint trade. His interlocutor at first nodded his head, but he met the demand to pay the treasury jaasak hostilely, and, glancing angrily at Khabarov, left.

Strengthening of the Cossack detachment

In the same year Khabarov, without venturing with a small group to go deep into the taiga, returned to Yakutsk for help, leaving the main part of the detachment on the Amur. The voevoda, listening with interest to his message about the new lands and prospects associated with them, sent to his disposal one hundred and eighty people. Returning to his comrades, Khabarov found them in good health, but exhausted by the constant raids of the Daur. However, from these encounters Cossacks, armed with guns, always came out victorious, because they flew their opponents who did not know firearms.

When the discoveries of Yerofei Khabarov and his Cossacks became known in Moscow, Tsar Alexei Mikhailovich ordered to dispatch additional forces to help him. In addition, he sent trade people from the Urals with a fair supply of lead and gunpowder. Already in the summer of 1651 a large and well-armed detachment headed by Khabarov set off down the Amur. Erofei Pavlovich and his people, submitting to the Dahur tribes, sent a rich tribute from the skins of fur-bearing animals to the treasury.

The clashes with the Achani and the Manchu detachments

But the Achani tribes who also inhabited that region were brave and warlike. They gave the Cossacks fierce resistance and repeatedly attacked their parking lots. However, the advantage of firearms before the bows of savages affected this time too. The taiga residents fled in panic as soon as they heard the shots. Unable to cope with the newcomers, they called for help from the Manchu merchants, who had been armed with rifles by that time, but the Cossacks also flew this detachment.

Despite the victories in local clashes and additional help sent from Yakutsk, it was dangerous to continue collecting jasak. From local residents it was possible to learn that the offensive of the numerous Manchu troops is being prepared, sent to prevent the penetration of Russians into the Amur region. I had to stay on the river Zeya and establish a settlement there.

Suppression of rebellion and massive influx of settlers

During the same period, a part of the Cossacks rebelled, trying to get out of submission. And this riot was forced to suppress Yerofei Khabarov. His biography also contains information about this sad episode. Subsequently, he was often accused of excessive cruelty. Perhaps it was, because the years of Yerofey Khabarov's life, conducted in harsh taiga conditions, left their imprint on the character and behavior of this person.

Soon, according to the tsar's decree, the Daursk voivodeship was formed, where specially appointed officials and servicemen went. These years in the history of Siberia were marked by a large influx of settlers, who heard about the richness of the region and sought to the banks of the Amur. The government was compelled to establish a special outpost to limit the entry of those who wished.

Slander and intrigue

The further stay of Khabarov on the Amur was overshadowed by the intrigues and intrigues of the officials who had arrived by that time. They removed him from the real power and even tried to blame for abuse. Arrested, he was taken to Moscow. But everything ended well. In the capital, they knew perfectly well who Erofei Khabarov was, which he discovered and did for Russia, what are his achievements. Having generously awarded, the traveler was sent home with honor. Justified, he returned to Siberia.

The subsequent years of Yerofey Khabarov's life left no traces on the pages of history. The date of his death is unknown, as is the year of his birth. But reports were preserved, in which all the lands annexed to the Russian state were described in detail, and the riches that Yerofei Khabarov gave to the country. What this man discovered in his travels was repeatedly described by the explorers of his life. The name Erofei Pavlovich station and the city of Khabarovsk kept it for posterity.