Yerofey Khabarov facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Yerofey Khabarov Ерофей Хабаров
The monument to Yerofey Khabarov in Khabarovsk
Born	c. 1603 Kotlassky District in Arkhangelsk Oblast
Died	1671 Bratsk or Kirensk in Irkutsk Oblast
Nationality	Tsardom of Russia

Yerofey Pavlovich Khabarov (born around 1603 – died after 1671) was a brave Russian explorer and businessman. He is famous for exploring the Amur River area. He also tried to set up Russian settlements there. His work was part of the Russian-Manchu border conflicts.

Two places are named after him: the big Russian city of Khabarovsk and the small town of Yerofey Pavlovich. This town is on the Trans-Siberian Railway in Amur Oblast.

Khabarov was born near Veliky Ustyug in northern European Russia. He worked for the Stroganov family at their salt factories. In 1625, he sailed from Tobolsk to Mangazeya. Three years later, he explored the Kheta River. In 1630, he sailed back to Tobolsk. From 1632 to 1641, he reached the Lena River. He started a farming village with saltworks there.

Khabarov's First Amur Trip (1649–1650)

In 1649, Yerofey Khabarov became the second Russian to explore the Amur River. The first was Vassili Poyarkov, who explored it from 1643 to 1646. Poyarkov's path was too hard to use regularly. Khabarov tried to find an easier way.

In 1647, a hunter told him about the Olyokma River. Khabarov thought this river might lead to the Amur. In the spring of 1649, Khabarov started his journey. He paid for it himself. He traveled up the Olyokma River, then the Tungir River. He then carried his boats over land to the Shilka River.

He reached the upper Amur area, called Dauria, in early 1650. He found the land almost empty. People had heard about the Cossacks and left. Khabarov found a good route to the Amur. He returned to Yakutsk in May 1650. He told everyone about the rich land. He also warned about possible Chinese involvement. He suggested a bigger trip with trained soldiers.

Khabarov's Second Amur Trip (1650–1653)

News traveled slowly to Moscow. So, the governor of Yakutsk, Dmitry Frantsbekov, decided to act. He sent Khabarov back south with a larger group of men. The governor also gave Khabarov letters from Tsar Alexis of Russia. These letters asked the Daurian Prince Lavkai and "Prince Bogdoi" to join the Russian Tsar. The letters also threatened to send a large army if they refused.

Frantsbekov thought "Prince Bogdoi" was another local leader. But he was actually the Emperor of China.

Facing Resistance and Building a Fort

Khabarov crossed the mountains in the fall of 1650. This time, he met armed resistance. He built a winter camp at Albazin. This was the northernmost point on the Amur River. In June 1651, he received more soldiers. Then, he continued down the Amur. By September, they reached the mouth of the Sungari River.

On September 29, they arrived at Achansk, near today's Khabarovsk. They decided to spend the winter there. On October 8, about 1,000 local people attacked them. Khabarov's group defeated them. The local people then asked their Manchu leaders for help.

Battles and Retreats

On March 24, 1652, a force of 2,000 Manchus and Koreans attacked Achansk. They had cannons. Khabarov somehow managed to defeat them. The Manchu general, Haise, was later punished for losing. Khabarov did not know how many more Chinese soldiers were nearby. So, on April 22, he moved his group back up the Amur River.

At one point, he saw another group of 6,000 Chinese soldiers. But he managed to sneak past them in the fog and darkness. Further upstream, he met 117 Cossacks who were sent to help. He learned from a captured person that a new Manchu army was gathering. On August 1, he reached the mouth of the Zeya River. Here, 136 of his men refused to follow orders. Only 212 men remained loyal.

Challenges and Return to Moscow

Khabarov and his remaining men likely spent the winter at the Zeya River. In the fall of 1653, 150 more soldiers arrived. They were led by Dimitry Zinoviev, a nobleman. Zinoviev demanded to be in charge. Khabarov refused, and Zinoviev had him arrested.

Zinoviev could not get Khabarov's men to support him. He also struggled to deal with the Manchu forces. So, Zinoviev and some of the soldiers left the Amur. Onufriy Stepanov was left in charge of the remaining men.

Khabarov lost his rank and property. He was sent on a long journey to Moscow to face a trial. After a year, he was found innocent. He was given a minor noble rank. He had to return to Siberia. He is mentioned again in 1658. The Siberian Office ordered that he be forced to lead a new trip to the Amur if he refused. After that, he disappears from historical records.

Khabarov drew a map of the Amur River. It was called "Draft of the Amur river" (Russian: Чертёж реки Амур).