Talk:Mordvins/workpage

Sub-groups

Several groups of Mordvins can be identified:

• The Tengushev Mordvins constitute a transitional group between the Erzya and Moksha people and live in the southern part of Republic of Mordovia.

• The Karatai Mordvins or Qaratays live in the Republic of Tatarstan. They no longer speak a Volga-Finnic language but have assimilated with Tatars.

• The Teryukhan Mordvins live near Nizhny Novgorod and speak Russian.

• The Meshcheryaks are believed to be Mordvins who have converted to Russian Orthodox Christianity and have adopted the Russian language.

• The Mishars are Mordvins came under Tatar influence and adopted the language and the Sunni Muslim religion.

Distribution

Less than one third of Mordvins live in the autonomous republic of Mordovia, Russian Federation, in the basin of the Volga River. The rest are scattered over the Russian oblasts of Samara (116.475), Penza (86.370), Orenburg (68.880) and Nizhni Novgorod (36.705), Ulyanovsk (61.100), Saratov (23.380), Moscow (22.850), as well as Tatarstan (28.860), Chuvashia (18.686), Bashkortostan (31.932), Central Asia, (Kirgizstan 5.390), (Turkmenistan 3.490), (Uzbekistan 14.175), Siberia (65.650), Far East, (29.265), Kazakhstan, (34.370), Azerbaijan (1.150), Estonia (985), Armenia (920), and the USA.

History

Finnish born St. Petersburg academic Anders Johan Sjögren, on his return journey from a scientific expedition to the Caucasus, where he made research work among the Ossetians and Taurida Tatars from 1835 - 1838, made some research works among the Mardas (Mordvins) and located them in the correct places where they live.

Christianization

It was mentioned by the Russian Orthodox faith monks and priests that about two out of three Mardas families escaped to the lands of eastern and southern pagans to east and south to avoid the conversation to the Holy Christianity, i.e. Russian Orthodox Faith since 1617 when this progress really started in Mardasland.

Latham reports strong pagan elements surviving Christianization, the chief gods of the Ersad and the Mokshad being called Paas and Shkai, respectively.

The Mardas peoples had to be Christianized as early as 1235 by Friar Julian:

• The Morduans are awful people. Among them killing is another mature. It is considered to be an act with fame, and poor is that man who have not managed to kill his enemy. He was a contemptible person, not even a warrior class. The heroes of Morduans let the skulls of their killed enemies be carried in front of them; the more skulls, the more respected a Morduan warrior was. In their bacchanals the drinking vessels could have been made of their enemies' skulls, and those who had not managed to kill their enemy, could not even find a wife among the Morduan girls.

The method of Christianization by Russian Orthodox Church was different of that style adopted by Roman Catholic church in Estonia and Finland. When a Mardas person was baptized into the Russian Orthodox Faith he/she lost his/her pre-Christianization name and had to take a new Russian name instead of his/her former original Mardas name. In this way Mardas was linked to "One and Only Real Believer Fate" through common (human) Slavonic name. In Finland the Roman Catholic church did not even try such a method. No, the church men had even to change their Latin Lord name to Finnish language dialects to make it easier to take a new Ierussalama Jerusalem Doctrine by renaming Latin Good to Finnish Jumala which was nothing else than new competitor of pre-Christian era Ukko the Thunderer (Jyrisijä) know also as Jomala. In Mari languages Jomal. By adding name salama (lightning) to form word Ierussalama to new faith the name of Lord in Finland is practically Jyriseväsalama (Thundering Lighting). And this is the practice even today. Christian Lord is still served in 2008 in Estonia and Finland under name Jumala in the churches (Herran Temppelit). In Hungarian language the word of Sumeri language originated Temple (sacred place) appears in form Tempelom, in Finnish Temppeli.

