Military-service People of the City of Terki in 1620-1640

Tkhamokova Irina Khasanovna PhD in History Senior Research Associate, Institute of Research in the Humanities, Branch of the Kabardino-Balkaria Scientific Center of the Russian Academy of Sciences 360051, Russia, respublika Kabardino-Balkarskaya, g. Nal'chik, ul. Pushkina, 18 omarakana@mail.ru Other publications by this author

The city of Turki has been repeatedly mentioned in historical works of different periods, from the XIX century to the present ^{[5; 6; 12; 18; 19; 34, c. 20-26]}. Most often it was talked about in connection with certain political events, the social structure of the population is less studied. Military men who performed military service and received the royal salary did not become the subject of special research.  There are articles concerning certain groups ^[13], but not all the military people of the city as a whole. The study of their composition, their numbers, and the peculiarities of their service remains an urgent problem. 1620-1640 is the period when, after the events of the Time of Troubles, the country and the city of Turki moved to peaceful life. During these years, there were no major military conflicts in the North Caucasus, but the city of Turki gradually increased its influence on the peoples of the North Caucasus. The analysis of the role of military people in these events is one of the main objectives of the study.

Another task is to compare the city of Turki with other Russian cities of that time, to identify common features and features. To do this, it is necessary to analyze the information preserved in the sources and then compare them with the corresponding data for other cities.

Most of the sources are documents stored in archives, especially in the Russian State Archive of Ancient Acts. A significant part of them has already been published ^{[2; 3; 8; 15; 32; 34]}, but some materials have never been published and are being introduced into scientific circulation for the first time.  They relate mainly to Russia's relations with the peoples of the Caucasus. The city of Turki often appears in these documents. Although the population census was not conducted during this period, but information about the number of certain population groups, including military people, is often found in them, as well as materials about their military service and crafts.  

The city of Terki was founded in 1588 in the Terek Delta, near the Caspian Sea. It was built to strengthen Russia's position in the Caucasus. To do this, it was necessary to support and protect those rulers of the Caucasus who recognized the tsarist power and obeyed it, and to fight with those who opposed it. Moscow ambassadors told the Georgian tsar that the new city would protect him and his land from all enemies ^{[2, p. 16, 20, 21]}. The Kabardian princes were told that this city was put "for their defense" from Turkey and from the Crimean Khanate ^{[2, p. 18, 46]}. For this, military men were needed, and they had to have a significant number, since the Terek city occupied a separate geographical position. The nearest Russian city to it was Astrakhan, which was a few days away by sea or steppe. In the event of military action, the transfer of additional military forces from there would take considerable time. For this reason, military men made up the main part of the city's inhabitants. At the same time, the village population was, on the contrary, very small. In 1614, it was only 10 people ^{[2, p. 548]}. In quieter times, its number apparently increased, but in any case could not be compared to the number of military men. This was one of the features of the city of Turki, but the feature is not unique. In the XVII century. in many Southern Russian cities, there were few posadsky population, and the cities "along the southernmost defensive line, the Belgorod line, with a few exceptions, did not have a posadsky population at all" ^{[1, p. 238]}. In this respect, the city of Turki was close to the Southern Russian border towns.

Most of the Terek military men were Streltsy. Their numbers varied depending on the political situation. In the "time of troubles" it has significantly decreased. As the Streletsky head Vasily Khokhlov said in Moscow, in 1614 there were only 500 people (together with Kazan "yearlings"), and gunners, collars, etc. – 15 people ^{[2, p. 548]}. Subsequently, their numbers began to increase again. Already in 1615, the tsar ordered 500 archers from Astrakhan to be sent to the Turks ^{[3, vol. 2, p. 404]}.

In 1625, 370 mounted and 445 foot archers and Cossacks served in the Turks, i.e. a total of 815 people. In addition, 500 Astrakhan infantry archers on temporary service were in the Turks. In addition to the Streltsy, the Terek garrison also included 22 gunners, 8 collars, etc.^{[10, vol. 1, stb. 1141]}.

