The cossacks in history of Russian-Chinese relations (XVII - 1920)

The article is an attempt to describe the role of the Cossacks in the history of the Russian-Chinese relations. The Cossacks played a special role in the history of Russian-Chinese relations in the diplomatic, spiritual and commercial areas. Relations between the Russian and Chinese peoples have begun in 1582, when Don Cossack Ermak Timofeevich undertook an expedition to Siberia. To find the way to China, Russian tsars and emperors began to send forth embassies and different missions to China. The Cossacks were the main members of these missions and embassies. The first such mission was composed of Tomsk Cossacks. In 1618, during the reign of Mikhail Fedorovich first state Russian Embassy, headed by Tomsk Cossack Ivan Petlin was sent from Tobolsk to Beijing. In 1641-1642 Tatar equestrian Cossack Yemelyan Vershinin with trade caravans visited China. Since the settlement of Albazin Cossacks in Beijing intensive diplomatic and trade relations between the two countries began. In XVIII-XIX centuries Cossacks not only participated in the wars in Siberia, but also in the conclusion of a number of treaties. After the defeat in the civil war in Russia in the XX century Siberian Cossacks fled to China. Among the Russian emigrants in Harbin and other cities of China there were also many descendants of the Cossacks.