The method was in principle the same in one principal matter both in Orthodox and Roman Catholic method. These hermit monks started their conversion work with women and children. When they had a mother baptized also the child was baptized but with their original Finnish non Christian names. The stubborn men were the last to be baptized. Over hundreds of years it become custom or habit go to the church before noon and during afternoons go to the sacrificed place of old non Christian faith to show also the respects to the old faith Ukko and Akka. Many people thought now I have blessings of new Ierussalama Doctrine or Fate Jumala in Lord's Temple so I can go also to serve Ukko (Jyrisevä) in his holy forest grove. This way I secure blessings from two sides. For this reason name Juri (In Orthodox Church) and Jyri (in Roman Catholic Church) among the Finno Ugrian peoples were widely adopted forenames. When looking the list of the early Russian Princes one must bear this in mind. The name Slav might have been formed this way in old Slavonic languages through Finno Ugrian word salvata/voitelu which means Herran voideltu (Lord´s greased, literally, Greased by the Lord). This theory is supported with notice that just during this era the old Slavonic peoples names like Severjani, Krivitshi, Derevitshi, Sloveni etc. were replaced by the Salavatut in old Slavonic Church Slav which was single common name for all Lord´s Greased. The Slavs. Thus Yuri Svjetislav is Holy Thunderer Greased (anointment) by Lord, or Thunderer Ierussalava (Holy Thunderer Anointed Jerusalemer), Yuri Jyrisijän poika (pogoi) from Jarosslav/Ierosslaff (Jerusalem/Jerusalamma). "Salvata" in the Karelian dialect of Agricola´s compromise Finnish language is a word with dual meanings. It can mean to grease, or to castrate (animals or men), i.e. Enarei, Eunukki (Eunoch). Hippocrates says clearly that among the Scythians were many men who were not men and were used in women's works, they act like women and talk like women, but are men which are not men (by sexual means). It was a favourite habit especially in the Near and Middle East and also in the Hanmanni State (China), the Statehood of Central, since ancient times to humiliate men of their enemies, the Orja/Orjat/Slave/Slaves. Either half eunuchs or full eunuchs. Can be compared to name Oyrat/Oyrats.

Mardas peoples in Alaska

According to the preserved church books (both Lutheran and Orthodox) a number of Mardas people were settled to Russian Alaska particularly at Novoarchangelsk/Sitka or as locally named Uus Arkangeli and Aleutian Islands mainly to Attu and Kiska islands from where they moved from Ohotsk (Ohot), on the shore of Ohotsk Sea, and Russian Far East and Alexandrovsk in Sakhalin where they seems to have formed the majorities of the Russian inhabitants of these communities. A number moved also to Petropavlovsk in Kamchatka. Sitka seems to have been a really Russian Wild West settlement from 1799 - 1867. The majority of European-born populations were Finno Ugric, mostly ethnic Finns and in lesser numbers Balts from Courland or Pskov area. Many forenames of the members of the Orthodox church had pre-Christian Mardas names like Tapai, Tepai, Partai, Kopai. Even one Komi Zyrianovich/Zyrianova surname was found in the church register. Many of them intermarried Aleutian women or local women from surrounding Indian tribes near Sitka. Some of them moved to the Canadian side of the border to Vancouver Island and some to Spanish California, to the Russian founded Fort Ross fortress settlement north of the Spanish colony of San Francisco. Their descendants live still in the above mentioned areas and seem to have been the first Mardas people to settle in Alaska. In 1867 they became citizens of the United States of America when Imperial Russia sold Alaska Territory to the United States.

Historical Mardasland and railway age

The Railway Age made significant changes in Mardasland. This former border area become closer connected to the reast of the Imperial Russia. On the other hand, the railways meant also easier and much faster communications. This made the movement much easier for the internal emigration in Russia. Many serf families all around Imperial Russia wandered around after the abandonment of land serfdom and state serfdom in 1860 by Imperial ukaza of Alexander II, seeking new place where to settle with free land available for them to start as independent peasants with their own land. Many newcomers of Russian or Ukrainian origin settled in the area, along new constructed railway lines and settled nearby new stations and formed new settlements diminishing the formerly united Mardas population in smaller enclaves with mainly ethnic Russian settled corridors along the new railway lines. This age 1860-1914 formed a base for the Russian population in Mardasland when they replaced the remaining Mardas people as the main population there. The land hungry newcomers pushed Mardas peoples aside from the population centres, the small towns, and took the best agricultural land for their own use. Some of the former large noble estates, which had passed to the ownership of rich industrial barons from their previous owners, because of the depths, were split to smaller peasant farms (Hutors). They differed from original Cossack or earlier incomers Majdans which were established as armed frontier posts against the Tatar Khanates since the Muscovites conquered the area. During this period of new gained areas, the Industrialisation and coming of railways the population of European side of Imperial Russia increased from 23 millions to 97 millions in period 1820 - 1897. The one and only official account of the whole population was made in Imperial Russia only once, in 1897.