In 1635-1637, according to the tsar's decree, there were supposed to be three Streltsy orders of 500 people each in the city – one mounted and two on foot. That is, in total, there should have been 1,500 Streltsy. In fact, there were significantly fewer of them: 347 mounted archers, and 624 foot archers (together with Cossacks), i.e. a total of 971 people ^{[10, vol. 1, stb. 817; 33, p.122]}. 

A year later, there were even fewer of them – 296 people in the equestrian order and 589 – on foot. But even this is not the final figure. Of these people, many died, died or fled, so 255 people remained in the equestrian order, and 497 in the two on foot, i.e. a total of 752 people – half as many as it should have been. In addition, another 500 Astrakhan archers-"yearlings" also had to serve in the Graters, but there were much fewer of them – only 396 people ^{[8, p. 168]}.

The Terek voivodes repeatedly complained to the tsar that there were not enough Streltsy in the city, and it was impossible to increase their number: "And again, my lord, there is nowhere to clean up the Streltsy on the Grater. And who, my lord, and the old Streltsy, and those are raving about the fact that they need to give them your sovereign's salary of grain reserves for Astarakhan's lack of money for the past years and for the current year for the 146th year..." ^{[8, p. 168]}.

The exact amount of the salary of the Terek Archers is unknown. At the beginning of the XVII century, the Streltsy who served in the fortress of Koysu at the mouth of the Sulak (on the shore of the Caspian Sea) received 6 rubles a year as a monetary salary and oat flour as a bread salary ^{[9, p. 40]}. Approximately the same, apparently, was the salary of the Terek Archers. In the case of participation in military campaigns, Streltsy, like other military men, were entitled to an additional salary ^{[27, d. 1, l. 257]}. But the lack of funds, which the voivodes wrote about, was the main reason why the number of streltsy in the city could not reach the stipulated level.

Among the military people of the city there were other groups, for example, Cossacks. Documents of the XVI-XVII centuries distinguished the Terek Cossacks from the Terek free Cossacks. The first, as can be understood from the sources, lived in the city or in the suburb next to it and obeyed the "heads" of the Streltsy orders. For example, in 1637, the foot archers and the Cossacks had one common "head" – Fadei Volosheninov ^{[33, p.122]}, and they were counted together with the foot archers. Therefore, the exact number of Terek Cossacks is unknown, but there were few of them, they are rarely mentioned in the sources. Terek free Cossacks settled in separate small "towns" under the rule of their own atamans. In 1625, 500 free Terek Cossacks with 30 atamans were listed in the documents, but in 1628 – only 310 Cossacks and 40 atamans, in 1630-1633 – 220, in 1635-36 – 356 Cossacks ^{[10, vol.1. stb. 1141; vol. 2, stb. 87, 286, 351, 741, 817, 920]}.

Another group consisted of "boyar children", who occupied a higher level in the social hierarchy than the Streltsy or Cossacks, and received a higher salary. For example, one of them received 14 rubles a year, as well as 14 pairs of rye and oats ^{[3, vol.3, p. 622]}. In 1625, 35 "boyar children" served in the Turks, and in 1637 – 41^{[10, vol.1. stb. 1141; vol. 2, stb. 817]}.

In addition to Russian military men, residents of the Caucasus also served in the city of Turki – this is another feature of the city associated with its location. In many Russian cities of that time, especially in the Volga region and Siberia, there were many Tatars serving ^{[14; 20, p. 55; 21, p. 18]}. In the Turks, among the military people there were Okochans or Okoks (one of the groups of Vainakhs) ^{[4, p. 163; 12, p. 69-70; 13, p. 163]}, as well as Circassian (Kabardian) princes with their bridles, "Yurt Tatars" and "newly baptized". In 1625, there were a total of 328 of them ^{[10, vol.1, stb. 1141]}.

The "newly Baptized" – mountaineers who converted to Christianity – lived in a settlement near the city. Their exact number is unknown. At the beginning of the XVI century. their salary was 5-6 rubles a year – about the same as that of the Streltsy. Those of them who came to Moscow with their petitioners were given special gifts ^{[2, p. 518, 520]}.

