THE INITIAL STAGE OF THE FORMATION OF THE BLACK SEA ARMY IN THE BUGO-DNISTROV MEASURE

Abstract

The need for mobile fearless units that could oppose the Ottoman army in the last quarter of the 18th century contributed to the formation of an irregular formation from former Zaporizhia, which was later called the Black Sea Army. The army created for participation in the Russian-Turkish war of 1787–1791 left a noticeable mark in the history of the southern Ukrainian region, both in its military and socio-economic history. This article, written on the basis of the analysis of unpublished and published documents by I. Dmytrenko, P. Korolenko and other researchers of the State Archives of the Krasnodar Territory, highlights the process of gathering former Zaporizhia by volunteers from across the Danube and various corners of the Ochakiv Steppe. The author drew attention to the problems that arose during the formation of the army and the benefits that were "generous" to Catherine II.