The advancement of the Russian-American company in the southern direction, which became in the 1800s. strategic task, needed legitimization and support from the Russian government. The RAC itself did not have enough strength to succeed in such an expansion. Baranov appeals to the main board of the RAC and the head of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, NP Rumyantsev, with a request to take this situation into account and, warning foreign colonization, at least "show the view." It was about the occupation of the coast of New Albion by the Russian Empire, i.e. Oregon and Northern California. Rezanov dreamed about it. Such a step, combined with scaring off the "Bostonians" and opening trade with Canton and Spanish California, according to Baranov, should have ensured the prosperity of the RAC
Baranov sent a corresponding report to Rumyantsev on July 1, 1808, and the main board of the RAC on November 5, 1809 presented reports to Emperor Alexander I and N. P. Rumyantsev, on the basis of which the latter prepared a report to the tsar. In the report, Kuskov's expedition was motivated by Baranov's desire to get ahead of the Americans, who were planning to establish a settlement on the river. Colombia, and the company's fishing activity in California was disguised by an order for Kuskov to "exchange expensive furs from the wilds there." That is, the tsar was, as it were, confronted with the fait accompli of the creation of a temporary Russian settlement in New Albion, in need of state protection, especially from the intrigues of the Americans. Baranov reported that due to the small number of the contingent, the company could not arrange a solid colony and create a fortress. He proposed to create a state-owned settlement so that it would be under the protection of the state. On December 1, 1809, Rumyantsev informed the RAC about the decision of Alexander I, who "refusing in the present case to produce a settlement from the treasury in Albion, gives the Board the freedom to establish it on its own, encouraging in any case with his royal intercession." Thus, the "highest" permission for the beginning of the Russian colonization of New Albion was obtained, but the tsar retained the freedom of diplomatic maneuver.
New expeditions of Kuskov and the foundation of the fort
Until the decision of Petersburg, Baranov refrained from new expeditions to New Albion. Only at the beginning of 1811 Baranov sent the 2nd expedition headed by Kuskov to California on the ship "Chirikov". The expedition was associated with the threat of American colonization of the river. Colombia. Baranov considered the expansion of the United States from this bridgehead along the entire coast between the Russian and Spanish possessions as the most likely prospect. The general goal of the expedition was, as during the previous Kuskovo expedition, fishing on the shores of New Albion and studying this region with "especially careful attention and remarks to the future arrangement, if the government allowed settling there." Baranov had not yet received formal government approval for the establishment of the colony and was forced to limit the goals of the expedition only to fishing and even more thorough reconnaissance.
The expedition leader was required to thoroughly study the site of possible colonization, as well as "and all the surrounding … coastal places" from Bodega and Drake Bay to Cape Mendocino and Trinidad, "also inland, as far as possible", including inspection and description of the "situation", forests, rivers, lakes and lands. The entire coast to the south of Mendocino had to be explored in detail by kayaks, combining with fishing, and above all bays and bays: "will not there be convenient and safe anchorage and fishing spots." In the "port of Rumyantsev", so Baranov, in honor of the patron saint of the RAC, decided to name the most convenient parking place in Bodega Bay (the so-called "Small Bodego"), the head of Russian America ordered to build an earthen fortification - a "small redoubt" expedition and serve as protection against possible attacks by the natives or the Spaniards. At the parking lot Kuskov was supposed to start agricultural activities. The possibility of contacts with the Spaniards on the subject of trade was expressed.
In February 1811 the expedition came to Bodega. Kuskov sent 22 kayaks to San Francisco Bay. There they met T. Tarakanov's party and a party under the supervision of Losev, who were engaged in fishing. The total number of kayaks in the bay reached almost 140. Fishing here was successful, and on July 28 Kuskov returned to Novo-Arkhangelsk.
There is no exact information, but Fort Ross was founded by the 3rd or 4th expedition of Kuskov - in February - March 1812. Having received the long-awaited message from Petersburg, Baranov immediately sent a new expedition to found a colony. 25 Russian artisans and about 80-90 Aleuts went with Kuskov. Kuskov decided to found a colony 15 versts above the Slavyanka River. The construction of the walls began on March 15, 1812. It was difficult to build, despite the fact that the forest was very close, but it was difficult to carry the logs by hand. Some of the settlers chopped wood and built walls, others dragged trees from the forest. By the end of August, the site of the fortress was surrounded by walls, and 2 two-storey bastions were erected on two opposite corners, in which they originally lived.