In another settlement, most of the inhabitants were Okochans who were in the royal service, along with their families. Michkizians (another group of Vainakhs) and people from other regions of the North Caucasus also lived there. In 1614, there were 160 okochans (registered in the service).  The same number of them appeared in 1622 ^{[2, p. 554, 558; 33, p. 13, 17-18, 101]}. In 1605-1606, the Okochans received a salary of 4-6 rubles a year ^{[2, p. 518, 557]}. However, later they repeatedly wrote in their petitions to the tsar that their salaries were delayed or not paid in full. Some of them received only 3-4 rubles, while others received nothing at all, although they carried out military service ^{[2, p. 554; 33, p. 118]}.

Circassians (Kabardians) became residents of the third settlement. As a result of princely feuds, the Kabardian Prince Sunchaley was forced to leave his homeland. In 1603, he appealed to the tsar with a petition for permission to live in the city of Turki ^{[2, p. 365]}. Besides him, his uzdeni settled in this settlement – this was the name given in Russian documents to a privileged group of a number of peoples of the North Caucasus. Most of them received, both in 1605-1606 and in 1629, 5 rubles of salary per year, but a few people had it higher. The maximum amount was 12 rubles per year. In addition to money, all of them also received bread wages – rye, flour, cereals, oatmeal ^{[2, p. 518; 8, p. 133-134]}.

In 1615, as a reward for his faithful service, the tsar ordered Sunchalei to be a prince not only over the Circassians, but also over the Okochans who served in the Terek city ^{[33, p. 71-72]}. A year after that, the Okochans appealed to the tsar with a complaint about the oppression of Sunchalei ^{[2, pp. 558-561; 13, pp. 166-167]}. They wanted to free themselves from his power, but to no avail. They had to obey Sunchalei until the end of his life, and then his sons took his place – Sholoh ^{[8, p.107]}, and then Mutsal ^{[33, p. 144]}.

In 1620, the number of Kabardian uzdeny gradually increased. In 1629, Sholokhov had a total of 76 brides who received salaries ^{[8, p. 134]}. By this time, Araslan murza with three sons and uzdeni and Kanshov-murza Bitemryukov with Uzdeni had also moved to Turki from Kabarda ^{[8, p. 104-105]}.

New groups of Okochans, Michkizians, Kumyks, and "Yurt Tatars" also moved to the Turks ^{[8, p. 138]}. In 1621, Okotsky murza Kohostrov Biytemirov and 4 other Okochan families settled in the city ^{[33, p. 97]}.

The increase in the number of "foreigners" caused disagreements between the Terek voivodes and Prince Sholokh in 1620-1630. He sought to increase the population of his settlement, as this increased his influence. The voivodes, however, feared that the new residents would pose a danger to the city, and demanded to send them back. The Kabardian princes, who were at enmity with Sholokhov, even accused him that his bridles of "many Russian robbers" were kidnapped and sold ^{[8, p. 153]}. He, however, denied these accusations ^{[8, p. 158]}.  According to the tsar's decree, it was decided to rewrite the inhabitants of Prince Sholokha's settlement, and those of them who have been living there for a long time, and from whom nothing bad is expected, to leave at the Tersk city, and to expel the newly arriving "unwritten" people ^{[8, p. 107, 141]}. This restrained the growth of the population of Cherkassk and okotskaya slobod.

There is also a tendency to a certain decrease in the number of serving Okochans. As the Terek voivodes complained, many Okochans "pawned" for Prince Mutsal and for Murz, moved to their settlements, stopped doing military service, but continued to receive salaries. According to the tsar's decree, it was decided not to give such salaries to such workers ^{[33, p. 146]}. In 1640, there were 27 households of "backyard okochans" in Prince Mutsal's settlement, i.e., apparently, those who refused military service ^{[8, pp. 195-196]}.

