Reaction of the slobidsky cossacks to sociocultural changes of the middle of the 18th century

Slobidsky Cossacks, like Cossacks of Steppe Ukraine, suffered in the middle of the XVIII century significant changes in their life. In 1765 regimental system of Slobozhanshchina was abolished, the Cossacks moved to the category of military inhabitants (voyskovye obyvately) and petty Cossack officers actually received noble status. The case with the convening after two years the Legislative gave to Cossacks-obevately platform for expressing reactions to the changes and their needs - mainly when they had prepared orders (nakazy) to the Commission. Therefore, a set of documents relating to representation of Slobozhanshchina in the Commission is an important source that demonstrates the perception of social and cultural changes of Slobidsky Cossacks. As it looks from the text of the orders to the Commission, the former Cossacks population of Slobidsky regiments responded to the changes in his life to the abolition of the regimental system and the Cossack life quite calmly. Cossack past considered purely utilitarian - as a source of existence of special rights and privileges, and it was not given any independent «metaphysical» content. Texts of orders show us the lack of a shared vision on the past by Cossack officers and obyvateli. Not all orders shown the desire to return to the old order, instead, we rather see discontent of distortions of the new system and proposals for its improvement. So, it seems that the Cossackdom by Slobidsky people perceived as entirely passed stage – it even was not mentioned in all the orders, and if it was mentioned, so only to explain the origin of privileges. Perhaps the reason for this «neglect» to the past was that the new system in the province was satisfactory to the public - and therefore we do not see any significant nostalgia for the old Cossack system. The petty officers efforts was directed to obtaining formal noble title and full integration with the all-imperial order. Obyvateli too, judging by the orders, rather painless accept with the new status, showed almost no desire to return to the old order, and only wish more comfortable to attach to the new.