The walls of the fort looked solid and imposing, had a height of 3.5 meters and were built of heavy thick blocks about 20 cm thick. The layout of Fort Ross was in many ways reminiscent of the wooden forts erected by Russian pioneers in Siberia. The walls of the fort and most of the buildings located inside it were made of redwoods. Two somewhat protruding towers made it possible to observe the approaches to all four walls of the fort. For the defense of the settlement, 12 cannons were installed. On August 30, 1812, “the day was set for raising the flag to the fortress - for this, in the middle, a mast with a topmast was made, dug into the ground. After reading the usual prayers, the flag is raised with cannon and rifle fire. " The fortress was named Ross - "according to the drawn lot, laid in front of the icon of the Savior." Thus, the idea of a Russian California began to come true.
Relationship with Indians
For a settlement founded so far from the rest of the Russian colonies, relations with neighbors were of particular importance. Ross's safety was largely determined by relations with the Indians and Spaniards. Peace and alliance with the Indians was a guarantee of security not only for the settlement, but also a serious factor in interstate relations, as it allowed Russia to gain a foothold in this region. The company simply did not have a significant number of people to forcefully establish new lands for itself. The version of the Russian side here was as follows: the Russians colonize lands not occupied by other powers, with the consent of the local population, who voluntarily ceded land to them for a colony, and the natives are not only independent from Spain, but also at enmity with the Spaniards. In general, this version corresponded to the real state of affairs. Therefore, in his instructions, Baranov constantly noted the need to win over the Californian natives to the Russians.
The Indians with whom the Russian colonists maintained regular contact belonged to three ethnic communities. The immediate neighbors of the Russian fortress were kashaya (southwestern pomos), who lived in the coastal region approximately between the mouths of the river. Russian (Slavyanka) and Gualala. To the east of Ross, in the valley of the river. Russian, lived southern pomos, and in the south, near Bodega Bay, there were coastal mivoks. Occasionally the Russians had contacts, apparently, with the central pomo, inhabiting the north of Kashaya and the southern pomo. The local inhabitants looked much more peaceful and weaker armed, as well as smaller in number than the warlike and numerous tribes belonging to the economic and cultural type of the northwest coast. This became one of the factors that determined the location of the choice of the settlement.
According to the testimony of the Indians themselves (apparently, coastal mivoks), recorded by the Franciscan M. Payeras from the Christianized Indians, the Russians bought a place for a settlement, giving the leader 3 blankets, 3 pairs of trousers, beads, 2 axes and 3 hoes as payment. Thus, the settlement was built with the permission of the local natives.
In Ross, on September 22, 1817, LA Gagemeister officially met with the surrounding Indian leaders, recorded by a special act (preserved in a copy), which was signed by Gagemeister, Kuskov, Khlebnikov and a number of officials from Kutuzov. The meeting was attended by "the chiefs of the Indians Chu-gu-an, Amat-tan, Gem-le-le with others." The conversation was conducted through an interpreter. Gagemeister on behalf of the RAC brought gratitude to the leaders "for the concession of land to the Company for the fortress, dispensations and institutions." Chu-gu-an and Amat-tan replied, "that they are very pleased with the Russians taking this place," ensuring their safety. Gifts were made to the guests, and Chu-gu-an, who was called the "main" toy, was awarded the silver medal "Allied Russia". He was told that the medal “gives him the right to the respect of the Russians … and imposes on him the duty of affection and assistance, if the case so requires; to which both he and others announced their readiness … ".
Thus, the legality of the Russians' stay in California, the cession of land for settlement was confirmed. The Indians expressed loyalty to the Russians and satisfaction with the nature of the relationship. The document had diplomatic significance, being an argument in a dispute with Spain. The Spaniards could make sure that, despite their protest, the RAC owned Ross "legally" and did not offend the Indians.
It should be noted that there is no reason to doubt the veracity of this information. The local residents were really interested in the presence of the Russians and sought their alliance and patronage; they were generally friendly towards the newcomers from the north. If on the northwestern coast, contacts of the indigenous population with foreigners (in particular, with the Americans, who supplied the Indians with weapons) created a constant source of concern for the RAC, then, on the contrary, the Spanish colonization, which threatened the help and coastal Miwok, gave the Russians allies in their person. At the beginning of the XIX century. Spanish missions have already been "hunting" Indians in the territories north of the San Francisco Bay. And the Indians hoped that the Russians would protect them from the Spaniards. This is especially true of the coastal mivoks, the primary victims of the Spanish raids.
