Monument to the Orenburg Cossacks

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Photos

  • Памятник Оренбургскому казачеству. Photography 1
  • Памятник Оренбургскому казачеству. Photography 2
  • Памятник Оренбургскому казачеству. Photography 3

Description

The monument dedicated to the Orenburg Cossacks occupies a place of honor at the intersection of Chkalov and Stepan Razin streets, not far from the St. Nicholas Cathedral. This strategic location gives the monument additional significance for the Cossacks, as well as for all residents of the city of Orenburg.

The authors of the sculptural composition were Moscow sculptor Vasily Nikolaev and the city’s chief architect Nikolai Chudin-Alexandrin. The sculpture was made of bronze in Moscow, and granite blocks for the pedestal were delivered from the Chelyabinsk region.

The monument symbolizes the heroic founders of the Orenburg region - the Orenburg Cossacks, depicting a Cossack setting off on a campaign. The direction indicated by the monument points to the Khiva campaigns carried out by the Orenburg Cossacks in the 18th century.

The construction of the foundation and pedestal was carried out under the leadership of the Orenburg Cossack Society, and the landscaping of the territory was carried out by the municipal unitary enterprise "RemDorServis". The total cost of the monument was 17 million rubles; funds for the improvement of the adjacent territory were allocated by the city’s municipal treasury.

The opening of the monument took place in 2007. This monument is located in a historical place where the Cossack Settlement was previously located, associated with the birth of the city. The sculptural composition depicting a Cossack on horseback demonstrates a high artistic level and careful recreation of facial features reflecting the character of the founders of the Orenburg region. The total height of the monument is 12 meters, and the weight with the pedestal exceeds 170 tons.

Historical reference

Interesting historical information about the place where the monument to the Orenburg Cossacks is located. In fact, this place has a significant historical heritage, starting with the first settlement - a Cossack settlement, which existed here in the middle of the 18th century. This was the first settlement in this territory, approved on the eastern side of the Orenburg fortress.

The Cossack settlement was a residential area in which Cossacks lived, as well as many Kalmyks, most of whom also served in the Cossack forces. The settlement had a significant population and a significant number of houses.

However, the history of this settlement was cut short when the Orenburg lands were attacked by the troops of Emelyan Pugachev. The Cossack settlement was destroyed by fire so that the enemy could not use the houses as shelters during the siege of the fortress. This method was typical of those times when buildings near fortresses were deliberately destroyed to prevent their use by the enemy.

Thus, the installation of a monument to the Orenburg Cossacks on this historical site is of great importance, as it recalls an important part of the history of the region associated with Cossack traditions and the defense of the fortress.

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