The private Moscow - Ryazan Railway was opened from Moscow to Ryazan/Räsan 198 km on 20 July 1862 and extended over 835 km Kazan in 1884, this line kept its original title, and was only renamed Moscow - Kazan Railway on 11 July 1891. It remained in private hands until 1918, and was in fore-front of locomotive development in the first decade of 1900s. Most of the early locomotives came from France and Great Britain, the first Russian built locomotives, built by Kolomna Works in 1873. The railway run through historical Mordvaland to Kazan via Ruzajevka and Saransk/Saran Osh to Kazan. The railway network was steadily enlarged from 1033 km by opening the lines from Ruzajevka to Simbirsk through Inza, and from Inza to Syzran in 1898 - 1899 and from Penza to Ruzajevka and Timirjazevo to Nizhnij Novgorod in 1901-1903, total 569 km, from Liubertsy to Arzamas, 397 km in 1912, the missing Kanash to Arzamas section was completed in the middle of World War I in 1916.

In summer 1914 the Moscow - Kazan Railway had opened the following stations of which some developed later to larger settlements or even to small towns. All the listed railway lines were single 1524 mm (5ft) lines. One can easily find out from the station list many noble estate places which received even their own platforms to call for the noble families in trains.

• Ryazan - Ruzajevka line 392 versts: Ryazan (0), Lesok, Turlatovo, Listjanka, Vyshgorod (27), Polovskij, Jasakovo (48), Pronja (60), Sushkij, Sheluhovo (81), Zalybrovje, Shilovo (103), Tyrnitsa, Ushinskij, Nazarovka (130), Tsutskovo (139), Unkosovo, Nizhnje-Maltsevo (154), Sotnitsovo, Sasovo (172), Tairovka, Kustarjevka (197), Pitskirjajevo (209), Vad, Teplyi-Stan, Zubova-Poljana (236), Vihrovo, Torbjejevo (265), Vodjenjapinskij, Samajevka (292), Apapovo (311), Majdan, Inzar (343), Kaloshkino, Hovanshtshina (367), Pajgarm, Ruzajavka (392).
• Kusarjevka - Zemjetsino Syzran-Vjazma Ry. Station line 96 versts: Kustarjevka (0), Svezhjenkaja (30), Izjvet, Tupik (48), Mosrovo (62), Tsashkovo, Otorma, Zemjetsino Mosc.Kaz.Ry.Station, Zemjetsino Syzran-Vjazma Ry.Station (96).
• Ruzajevka - Syzran line 287 versts: Ruzajevka (0), Arkangelsko-Holitsynskij, Holitsynskij, Zhurlovka, Vojevodskoje (33), Katsjelai, Sura (66), Tsais, Notska (89), Inza (105), Varypajevska, Lodzhnikovo, Bazarnaja (135), Patrikshevo, Zavodskaja Rjeshotka, Barysh (166), Akstsurinskij Tup., Polivanovo (185), Naljeika (194), Kuzovatjovo, Bezvodovka (227), Ratsjeika, Balasheijka (257), Zabarovka, Syzran Mosc.Kaz.Ry.Station, Syzran Syzran-Vjazma Ry.Station (287).
• Inza - Simbirsk line 155 versts: Inza (0), Jugovka, Glotovka (32), Sharlovo, Veshkajma (62), Tshuvarovo (83), Majna (102), Vyry, Ohotintsja (134), Kindjakovka, Simbirsk (155).
• Ruzajevka - Penza line 132 versts: Ruzajevka (0), Melvjedovka, Bulytsjevo (29), Anutsino, Tajvejevka (60), Holstsovka (75), Lunino (88), Prokjazna (96), Vazjerki, Grabovo (112), Passazhrirskaja pl. 120 versts, Penza Mosc.Kaz.Ry.Station (130), Penza Ryazan-Uralsk Ry.Station (132).
• Ruzajevka - Nizhnij Novgorod line 337 versts: Ruzajevka (0), Arkangelsko-Holitsynskij, Saransk, Jelhovka, Timirjazjevo (52), Obrotsnoje (83), Uzhovka (113), Nikolaj-Darj (141), Lukojanov (159), Babjanskago pl, Shatki (186), Arzamas (217), Serezha (238), Surovatiha (258), Zimjenki (286), Kulma (309), Salovskaja platforma, Platforma 273 verst, Myza, Nizhnij Novgorod (337).
• Ljubertsy - Arzamas line 371 versts: Ljubertsy I (0), Ljubertsy II sort., Doniko, Gzhel (35), Shevljakino, Kurovzhaja (63), Dorohovoi, Zapytnaja (86), Krivandino, Tserusti (128), Iljitsjev, Neshajevskaja (165), Zakolpje (187), Dobrjatino pl., Butylitsi (226), Murom (251), Navatshino pl, Rodjakovo pl, Stepurino (292), Tesha, Muhtolovo (325), Kostyliha, Arzamas (371).
• Timirjazjevo - Svijazhsk (- Kazan) line 305 versts (374 versts):Timirjazjevo (0), Ogarjenka pl, Tsamzinka (35), Atjashevo (64), Ardatov (94), Alatyr (119), Kirja (155), Buinsk pl, Ibresi (189), Shihrany (225), Urmary (262), Tjurlema (282), Svijazhsk (305).
• Arzamas - Kanash line 239 versts: Arzamas (0), Shelrovka, Bobylskaja, Valok, Revjesjen, Prinskij Perevoz, Kemary (59), Smagino, Kamenishe, Kamkino, Tartalej, Sergatsh (107), Atska, Andosovo, Jumorga, Pilna (136), Knjäzhiha, Shumerlja (178), Myslej, Piner, Tsarkli, Vurnary (213), Apnerka, Atskas, Mokry, Kanash (239).

