The Cossacks 1799-1815 (Warrior) [Paperback]

Laurence Spring (Author), Philip Haythornthwaite (Illustrator)

Book Description

Series: Warrior | Publication Date: March 19, 2003

During the Napoleonic Wars (1799-1815), the Cossacks were Russia's unique and plentiful supply of irregular cavalry. They were employed as skirmishers, raiders and scouts, and their tactics of harassment and harrying caused great problems for Napoleon's Grand Armée as it retreated through Russia in 1812. This title shows how, although labelled as rapacious, lascivious, mercenary and ill-disciplined on the field by their detractors, they laid claim to being the finest light cavalry in Europe. This book also details the various tribes that made up the Cossack nation, the social structure of Cossack life, and how they were organised and employed in war.

Editorial Reviews

From the Publisher

Insights into the real lives of history's fighting men, packed with full colour illustrations, highly detailed cutaways, exploded artwork of weaponry and armour, and action-packed battle scenes.

About the Author

Laurence Spring holds a degree in History from London University, and is the co-ordinator of the Russian Army Study Group, an organisation with a world-wide membership. He is currently translating A V Viskovatov's seminal Historical Description of the Clothing and Arms of the Russian Army, which will be published by the Group. He has also written books on the English Civil War, and numerous articles for magazines. Laurence currently works at the Surrey History Centre, formerly the Surrey Record Office, UK.

Product Details

• Paperback: 64 pages
• Publisher: Osprey Publishing (March 19, 2003)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1841764647
• ISBN-13: 978-1841764641
• Product Dimensions: 7.2 x 0.2 x 9.6 inches
• Shipping Weight: 7.8 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 2.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (1 customer review)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,182,888 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

2.0 out of 5 stars A plenty of mistakes, October 29, 2010

By 

Gregory Ticker - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: The Cossacks 1799-1815 (Warrior) (Paperback)

The book contains a lot of mistakes, starting from the origin and ethymology of the word Kazak. Kazak is a corrupted from of turcic Kazakh-outsider, the one expeled from his clan and living out of his wits and sabre. Author obviously doesn't know that only Don Kazaks were participating in the Napoleonic Wars also. Initially first kazaks were loose elements of the Tatar population, in time of the desintegration of the Golden Horde, in XIV century forming brotherhoods in the lower reaches of the Don and Dniper. Later on, Russian and Ukranian serfs escaping exploitaition by Lords, elements of the underclass trying to put between them and authorities as much space as possible, had started to dominate numerically among Kazak groups. While Don Kazaks, and their off shots Volga, Terek and Yaik(Ural) hosts were predominantely Russian-turcic mix, which is reflected in their dialects, the Zaporozhian Kazaks were predominantly ethnic Ukranians. Some of them were absorbed into Russian nobility, after turning Ukraine into the Russian protectorate in 1653, and on final absorbtion of the Ukraine,as integral part of the Empire in the end of XVIII century. Large part of the mostly poor and modestly wealthy were resettled in the the Caucasus foot-hills, and got name as Black See Kazaks, later on known as Kuban kazaks. Author is utmostly confused between different hosts, and using for whatever reason Ukranian terms common in the Kuban Host, and even at that he made mistakes. Hetman is an Ukranian term, and the title of the highest executive officer in the Russian Protectorate of the Ukraine. Ataman a turcic term initially meaning the cheeftaine, later a purely administrative position. Polkovnik(Polk-regiment)-regimental commander, Essaul-in Russian speaking hosts a squadron commander, sotnik (Sotnya-hundred) was used in Ukranian speaking hosts, and in pre-Petrine Moskovite army. Mistakes could be listed further. Obviously author has neither deep knowledge of the subject, nor original ideas. The book is a kind of compendium of information he had culled from other people books, and frequently very dated.