On This Day In History February 16th

February 16th, 1918 is the day that the Kuban Cossack Republic proclaimed its independence. During the Russian Empire, the region of the Kuban was Cossack territory. The western regions belonged to the Black Sea Cossack host in 1792. The Southern and Eastern regions were made from the Don Cossacks. During the years, of the Russian Revolution, many Cossacks were able to regain their independence that was almost absolutely lost in the 18th and 19th centuries through the policies of Rusification. Thus, the Kuban Cossack Republic was organized by the Kuban Rada (Government) on January 28th, 1918 and declared its independence on February 16th, 1918. It was eventually crushed when the Bolsheviks captured the city of Ekaterindar and was dissolved in March 17th, 1920.