Private Ryazan - Uralsk Railway was taken over by the State on January 1, 1916. It had been formed from Tambov - Kozlov Railway, Tambov - Saratov Railway and Ryazan - Kozlov Railway in 1892.

• Ryazan - Kozlov line 199 versts: Ryazan Kaz. (0), Ryazan Uralsk Ry.Station, Stenkino, Denezhnikovo (21), Shevtsovo (34), Staroshilovo (45), Hrushtshjevo (58), Tsemodanovka (67), Birkino, Korablino (85), Podvislovo, Rjazhsk (109), Sheremetjevo, Aleksandrovo-Nevskaja (134), Zimarovo, Bogojavljensk (158), Brigadirskaja, Hobototo (178), Kozlov (199).
• Kozlov - Voronezh (- Liski - Rostov on Don) line 168 versts: Kozlov I (0), Kozlov Voronezh Station, Nikolskoje, Sertrjeika (13), Izberdej, Peskovatka, Platforma 54 verst, Grjazi (60), Tsibytkino (71), Drjazgi (85), Moskovka, Usman (100), Bjeljajevo, Grafskaja (130), Platforma 137 verst, Trisvjatskaja (144), Shubjerskoje pl, Somovo (156), Otrozhka, Voronezh (168), Otrozhka, Pridatsa, Maslovka (193), Bojevo, Kolodeznaja (216), Anoshkino, Davydovka (238), Boltshevo, Liski (259).
• Kozlov - Rtishtshjevo line 244 versts: Kozlov (0), Turmasovo (6), Nikiforovka (22), Saburovo (38), Seljezni (43), Pushkari, Tambov (68), Ljada, Rajeskalovo (92), Platonovka (105), Lomovis (116), Inokovka (133), Kalaist, Kirsanov (157), Preobrazhjenskij, Umet (175), Tamala (194), Durovka, Vertunovskaja (219), Polgorjenka, Rtishtshjevo (244).
• Penza - Rtishtshejevo line 148 versts: Penza Syzran-Vjazma Ry. Station (0), Penza Ryazan-Uralsk Ry Station (6), Krivozjerovka, Ardym (21), Aljenjevka, Kromshtshino, Salovka (48), Skrjabino, Kolyshlej (66), Zhmakino, Baltinka (84), Tashtshilovka, Serdobsk (103), Kollobash, Bajka (123), Dubasovskij, Rtishtshejevo (148).

State owned Moscow - Kursk Railway (which was formed with former Murom Railway and Moscow - Nizhnij Novgorod Railway) to the Moscow - Kursk and Nizhnij Novgorod Railway in 1906.