By 1637, there were a total of 350 people who received salaries in the Terek city of "Novokreschenov, and Uzden, and Yurt Tatars, and Okotsky people", i.e. 22 more than in 1625. In addition, many people who did not receive the royal salary and did not serve "Cherkas, and Okochan" lived in the settlements., and Tatars, and Michkizyan, and Shibutyan, brothers and children" – a total of 680 people ^{[33, p. 122]}.

The Terek military men carried out their service together, but at the same time individual groups maintained their isolation. The Cossacks lived in their own village, the "newly Baptized" – in their own, most of the Okochans - in their own. Kabardian Uzdeni lived in Cherkassk sloboda under the rule of their princes, but this sloboda was distinguished by a more complex social and ethnic composition. Near the uzdeni settled "backyard Circassians" who refused to serve the Okochans, as well as "Tatars" and Persian merchants – "teziki" None of them, apparently, did not serve. They were engaged in agriculture, crafts, fishing ^{[8, p. 192-197]}.

The main occupation of the Terek military men was military service. Okochans and Kabardian uzdeni, together with Streltsy and "boyar children", with "New Baptists", as well as with Terek and Grebensky atamans and Cossacks, took part in military operations not only in the North Caucasus, but also beyond its borders. In 1633, they were participants in a campaign against Maly Nogai ^{[16, p. 219; 33, p. 117, 140]}. In 1646, Terek military men with Prince Mutsal at their head fought against the Crimean army near Azov and contributed to the victory of the Russian troops ^{[29, l. 145; 8, p. 273-276; 16, p. 380; 33, p. 148, 150]}.

Hikes to the regions adjacent to the Turks were much more frequent. Sometimes the Terek military men did not even need to join the battle. Their presence alone was enough to decide the outcome of the conflict. In 1634, Prince Sholokh, together with the "boyar children", Streltsy, Okochans, as well as Terek and Grebensky Cossacks, went to Dagestan to help Ildar-Shamkhal in the fight against Sultan Mahmud ^{[32, p. 120]}. Upon learning of their approach, Sultan Mahmud retreated to the mountains.

In 1648, the "Uvarian people", i.e. Avars, tried to settle on Sunzha, too close to the towns of the Grebensky Cossacks. They complained to the Tersk voivode, he sent Streltsy. As a result of negotiations, the settlers were forced to leave their town, after which it was destroyed, and the mown hay was burned ^{[30, l. 93-98]}.

But sometimes there were much more serious military clashes. In 1641, the Terek military men intervened in the feuds of the Kabardian princes. This campaign was attended by "boyar children", mounted archers, "novokreschen" and Okochans. In the battle of Malka, the Streltsy "head" Artemy Shishmarev died, and many of his men were killed or captured ^{[6, pp. 203-205]}.

The inhabitants of Terok had to defend their hometown. For example, in 1644, large forces of Kalmyks and Nogais approached him and "attacked the Zarechny settlements with a violent attack."  However, the Terek military men managed to defend both the city and the settlements ^{[27, d. 1, l. 81; 28, l. 110]}. To protect against such invasions, military men (both Streltsy and Okochans) had to build and maintain the fortifications of the city and the prisons in a state of combat capability: they dug ditches, erected walls, etc.^{[2, p.554; 8, 160, 168]}

Military men also stood "at the outposts" to prevent the sudden appearance of enemies at the walls of the city. For example, in 1635 one of the Kabardian Uzden was together with Russian soldiers in the steppe at the outpost from the Nogais ^{[23, l. 59]}.  There were also outposts at river crossings, for example, at the Kizlyar and Sunzhensky transports ^{[24, l. 2; 27, d. 5, l. 520; 32, p. 153]}. Sometimes even special fortifications were built in such places. These outposts protected those who crossed the river from attacks and at the same time collected transportation duties from merchants in favor of the tsar ^{[8, p. 160-161]}.

