Exhibition “Territory of the I and II Don districts of the Don Cossack Host region (16th – early 20th centuries)”

About exhibition

The displayed collections reveal the concepts of “Cossack freedom” and “Cossack glory” through the personalities of heroes — participants in the wars of the 18th to the early 20th centuries — and reflect the participation of the Cossacks in the defense of the territory of the Russian state. Among them are natives of the I and II Don districts of the Don Cossack Host region: I. I. Zhirov and D. I. Zhirov, Ya. P. Baklanov, A. M. Izmaylov, A. D. Martynov, I. E. Yefremov. An important part of the exhibition consists of examples of military uniforms and weaponry: Cossack sabers and shashkas, firearms, and enemy weapons — Turkish yataghans, a shamshir, a French officer’s saber, and an Austrian cutlass. Rare icons, crosses, metal folding icons (skladni), and handwritten books demonstrate the inseparable connection of the Don Cossacks with the Orthodox faith. Special attention is given to sections illustrating the daily life and domestic customs of Don stanitsas and slobodas from the 16th to the early 20th centuries. The exhibition is accompanied by paintings and graphic works, sculptures reflecting the history of the Don region across five centuries, and includes video content.