G.E. Katanaev - historiographer of the Siberian Cossacks

The article is devoted to the study of the creative heritage of G.E. Katanaev, historiographer of the Siberian Cossack Army. The authors of the article note that G.E. Katanaev is considered one of the most interesting and significant researchers of the history of the Siberian Cossacks. However, the historical work of G.E. Katanaev has not yet been the object of special research. Therefore, the aim of the article is to determine the true contribution of G.E. Katanaev in the study of the history of the Siberian Cossacks on the basis of a set of his printed and handwritten works. To achieve this goal, the authors solve the following tasks: to determine the historical and philosophical views of G.E. Katanaev and, identifying the General direction of specific historical research of G.E. Katanaev, to assess their importance for the historiography of the Cossacks. The authors of the article consider the methods which were used by G.E. Katanaev: 1) systematization and study of all literature on the history of the Siberian Cossacks published by that time; 2) work with sources; 3) correspondence with old-timers Cossacks. The authors emphasize that G.E. Katanaev attracted extensive and diverse material for his historical works: archival acts, chronicles, oral traditions, as well as data of archeology, ethnography, linguistics and genealogy. Due to a wide range of sources, the reliability of the information given by him is extremely high. The importance of historical works of G.E. Katanaev undoubtedly increased by the fact that many of the documents that have been used, have not survived. The article notes that G.E. Katanaev introduces his own periodization of the history of the Siberian Cossacks and allocates 5 periods. The criteria of such periodization are significant changes in the plan of the military organization of the Siberian Cossacks, its economic and social status. The main criterion is the nature and specific content of the service of the Siberian Cossacks in a particular period of time. In addition to considering the nature and specific content of the actual service of the Siberian Cossack Army, G.E. Katanaev in his works pays much attention to the origin of the Cossacks as a social and political phenomenon; the etymology of the word "Cossack", the role of the Cossacks in the history of Russian State construction; problems of land management and land relations of the Siberian Cossacks; the economy, culture and life of the Siberian Cossack. Based on the analysis of the scientific heritage of G.E. Katanaev and the identification of his main historical views, the authors come to the following conclusions: - in the historical views of G.E. Katanaev, one should not look for the original existing concept, in his works there is clearly a lack of methodological and professional training as a historian; - the main leitmotif of all published works of G.E. Katanaev was the desire to show loyalty and devotion of the Siberian Cossacks to the government, and the criticism of certain government activities was of a moderate nature and was dictated by the desire to defend the narrow-minded Cossack interests; G.E. Katanaev as a historian in his scientific formation has consistently gone from such simple forms of historical study as the collection of historical materials and their publication to significant conceptual works. In conclusion, the authors emphasize that the unconditional merit of G.E. Katanaev can be considered the introduction into scientific circulation of new complexes of sources and the expansion of the problems of scientific research, that the creative and scientific heritage of G.E. Katanaev remains relevant as an important source in the history of the Siberian Cossacks, and his works have not lost their scientific significance.

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