NO.13 in later editions. The term ‘Cossack’ was originally applied to the Tartar raiders who roamed the Southern Plain, the word coming from the Turko-Tartar, meaning at first ‘free adventurer’. These strong, free Cossack communities were seen as a threat to the Tsar until, in 1671, they were obliged to swear fealty. From that date onwards Cossacks served in all of Russia’s wars. The Cossacks eventually developed their own military structure with rank titles, uniforms and equipment all of which are detailed in in this volume