As a result, friendly relations with the Indians were a strategic advantage for the Russians in California. This is confirmed by many sources, in particular the notes of the officers of the sloop "Kamchatka" who visited Bodega in September 1818. In a conversation with Matyushkin, Kuskov, complaining about the Spaniards, said that "the only attachment of the wild to the Russians and hatred of the Spaniards support him." Matyushkin, apparently from the words of Kuskov, reports that during the Spanish raids to the Big Bodega "all Indian tribes run under the cannons of Ross or to the town of Rumyantsev." In 1817, the Spaniards did indeed raid the Bodega area, and when “a multitude of people” gathered at Ross, asking for protection, Kuskov “persuaded them to sit down in the forests and gorges of the mountains and then accidentally attack the Spaniards. The wild ones obeyed him and settled in the forest, which is visible … to the side of the Big Bodega. But the Spaniards, having learned this, abandoned their pursuit."
The leader of the coastal Miwok Valennila who visited Kamchatka, according to the captain of the ship V. M. Golovkin, in a conversation with him "wished that more Russians settled between them, so that they could protect the inhabitants from the oppression of the Spaniards." In 1824, imprisoned in the fortress of San Francisco, the leader of the Indians Pomponio (soon shot by the Spaniards) said to DI Zavalishin: “After all, we know that you came to take this land from the accursed Spaniards and free the poor Indians! The Indian will be fine then! " Pomponio, a fugitive from the San Francisco mission, was a native of the San Rafael area, that is, he belonged to the coastal Miwok. Therefore, it is not surprising that he pinned his hopes on the Russians.
Thus, in general, the Russians and the Indians got along with each other. Moreover, the Indians distinguished the Russians in comparison with the Spaniards. The Russians did not use a policy of violence and plunder against the aborigines, including the seizure of land and other resources.
However, this relationship should not be idealized. In the history of Russian California, even in the conditions of predominantly peaceful, good-neighborly relations with the Indians, there were separate private conflicts. In particular, there were cases of killing of Aleuts-Kodiakis by Indians, as well as theft of horses and other livestock. The perpetrators were usually arrested and punished with forced labor in the colony. In addition, Indian prisoners were sent to Novo-Arkhangelsk, where they worked for the RAC.
Also, the hopes of the Indians for an alliance with the Russians against the Spaniards did not come true. The presence of the Russians held back the Spaniards - they did not dare to make raids north of Bodega and even more so north of Ross, which became a kind of shield that protected Kashaya and all Indians north from Spanish colonization. However, the RAC did not want to conflict with the Spaniards, for this there was neither the strength nor the desire. The company sought to maintain peace with all its neighbors, and in specific situations preferred to maintain relations with the Spaniards. In particular, both the Russians (although not willingly) and the Spaniards mutually betrayed the fugitives. Therefore, relations with the Indians never became a military alliance.
In general, due to the weakness of the RAC in America and the lack of a strategy for the development of new lands in St. Petersburg, the administration of Fort Ross did not consider the Indians to be Russian subjects and did not expand the sphere of influence, although this could be done by taking advantage of the friendly relations of local residents. The leadership of the RAC gave instructions to be careful, to keep a distance from the natives, not to involve them in the “Russian field”.
Chief ruler M. I. Muravyov, in prescribing to K. Schmidt, he wrote: “The Indians are not Russian subjects, then we should not take them into our care, now is not the time to think about their education, and not badly without being forced to use their works, so that, without inviting reproach myself for violence, and benefit from it for the Company. " Thus, the "Rules" of 1821 prohibited the colonization of undeveloped territories without the consent of the natives, the Indians should not be subjugated ("taken into their guardianship"), and accordingly there was no need for their introduction to Russian culture ("education"). At the same time, Muravyov calls on to act "without coercion", "without incurring the reproach of violence", while achieving the main goal - the exploitation of the labor of the Indians.
As a result, at this time the Russians in California, on the one hand, did not use violence against the aborigines, did not rob them, did not occupy new lands. They were interested in making peace with the Indians. On the other hand, the RAC, having no support in St. Petersburg, could not expand its expansion, so the Russians distanced themselves from the Indians, were extremely careful, trying to keep peace with the Spaniards.
