Nikifor Chernigovsky
Encyclopedia
Nikifor Chernigovsky was a Polish noble who was exiled to Siberia in the course of the Polish-Russian war
. In 1656 in an act of revenge he murdered the voyevoda of Ilimsk and fled to the Amur where he reoccupied the ruins of Albazin
and gathered a band of supporters.
(most likely together with his father Roman); his name was mentioned in Russian chronicle "Razriad". In August 1633 he was exiled to Vologda
. Due to conditions of peace treaty ending Polish-Russian war in 1634 he was entitled to be liberated. As he married Moscow women, he initially intended to stay in Muscovy; he sworn loyalty to Tsar
and in 1635 he converted to orthodox
rite.
Later he changed his mind and in the company of 7 companions he headed towards Polish
border. It might be that he was unaware that he is no longer entitled to return to his homeland (at least in the eyes of Tsar). On July 3, 1636 he was captured, later exiled to Yeniseysk
, where he came in 1637. His wife accompany him during the exile. In 1649 he was sent furthe away to Ilimsk
, then to Ust-Kut
and Kirensk
. His family has grown to 3 sons and 2 daughters. In 1656 he become leader of cossacs. His address to Tsar to restore noble status was left with no answer in 1657. In 1664 voyevoda of Ilimsk Lawrentij Obuhov raped daughter of Nikifor - Pelagia, wife of pop Foma Kirylow. In the act of revange Nikifor murdered Obuhov (1665).
Now Nikifor was outlawed; he organised group of 84 cossacs, including orthodox monk Hermogenes and traveled towards Amur river on the border with China, where he settled on the ruins of Albazin
.
Nikifor found petty kingdom
among local Daur people. He achieved recognition of his rule down the river to mouth of Zeya River
, 500 km from Albazin.
The state was called Jaxa - derived from Nikifor's coat of arm. Monk Hermogenes wrote down Code of Law.
From the beginning Nikifors international position was peculiar - his state was not recognised by Russia
nor China
. Manpower of the state was 500 people. After initial struggles with Russia, he unilaterally recognised overlordship of Tsar in 1669. In 1670 he defended his state against a Chinese
expedition. In 1672 Tsar issued death sentence against Nikifor that was followed in 2 days by act of mercy. In 1674 Nikifor was eventually nominated on the position of voivod in charge of Albazin. In 1675 he was called by Daur people that were resettled to Manchuria
by Chinese and wanted to return back to Jaxa state. Most likely he died during the expedition to Manjuria.
The Jaxa state that was internationally recognised i.e. visited by diplomats of France
and Netherlands
(Nicolaes Witsen).
Polish-Russian War
Wars fought between Poland and Russia include- See also :* Muscovite–Lithuanian Wars* Russo-Turkish Wars* Russo-Swedish Wars * Russo-Persian Wars...
. In 1656 in an act of revenge he murdered the voyevoda of Ilimsk and fled to the Amur where he reoccupied the ruins of Albazin
Albazin
Albazino is a village in Skovorodinsky District of Amur Oblast, Russia, noted as the site of Albazin , the first Russian settlement on the Amur River....
and gathered a band of supporters.
Life
He became Russian prisoner in 1633 during the battle near Novhorod-SiverskyiNovhorod-Siverskyi
Novhorod-Siversky is a historic city in the Chernihiv Oblast of Ukraine. It is the administrative center of the Novhorod-Siversky Raion, and is situated on the bank of the Desna River, 330 km from the capital, Kiev, and 45 km south of the Russian border. Current estimated population:...
(most likely together with his father Roman); his name was mentioned in Russian chronicle "Razriad". In August 1633 he was exiled to Vologda
Vologda
Vologda is a city and the administrative, cultural, and scientific center of Vologda Oblast, Russia, located on the Vologda River. The city is a major transport knot of the Northwest of Russia. Vologda is among the Russian cities possessing an especially valuable historical heritage...
. Due to conditions of peace treaty ending Polish-Russian war in 1634 he was entitled to be liberated. As he married Moscow women, he initially intended to stay in Muscovy; he sworn loyalty to Tsar
Tsar
Tsar is a title used to designate certain European Slavic monarchs or supreme rulers. As a system of government in the Tsardom of Russia and Russian Empire, it is known as Tsarist autocracy, or Tsarism...
and in 1635 he converted to orthodox
Orthodoxy
The word orthodox, from Greek orthos + doxa , is generally used to mean the adherence to accepted norms, more specifically to creeds, especially in religion...
rite.