• (Moscow) - Oka - Tula (-Orel) line 182 versts: Serpuhov (93), Oka (98), Svinskaja (105), Tarusskaja (116), Spaso-Kazanskaja platforma, Pahomovo (131), Shulgino (137), Laptjevo (149), Revjakino (162), Homjakovo (171), Tula Moscow-Kursk Station (182).

State owned Syzran - Vjazma Railway.

• Tula - Rjazhsk line 184 versts: Tula Moscow-Kursk Ry.Station (0), Protopologo, Tula Syzran-Vjazma Ry.Station, Prisaly (15), Novoselje platforma, Obolenskoje (31), Djeljadovo raz, Uzlovaja (47), Bobrik-Donskoj (57), Jepifan (72), Lvovskij, Kljekotki (96), Millionnaja (107), Kremljevo (118), Paveljets Syzran-Vjazma Station (119), Lazinka raz. Nr 17, Skopin (143), Brigetnaja (149), Zheltuhino (163), Govorovo raz.Nr 20, Rjazhsk III Syzran-Vjazma Station, Rjazhsk I, Rjazhsk III Syzran-Vjazma Station.
• Rjazhsk - Syzran - Batraki line 622 versts: Rjazhsk I (0), Rjazhsk II Syzran-Vjazma Ry Station, Jeholdajevo (12), Kjenzino junction station (24), Suharjevo, Zhjelobovo (24), Maljutino, Verda (60), Remizovo, Jagodnoje (87), Hludovo, Bjezobrazovo (105), Jelizabeta platforma, Morshaisk (122), Korshunovka (129), Vazhli raz. Nr.25, Fitinhof (151), Dashkovo (160), Vernadovka (169), (junction station with 25 versts Zjemjetstinovo branch line), Pominasvka raz. Nr.26, Sosjedka (191), Hutor, Kandijevka raz. Nr.27, Bashmakovo (216), Gljebovka raz. Nr.28, Pjatitskoje paz. Nr.29, Patselma (239), Vygiljadovka paz. Nr.31, Titovo (264), Andikajevka (278), Vojejkovo (292), Lermontovskij raz. Nr.35, Studenets (312), Pantsulidzjevka raz. Nr.36, Simanshtshina (331), Posljovka raz. Nr.37, Ramzaj (350), Arbekovo raz. Nr.39, Penza I Syzran-Vjazma Station (374), Sjeliksa raz. Nr.41, Leonidovka (395), Shnajevo raz. Nr.42, Kanajevka (419), Asjejevskaja raz. (425), Nikonovo raz. Nr.44, Tsazljevka (441), Platforma 908 verst, Jeljuzan raz. Nr.46, Sjuzjum (462), Blagodatki raz. Nr.47, Kuzvjetsk (486), Ogolynovka raz. Nr.49, Jeldashevo (501), Nikulino (516), Kljutsiki, Sajevka raz. Nr.52, Praskovnjino (540), Kanalej (550), Novospasskoje (563), Kopajevka, Repjevka (587), Syzran (609), Batraki Pristan (Harbour), Batraki Pass. (622).

The railway lines connected several important towns and trading places, and settlements in the Volga - Oka area, such as Rtishtshejenjo located south-west of Penza. It was described by one foreign writer who visited there in 1913 as "a typical small town without pavement. A forlorn little market in the mud, and a collection of barrows and stalls without windows; just a traders' settlement, a market conveniently of a score of miles away."

The contryside between Penza and Volga was described as follows in 1902:

• "Morning shows from train windows a contryside as flat as a billiard table, patched with fields of corn stubble, with stretches of emerald-coloured winter rye and intervals of birch forest, scattered over with grey-roofed villages, all huddled together and reminding one of the kind of grey scab that clusters and spreads on the back of the diseased leaf. There is nothing of the industry and economy of French cultivation, nor the rich farmyards and sleeks of England, but the soil is tilled everywhere, and the harvest is gathered and sold. All the houses are of wood, grey of age, said to be those which the Mordvins left and now owned by the new rich landmasters of Moscow which bought with them their serfs from Kaluga, Tula, Orel estates to house the empty Mordvin villages, often dilapidated, the wide roads straggle through them, mere mud tracks in rainy weather, and to take care of the souls of these poor people, there is almost always a church with a green roof. But never a superior house, never a residence of someone well-to-do. As we get farther east we pass the more prosperous colonies of Bashkirs, one of the many native races scattered over eastern Russia. Here is the agriculture in its most primitive aspect. Much of the grain goes to windmills which cluster round little towns."