Travelers could be attacked by both "Kumyk thieves' people" and "thieves' Cossacks" ^{[26, l. 306; 31, l. 17-18]}. Military men were sent in pursuit of robbers or to Cossack villages to return the loot and bring the perpetrators of the crime to the Turks ^{[25, l. 214-218]}. That is, in addition to military campaigns, Streltsy, boyar children, uzdeni, "newly baptized" were engaged in policing and not only in the city of Turki, but also at a considerable distance from it. Terek service men even stood in Kabarda on the lands of some Kabardian princes – they protected their people from enemies during plowing and harvesting ^{[27, D. 5, L. 612]}.

Streltsy, Cossacks, "boyar children", Okochans, Uzdeni and "novokreschen" accompanied Moscow ambassadors during trips to Georgia and back, and Georgian ambassadors – to Turks and to Moscow ^{[7, p. 141; 15, c. 47, 101, 233, 246, 251, 344; 33, p. 122]}. Sometimes hundreds of military men gathered for this purpose, who were supposed to protect the ambassadors from possible attacks. Persian ambassadors or Moscow ambassadors were escorted to Persia and back in a similar way, but in these cases armed detachments usually had a smaller number ^{[3, vol. 3, p. 646]}.

When Georgian ambassadors arrived in Turki, an honor guard was waiting for them there: "there were foot archers with a gun from the Bridge Gate to the Embassy Yard" ^{[7, p. 250]}. The ambassadors of the Persian Shah were met in the same way ^{[3, vol. 3, p. 561]}. "Boyar's children" and Streltsy guarded the rulers of Dagestan and Kabarda when they came to Turki to take the oath to the tsar: "for protection and on guard, they ordered the centurion of Streletsky to stand with Streltsy" ^{[8, p.227; 32, p. 147]}.

"Boyar children" and Streltsy also delivered letters from Moscow ambassadors from Georgia and Persia to Turks, and letters from Turks to Georgia or Persia ^{[3, vol. 3, pp. 442, 569, 627; 15, pp. 337, 417]}. They also "newly baptized" took the letters of the Terek voivodes and petitions of the Terek inhabitants to Moscow, and the royal letters – to the Turks ^{[3, vol. 3, p. 646, 15, p. 145, 217; 32, c. 84, 138, 156, 159; 33, c. 120, 136]}. Terek military men handed over to the rulers of the peoples of the North Caucasus letters and oral messages of the Terek voivodes, as well as the royal salary ^{[15, p. 219, 233, 235; 8, c. 155, 158, 167, 187, 202, 207, 220, 221; 32, c. 97, 118, 140, 146, 147, 151]}. But their role was not limited to the delivery of mail. At the same time, they had to collect information about neighboring countries and peoples. They were sent "to see all sorts of news" to Dagestan, to Kabarda ^{[8, c, 165-166; 15, c. 219, 231, 238; 33, c. 120]} and even to Persia – "to the Shah's land for news" ^{[8, c. 151]}.

Military men of high rank – "heads", Sagittarius centurions or "boyar children" – also carried out more responsible orders of the voivodes. For example, they negotiated with the rulers or representatives of the communities of the North Caucasus, persuading them to recognize the authority of the tsar. If successful, they came to the Turks to take the oath, or did it in their land in the presence of the same military people. In 1633, the "son of a boyar" Vasily Nadobnoy took an oath from the Kaitag utsmiya to be under the "royal high hand in the age-old servitude" ^{[32, p. 124-126]}.

In 1647, the Michkizians "swore to the whole Michkiz land" (36 villages) on the Koran before the centurion of Streletsky Grigory Cherkasheninov to be with the tsar "in direct servitude, forever persistent" ^{[33, p. 163-166]}. In the same year, a similar oath was taken by the Shibut "initial people" (3 villages) before Tonzhekhan murza Araslanov, who served in the Turks, and before the Cossack ataman ^{[33, p. 166-167]}.

