Monument to Ermak - conqueror of Siberia: history, interesting facts

A fascinating enough story is connected witha monument to the conqueror of Siberia, Cossack Ataman Yermak, erected in the city of Novocherkassk. This monument of the Russian national hero belongs to the objects of the national cultural heritage. To a great surprise, this ancient sculpture was preserved intact and has long been a visiting card of the Don Cossack Territory, Siberia and the whole of Russia.

Monument to Ermak: Novocherkassk

The photo, posted in the article, gives an idea of ​​thecourageous appearance of this great man. It all began in 1870 with a solemn event, which was celebrated in the city of Novocherkassk - the 300th anniversary of the troops of the Don Cossacks. Through the chief of staff of Major-General Leonov, all the Cossacks turned to the Tsar's heir, Tsarevich Alexander Alexandrovich - the August ataman of the Cossack troops who came to the celebration, with a request to help put a monument to their heroic compatriot Yermak Timofeevich (a native of Kachalinskaya stanitsa on the Don) in the capital of the Don Cossacks.

A subscription for fundraising formonument, which dragged on for many years. This was hampered by wars, in which Russia was continually drawn in. A quarter of a century later, an amount of 100,000 rubles was raised. The main donations were granted by the Cossacks of the Urals and Siberia. The rest, which amounted to 40,000 rubles, the Cossack Host Government borrowed from its treasury.

Start

When the money was collected, the question arose of whichThe image must appear the glorious ataman Ermak on the monument to the main square of Novocherkassk. On this occasion, in 1889, a whole commission was created, which consisted of the patron of W. Wagner, the head of the mountain and salt part of the Don army, the city engineer B. Krasnov, the publisher of the newspaper "Donskoy Vestnik" A. Karasev, etc. In Russia A competition for the best monument was announced among the most famous sculptors, and afterwards several projects were considered.

The first to develop a monument to Ermak proposedsculptor MM Antokolsky (creator of the monument to Peter I in Taganrog in 1903), but in 1891 he was not approved. The project of the St. Petersburg sculptor M. O. Mikeshin (who created the famous monument "The Millennium of Russia" in Novgorod in 1862) was not accepted, but he took into account all the comments and proposed another version of the monument, and in 1896 it was approved, but the sculptor died.

Monument to Ermak in Novocherkassk: description

Now the commission was looking for someone who was on the projectMikeshin would undertake to create a monument. Spent several years and found the rector of the Russian Higher Art School of the Academy of Fine Arts VA Beklemishev. Thus, the work began.

On the birthday of Emperor Nicholas II May 6, 1903a solemn masonry took place on the square. A granite pedestal was ordered by the Italian master S. Tonitto. First, the pit was excavated, then the foundation was built, the base was concreted, 8 steel chains of 4.2 meters each were manufactured at the Novocherkassk plant. In St. Petersburg, according to the plaster model of VA Beklemishev, Moran poured a bronze statue weighing 5 tons. The total height of the monument was 14 meters 92 cm, weight - 1,600 tons.

Opening

Next year, again for the birthdayEmperor Nicholas II - May 6, 1904, the opening ceremony took place. At noon the bells rang, the square was filled with Cossack troops, pupils of gymnasiums, cadets, cadets and citizens. From the Ascension Cathedral passed the procession with the cathedral shrines.

Ataman of the Cossack army K.K. Maksimovich threw off the veil from the monument and, finally, all present saw the mighty and majestic statue of Ermak, who in one hand had a battle flag, and in the other - a crown symbolizing the conquered Siberia. Archbishop of Don and Novocherkassk Athanasius consecrated the monument. Then there was a parade, distribution of postcards and brochures describing the deeds by which the brave ataman Ermak, who died in the waves of the Irtysh River on August 5, 1584, became famous.

Bronze witness

Ever since, the monument to Ermak has become dumbwitnessed many historical events taking place on the main Novocherkassk square near the Ascension Cathedral, including the visits of kings, presidents, patriarchs, people's leaders, etc.

In the first year of construction from this area the Cossackswent to the Russian-Japanese war (1904-1905 gg.). Then a year later rallies were held in support of democratic freedoms (the Tsarist Manifesto of October 17, 1905). Then - the First Russian Revolution (1905-1907 gg.) And its victims among the Don Cossacks, who were singing in the square. Further, the First World War and mass mobilization, the February Revolution and meetings of representatives of the Provisional Government, the oath of the military general AM Kaledin, his election as ataman and the October Revolution of 1917. To these events, you can add and the constant transition of Novocherkassk to the "white", then the "red", until the power in their hands did not take General Vsevelikogo Donskoy PN Krasnov.

Preservation of the local shrine

However, there were attempts to throw off the monument"Ermaku-bourgeois". In 1918, they wanted to make it a machine, in 1938 - a tractor, but for technical reasons it was not possible to accomplish this. And in 1942, during the occupation of Novocherkassk, the Nazis drove up to the monument three tractors with winches, but local residents and Cossacks came out who summoned the commandant and explained that Ermak was not a red Cossack or Bolshevik, but a local shrine and the hero of the Don . Then the German officer gave the order to remove the tractors, and this once again saved the monument to Ermak from the destruction. All the indifferent inhabitants of the city of Novocherkassk and the Cossacks in the hardest times tried not to forget their heroes.

In 2001, all necessaryrestoration work. May 6, 2004, the city solemnly celebrated the 100th anniversary of the monument. Today it has been more than a hundred years, but the monument to Ermak stands and will rise, while there is a city, and in its history it is inscribed forever.