From the above list one found also a small station name Lermontovskij near Penza. It has a direct link to this text: "In summer 1939 the village of Lermontovo in the Penza district was a long ribbon of low, thatched-roofed cottages on the edge of the vast flat cultivated, almost treeles plain, and it is probably not very much different today (1959)."

It was over the Moscow-Tula-Penza-Syzran-Samara(-Ufa- Tsheljabinsk) route the most famous of all the trains which run in Imperial Russia, twice weekly (once a week from St. Petersburg via Vologda-Perm-Jekaterinburg-Tsheljabinsk) only 1st and 2nd class sleeping car train with full service restaurant car provided by the International Sleeping Car Company run all the way to Vladivostok. Ones a week a direct sleeping car from Warsaw was coupled into Kurier train 1i (i for Irkutsk) on Kursk station in Moscow providing the most lenghtly direct sleeping car connection in the world. The train was well patronized by officers, nobility, rich industrialists, and rich intelligentsia (and of course their dear mistresses). There is notable literature published over this journey and of the first sights in the morning were from ancient Mardasland when the express train steamed toward the east, at first to reach Volga "where the Greatest River (Inej vez) as the local call it) and the greatest railway bridge in Russia, a master piece of Count Stryve, a notable count of Kolomna, the founder of the Kolomna Iron Works and bridge builder, meet on the way to Urali and Sibiri."

Soviet Union

One of the most famous of the so called Berija's Gardens with a very bad reputation was GULAG Lager of Potma, located just inside Mordovia, south of Sarov. Its location was selected to be founded to the Mardasland for security reasons. It was founded in the area of woods without any large settlements nearby. And the local population were not ethnic Russians. It was part of the large GPU Lager system named GULAG and was founded in the 1930s. The name what the arriving prisoner found, when the doors of "Stolypin Pullman" were opened was written in the Station building POTMA. The whole complex consisted of 25 sub lagers scattered here and there in woods. In 1939 the Ministry of Internal Affairs even built an narrow gauge railway toward north from Potma station and named its stations after the sub lagers which this narrow gauge line passed. Even the railway personnel who operated this railway were political prisoners. The railway ended near small village of Ivanovka. Today the southern part of this line was later rebuilt to standard Russian 1524 mm gauge reaching Barashevo settlement. The northern part of the narrow gauge line has been lifted. Largest Lager was the GPU Prison Lager Nr. 241 The Temniakovskij Lager. After World War II the letters MVD were added to Lager Gate.

This 25 lager complex had a total of approximately 80,000-90,000 prisoners, each Lager Punkt housing about 2000 - 8000 prisoners. The conditions were awful and prisoners died like flies during winter months when the temperature fell sometimes to as low as -25 Celsius below freezing point. The temperature in barracks or diggings covered with primitive build roofs remained all the time below the freezing point. But the deaths were replaced by new ones in GPU rotation. Each prisoner had right to buy from Lager Shop monthly; 80 grams bread, one drinking glass full of bad quality "mahorka" (primitive tobacco) called also "kessu". One old newspaper like Pravda or Izvestiya for cigarette paper. In these Lagers were represented all minority nationals in addition to Russians in 1945-1946 which here formed the minority among the prisoners. The death rate among the prisoners was formidable. The prisoners were mainly used as labour force in the surrounding woods working daily 10 hours, except on Sundays. One of the victims of this lager system was Knjäz Sergej Mihailovitsh Obolenski, born in 1863 and died at Temniakovskij lager 241 on March 16, 1946. All he could give as his inheritance were his pleasures: a wooden "kapusta" to be delivered, if possible, to Countless Tolstova, the daughter of Lev Tolstoy. After the death of Stalin the lager punkt system was mostly scrapped, but Potma lager was used in Ministry of Internal Affairs as late as the 1970s. Some of barracks were still standing there as late as in early 1990s after the collapse of the Soviet Union. Unfortunately the name Potma still casts a shadow over Mardasland connected with bad memory names in Russia. Most of this GULAG lager area is now National Park.