In 1645, on the occasion of Alexei Mikhailovich's accession to the throne, all his subjects, including residents of the North Caucasus, had to give him an oath of allegiance. Those of them who could not come to the city of Turki "shoved" in their lands or in the neighborhood with them in the presence of Terek military men who occupied a high position in the social hierarchy. In Kabarda, these were the Streltsy "heads" Ivan Kokoshkin and Boris Malygin. Surkai-shamkhal stood before Prince Mutsal and the same Boris Malygin, and other rulers of Dagestan – before the "boyar children" Ignatius Prokhorov and Fyodor Borisov ^{[8, pp. 266-269]}. Military men thus played an important role not only in military conflicts, but also in political events in the North Caucasus, and in diplomatic relations with neighboring countries.

Streltsy, "boyar children", Okochans, Kabardian uzden, besides the service, were also engaged in various crafts. Among them are fishing, hunting, logging, as well as trade ^{[22, l. 10; 26, l. 67, 69]}. There is a mention, for example, that one of Prince Sholokhov's bridles went "to gulba for a beast" ^{[8, p. 192]}. Fishing was a more important occupation. On the island of Chechnya in the Caspian Sea, not far from the Turks, the Terek people fished ^{[11, pp. 33-34]}. Not only Russian residents, but also Okochans, Kabardians, and "Tatars" were actively engaged in fishing. There is evidence of Olearium about fishermen from the Terek "Cherkassy Tatars" who fished beluga in the Caspian Sea on 20 boats ^{[17, pp. 421-422]}. Another source mentions the "Tatars" who lived in Cherkassk sloboda, who were engaged in fishing ^{[8, p. 196-197]}. Kabardian Murzas, who lived in the Turks, appealed to the tsar with a petition for permission to fish in the channels of the Terek together with "urban with Terek Russian people" ^{[8, p. 169]}.

If hunting and fishing were a common occupation of several groups of the city's population, then not all military people had the same opportunities for the development of agriculture. The Streltsy of the Tersk city (as well as other cities of the Astrakhan Region) did not have land plots ^{[6, p. 58]}, unlike many Russian cities. There were no Russian peasants in the Caucasus at that time either. It is known for sure that the "boyar children" in Turki did not have their own estates, as this group did not have them in Astrakhan and in neighboring cities ^{[3, vol.3, p. 622; 6, p. 54]}. In most Russian cities, such estates were relied on by this group. 

But the Okochans and Kabardins who lived in the city of Terki were engaged in agriculture, as sources mention repeatedly. For example, the Okochans themselves wrote about this in their petitions to the tsar ^{[2, p. 555]}. During the period of agricultural work, many Circassians and Okochans from Tersk settlements were "on arable land" ^{[8, p. 192-197]}.  Sources also report gardens, of which there were many near the Grates ^{[11, p. 33; 34, p. 128]}, but it is not entirely clear who they belonged to.

The occupation of cattle breeding is evidenced by the mention of hay mowing ^{[2, p. 561; 8, p. 255-256]}. Many military men (mounted archers, "boyar children", Kabardian princes and their bridles, Okochans) fought on horseback and had to take care of their horses. Some residents of Cherkassk sloboda, both Kabardins and "Tatars", were "with horses in flocks" or simply "in flocks" during the census ^{[8, p. 194-197]}. There are references in the documents to the breeding of cattle, sheep and chickens by the Okochans who lived at the Tersk city ^{[2, p. 560; 33, p. 118-119]}. The Terek and Grebensky Cossacks were also engaged in cattle breeding.

Forestry is another important occupation of the residents of the city ^{[26, l. 69; 33, p. 163]}. Firewood for heating was harvested in the forest, both residential houses and fortifications of the Tersk city were built from logs. Another trade of local residents was the harvesting of madder root, which was started by immigrants from Persia who came to Turki and sent whole ships loaded with this commodity to their homeland ^{[8, p. 139]}.

Terek artisans are very rarely mentioned. Among them are blacksmiths (one of them is named among the serving people of the city), as well as carpenters. A blacksmith also lived in Prince Sholokha's settlement, but he apparently did not belong to the number of military men ^{[2, pp. 290-291; 10, vol. 1, stb. 1141; 8, pp. 100, 160, 194; 33, p. 84]}. Among the inhabitants of the same settlement were "silver master" and "bread maker" ^{[8, p. 193, 195]}. This latter was a native of Persia. However, they, apparently, were not men-at-arms either. Many residents of Cherkassk sloboda did not serve. They were more or less dependent on the Kabardian princes and, as far as is known, did not pay any taxes to the state, which distinguished them from the Posadsky people, among whom they were not included.

