COSSACKS’ LANDHOLDING (XIX - BEGINNING OF XX CENTURIES)

Abstract

The main type of land the ownership in the first stage of colonization of the Caucasian Line was free of the plots of the lands Such land was called "native lands" They created the preconditions for the formation of the Cossacks’ community In the early nineteenth century the land unsurveying was started In the postreform period, the transformation of estate in land was begun. The government, the main owner of the land, handed over the using of different parts of it to it’s army for free. The army passed the land down to Stanitca societies. Those, in turn, distributed the plots between the Cossacks, depending on the employment position. Granting the Cossacks land was seen as compensation for the service. The Cossack officers and civil servants received the retirement money lands after the separation from service in favour of hereditary possession. According to the decision of the village stakeholders, the Cossacks could lease public lands.