NATIVES OF THE BELARUSIAN LANDS SERVING IN SIBERIA IN THE XVII CENTURY
The paper deals with causes and pattern of migration of Belarusians to Siberia, their participation in accession and colonization of the region. It is shown that the main inﬂ ux of Belorusians to Siberia in the XVII century was caused by the wars between Russia and Poland. Russian authorities in order to enlarge the military contingent beyond the Urals used military experts recruited from the prisoners of war and voluntary re-settlers from Belarusian lands. Among those who entered military service and held command positions preference was given to the well-born and belonging to the Orthodox Church. Natives of “Belaya Rus”, with combat experience were appointed by Moscow to command and ordinary assignments and sent to Siberia and other garrisons. It was found out that the service activities of the Belarusian “szlachta” P. Arshinsky, S. Kruglik and their descendants holding high positions in the Siberian “army” involved a wide range of responsibilities and critical assignments. These included participation in military campaigns, expeditions, embassies, various investigative and ﬁscal actions. Rank and ﬁ le Belarusians were in foot troops and cavalry Cossack service, along with Russian soldiers collected tribute, erected strongholds, defended borders of the new Russian possessions. Along with military service Belarusians were actively involved in agricultural development of the region, had a signiﬁcant amount of farmland and livestock. In their farms they used waged and bonded labor which products were sold at the local markets. Incorporation of Belarusians into the Siberian society was facilitated by the similarity between the Belarusian and Siberian frontiers as well as by their inhabitants' cultural, religious and linguistic nearness. It is noted that as opposed to other descendants from the Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth, integration of Belarusians in the Siberian society was more rapid and less painful.