Trade in Turki began from the first years of the city's existence, although initially trade turnover was insignificant. Nevertheless, residents of Dagestan, Georgia, and Persia came to the city to trade ^{[2, p. 79, 418, 419; 3, vol. 1, p. 279; vol. 3, p. 633]}. Terok residents were also engaged in trade. Some streltsy and gunners sold "at the Tatar bazaar" things "from the sovereign's treasury" (apparently on behalf of the voivodes). These were skins, furs, copper dishes, clothes and even a "fish tooth".  The buyers were often also Streltsy, gunners, centurions, "boyar children", but also "Tatars", merchants from Persia ("teziki") ^{[33, pp. 85, 86, 90]}. But the trade of the Terek military men was not limited to this. They could buy and sell goods outside their city as well. Terek archers and gunners went to trade in Derbent and even in Shamakhi. In 1632, on the plough alone, they carried goods from Shamakhi for more than 1,000 rubles. However, due to bad weather, they had to land on the shore, where they were robbed and almost all killed ^{[32, p. 105, 114]}. Participation in trade with neighboring countries is also one of the features of the Terek city, a consequence of its geographical location.

Kabardian princes who lived in Turki were also engaged in trade, or rather, their people. According to the tsarist decrees, Sholokh and Mutsal Cherkassky, as well as Tatarkhan and Tonzhekhan Araslanov had significant benefits in the payment of customs duties both in Turki and in Astrakhan ^{[8, p. 142, 280-281]}.

As the study showed, military people with their families made up the majority of residents of the city of Turki. The town's population was extremely small – this is one of the features of the city. The largest group of Terek military men were the Streltsy. According to the royal decrees, two orders of foot and one order of mounted archers of 500 men each were to serve in the city. In addition, Astrakhan Streltsy were supposed to be in the city – also in the number of 500 people. The total number of all Streltsy was supposed to be 2,000 people, but in fact there were significantly fewer of them. The main reason for their insufficient number was, according to the voivodes, delays in the payment of salaries. There were few Cossacks in the Graters. Another group of military men – "boyar children" – had a very small number – 35-40 people. Groups like the Gunners or the Collars were even smaller. One of the features of the Tersk city was that the Streltsy who served here did not have land plots, and the "boyar children" did not have estates, unlike many other cities in Russia. They had to be content with only a salary – money and "bread".

Another distinctive feature of the city was the complex ethnic composition of the military people, among whom the peoples of the North Caucasus were represented – Okochans, Kabardins and others. They lived in special settlements and obeyed Kabardian princes who served in the Turks. Their number was not very large – up to 350 people who were on duty and received salaries.

During the hostilities, different groups of military men acted together. Detachments were created that united the Streltsy, the "boyar children", the Okochans, the Kabardian Uzden, and the "Novokreschen". They were sent both to various regions of the North Caucasus and beyond. They could also take part in accompanying ambassadors to Georgia or Persia. Both the Streltsy and the "boyar children", and the Okochans or the "newly baptized" delivered letters to the ambassadors to Georgia and Persia (and back), as well as letters from the Turks to Moscow, and from Moscow to the Turks. Written or oral messages of the voivodes were transmitted by the military people to the rulers of the surrounding peoples. Simultaneously with the delivery of mail, they collected information about events taking place in neighboring regions. Military men could participate in negotiations with the peoples of the North Caucasus and took an oath of allegiance to the tsar from them. Such an important role of the Terek military people in political and diplomatic events is the result of the border position of the city and its special importance in interethnic and interstate relations. The geographical location of the city of Terki also influenced the economic activities of local residents – the development of fishing, the existence of unusual crafts for Russian cities (such as collecting madder root), the role of border trade.