Stenko Razin— Obscurity of his early History— His Oath of Vengeance against Russia — His Retreat at the Mouth of the laik— Amnesty with Russia — Again Revolts — His Popularity— Attack on Astrakhan— Its Capture— Stenko Razin's ambitious Design — His Stratagem and Successes — Head-quarters of Prince Dolgorouki — Horrible Execution of the Rebels — Stenko betrayed by Yakolof — — His Execution, and extraordinary Firmness — Restoration of Tranquillity.
The very first act of the Russian supremacy over the Cossacks of the Ukraine was by no means of good augury for the future, as we shall prove by a description of the rebellion.
The origin of Stenko Razin, and the manner in which he spent his youthful days, are by no means well known, and seem to be enveloped in mystery. In almost all the books written concerning him he is described as a Don Cossack, but the termination of his surname is purely foreign: still, as neither the place of his birth, nor the name of Cossack Stanitza (commune) to which he belonged, is mentioned, it is possible that either he emigrated with Khmielnitski from Poland to Russia, in his childhood, or joined his Cossacks from more distant regions.