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{{Short description|1582 Russian battle}}
{{Refimprove|date=February 2007}}
{{Infobox military conflict
| image= Surikov Pokoreniye Sibiri Yermakom.jpg
| image_size = 300
|caption=''The Conquest of Siberia'' by [[Vasily Surikov]]
|conflict=Battle of Chuvash Cape
|partof=[[Russian conquest of Siberia]]
|place={{ill|Chuvash Cape|ru|Чувашский мыс|vertical-align=sup}} near [[Qashliq]], [[Khanate of Sibir]]
|date=November 5 [<nowiki/>[[Julian calendar|O. S.]] October 26], 1582
|result=[[Tsardom of Russia|Russian]] victory
|combatant1= [[Tsardom of Russia]]
|combatant2= [[Khanate of Sibir]]
|commander1=[[Yermak Timofeyevich|Yermak]]
|commander2={{ill|Mametqul|ru|Мухаммед-Кули}}
|units1=[[Cossacks]]
|units2=Siberian [[Irregular military|irregulars]]<br>[[Khanty people|Khanty]] and [[Mansi people|Mansi]] tribesmen <br>Qashliq [[garrison]]
|strength1=740
|strength2=3,400{{citation needed|reason=For verification, reference to a reliable source confirming the figures provided, including Cossack strength, must be attached.|date=April 2024}}
|casualties1=107
|casualties2=2,800{{citation needed|reason=For verification, reference to a reliable source confirming the figures provided, including Cossack casualties, must be attached.|date=April 2024}}
|}}
{{Campaignbox Russian conquest of Siberia}}

The '''Battle of Chuvash Cape''' (November 5 [<nowiki/>[[Julian calendar|O. S.]] October 26], 1582) led to the victory of a [[Tsardom of Russia|Russian]] expedition under [[Yermak Timofeyevich]] and the fall of [[Khanate of Sibir]] and the end of [[Khan (title)|Khan]] [[Kuchum]]'s power. The battle took place near [[Qashliq]] (Isker), in [[Siberia]].

==Context==
After Kuchum seized power in Sibir, he attacked the nearby lands of [[Perm, Russia|Perm]]. Merchant [[Stroganovs]], who explored [[Ural (region)|Ural]] deposits, requested the [[Cossacks]] to punish the [[Siberian Tatars]]. They equipped 540 men with arms and ammunition; later, 200 men joined the expedition.

==Qashliq fortifications==
The fortifications of Qashliq before the battle were deteriorating. Because a siege would be fatal for the Tatars, they decided to fight at the river bank, and hide ambushing forces behind the numerous fallen trees in the area. Although Tatar cannons were brought into position, they did not fire during the battle.

==Battle==
The Cossacks approached the bank, firing at the Siberians; the Siberians answered with arrows. However, Russian fire did not inflict many casualties among the Tatars, who hid among the trees.

The Siberians under [[Mametqul]] counter-attacked the Cossack expedition. The Cossacks positioned themselves in a square formation, and riflemen in the center opened fire. The [[Khanty people|Khanty]] and [[Mansi people|Mansi]] tribesmen who formed part of the Siberian ranks were mostly hunters; they had never participated in battles against soldiers equipped with firearms. Consequently, the tribesmen panicked and retreated. The rest of the Tatars proceeded with the offensive, but the Cossacks continued shooting, killing many Siberians. Mametqul was shot during the battle, and narrowly escaped capture; the Tatars evacuated him by boat.

After Mametqul was injured, the rest of the Siberian forces panicked and dispersed. Kuchum fled [[Qashliq]], but the Cossacks chose not to pursue him. Instead, they retreated to Atik-town for the night.

==Aftermath==
After the defeat, Kuchum and some of his subjugates escaped to the [[Baraba steppe|Baraba]] [[steppe]]; however, most locals refused to follow him. On October 26, the Cossacks entered Qashliq. The city was depopulated after the battle, although it was briefly repopulated from 1584 to 1586. After the battle, the Khanate of Sibir disintegrated, and most of its territory was annexed by [[Russia]].

The conquest of Siberia is often compared with the [[Spanish conquest of Mexico|Spanish conquest of the Americas]]. The conflict was provoked by individuals, as many [[conquistador]]s were, not states. Another notable popular belief {{Citation needed|date=January 2008}} is that the Siberians, like [[Indigenous peoples of the Americas|Native Americans]], did not use fire-arms, leading to a Cossack victory. However, it is disputed. {{Citation needed|date=January 2008}}

==References==
* {{in lang|ru}} [https://web.archive.org/web/20070224115000/http://battles.h1.ru/ermak.shtml Бой на Чувашевом мысу]

{{Coord|58|11|N|68|15|E|type:event|display=title}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Battle Of Chuvash Cape}}
[[Category:Khanate of Sibir]]
[[Category:16th-century military history of Russia]]
[[Category:Battles involving the Tsardom of Russia|Chuvash Cape]]
[[Category:Conflicts in 1582]]
[[Category:1582 in Russia]]
[[Category:History of Siberia]]
[[Category:Russian conquest of Siberia]]