Pyotr Beketov facts for kids
Pyotr Beketov (Russian: Пётр Иванович Бекетов, born around 1600 – died around 1661) was a brave Cossack explorer. He traveled across Siberia and started many important settlements. Some of these places grew into big cities we know today, like Yakutsk, Chita, and Nerchinsk.
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Early Life and First Journeys
Pyotr Beketov began his military career in 1624. He was a guardsman, also known as a strelets. In 1627, he was sent to the vast lands of Siberia.
He became a leader, or voevoda, in a place called Enisei. His first big trip was to collect taxes from the Buryats people in Zabaykalye. He did his job well. Beketov was the first Russian to explore Buryatia. He also founded the first Russian settlement there, called Rybinsky Ostrog. An ostrog was a type of wooden fort.
Founding Yakutsk
In 1631, Beketov was sent to the mighty Lena River. The next year, in 1632, he and his Cossacks founded the city of Yakutsk. This new fort became a very important base. From Yakutsk, other explorers could travel even further east.
Beketov sent his Cossacks to explore new areas. They went along the Aldan River and further down the Lena River. Their goals were to build new forts and collect taxes from the local people.
Return to Moscow and New Expeditions
In 1640, Beketov traveled all the way to Moscow. He brought the collected taxes with him. When he arrived, he was given a new role. He became a commander for both the strelets and the Cossacks.
In 1641, Beketov returned to Enisei Ostrog. He was now in charge of the fort there.
In 1652, he started his second trip to Buryatia to collect taxes. The next year, in 1653, Beketov's Cossacks built another fort. They named it Irgensky Ostrog. They also built a winter camp on the bank of the Ingoda River. This camp later became the city of Chita.
Later Explorations and Legacy
In 1654, Beketov's Cossacks founded the settlement that would become Nerchinsk. This showed how much they explored and settled new lands.
In 1655, Beketov's Cossacks faced a challenge. They were in Shilkinsky Ostrog and were surrounded by rebellious Buryats. After making peace with the local people, they were able to leave the fort. They then traveled towards the Amur River.
Beketov returned to Tobolsk in 1661. He met a famous religious leader named Protopope Avvakum there. Pyotr Beketov likely passed away in the same year, 1661. His work helped Russia expand and settle new territories in Siberia.
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