Later he changed his mind and in the company of 7 companions he headed towards Polish
Poland
Poland , officially the Republic of Poland , is a country in Central Europe bordered by Germany to the west; the Czech Republic and Slovakia to the south; Ukraine, Belarus and Lithuania to the east; and the Baltic Sea and Kaliningrad Oblast, a Russian exclave, to the north...
border. It might be that he was unaware that he is no longer entitled to return to his homeland (at least in the eyes of Tsar). On July 3, 1636 he was captured, later exiled to Yeniseysk
Yeniseysk
Yeniseysk is a town in Krasnoyarsk Krai, Russia, located on the Yenisei River. Population: 20,000 .Yeniseysk was founded in 1619 as a stockaded town—the first town on the Yenisei River. It played an important role in Russian colonization of East Siberia in the 17th–18th centuries...
, where he came in 1637. His wife accompany him during the exile. In 1649 he was sent furthe away to Ilimsk
Ilimsk
Ilimsk was a small town in Siberia, within today's Irkutsk Oblast of Russia. The town was flooded by the Ust-Ilimsk Reservoir in the mid-1970s....
, then to Ust-Kut
Ust-Kut
Ust-Kut is a town in Irkutsk Oblast, Russia. Located on a western loop of the Lena River, it spreads out over along the left bank, near the point where the Kuta River joins from the west. The town's name means 'mouth of the river Kuta' in Russian, with the name Kuta coming from an Evenk word...
and Kirensk
Kirensk
Kirensk is a town and the administrative center of Kirensky District of Irkutsk Oblast, Russia, located at the confluence of the Kirenga and the Lena Rivers, north of Irkutsk, north-northwest of the northern tip of Lake Baikal, and northeast of Ust-Kut...
. His family has grown to 3 sons and 2 daughters. In 1656 he become leader of cossacs. His address to Tsar to restore noble status was left with no answer in 1657. In 1664 voyevoda of Ilimsk Lawrentij Obuhov raped daughter of Nikifor - Pelagia, wife of pop Foma Kirylow. In the act of revange Nikifor murdered Obuhov (1665).
Now Nikifor was outlawed; he organised group of 84 cossacs, including orthodox monk Hermogenes and traveled towards Amur river on the border with China, where he settled on the ruins of Albazin
Albazin
Albazino is a village in Skovorodinsky District of Amur Oblast, Russia, noted as the site of Albazin , the first Russian settlement on the Amur River....
.
State of Jaxa
Petty kingdom
A petty kingdom is one of a number of small kingdoms, described as minor or "petty" by contrast to an empire or unified kingdom that either preceded or succeeded it...
among local Daur people. He achieved recognition of his rule down the river to mouth of Zeya River
Zeya River
Zeya River , 1,242 km long, is a northern tributary of the Amur River. It rises in the Tokiysky Stanovik mountain ridge, a part of the Stanovoy Range. The first Russian to enter the area was Vassili Poyarkov....
, 500 km from Albazin.
The state was called Jaxa - derived from Nikifor's coat of arm. Monk Hermogenes wrote down Code of Law.
From the beginning Nikifors international position was peculiar - his state was not recognised by Russia
Russia
Russia or , officially known as both Russia and the Russian Federation , is a country in northern Eurasia. It is a federal semi-presidential republic, comprising 83 federal subjects...
nor China
China
Chinese civilization may refer to:* China for more general discussion of the country.* Chinese culture* Greater China, the transnational community of ethnic Chinese.* History of China* Sinosphere, the area historically affected by Chinese culture...
. Manpower of the state was 500 people. After initial struggles with Russia, he unilaterally recognised overlordship of Tsar in 1669. In 1670 he defended his state against a Chinese
China
Chinese civilization may refer to:* China for more general discussion of the country.* Chinese culture* Greater China, the transnational community of ethnic Chinese.* History of China* Sinosphere, the area historically affected by Chinese culture...
expedition. In 1672 Tsar issued death sentence against Nikifor that was followed in 2 days by act of mercy. In 1674 Nikifor was eventually nominated on the position of voivod in charge of Albazin. In 1675 he was called by Daur people that were resettled to Manchuria
Manchuria
Manchuria is a historical name given to a large geographic region in northeast Asia. Depending on the definition of its extent, Manchuria usually falls entirely within the People's Republic of China, or is sometimes divided between China and Russia. The region is commonly referred to as Northeast...
by Chinese and wanted to return back to Jaxa state. Most likely he died during the expedition to Manjuria.
The Jaxa state that was internationally recognised i.e. visited by diplomats of France
France
The French Republic , The French Republic , The French Republic , (commonly known as France , is a unitary semi-presidential republic in Western Europe with several overseas territories and islands located on other continents and in the Indian, Pacific, and Atlantic oceans. Metropolitan France...
and Netherlands
Netherlands
The Netherlands is a constituent country of the Kingdom of the Netherlands, located mainly in North-West Europe and with several islands in the Caribbean. Mainland Netherlands borders the North Sea to the north and west, Belgium to the south, and Germany to the east, and shares maritime borders...
(Nicolaes Witsen).