The roots of the present situation go
deep into their history. The Mordvins have been under the rule of
foreigners since the 3rd century (Ostrogoths in the 3rd century,
Bolgars in the 8th century, Mongols and Tatars in 1236, Russians
since 1552). Thereafter the most significant periods in their history
have been:
16th c - Russian colonisation and economic supremacy force the
Mordvins to move east;
1671 - the uprising led by S. Razin is suppressed, 1/10 of Mordvins
are killed; 2/3 of the Mordvins leave their settlements to escape
the forced conversion to Orthodoxy. This was the beginning of their
current dispersed settlement;
1743-45 - brutal crushing of Teryushevsky's revolt; Nesmeyan Vasilyev,
leader of the Erzyas, is burned at the stake;
1804 - another uprising against Russians fails, which puts an end
to the active resistance of the Mordvins;
1920 - due to famine, local officials encourage Mordvins to migrate
to Siberia;
1928 - the district of Mordovia is created in the Central Volga
region; areas settled by Mordvins are brought under different administrative
territories;
1930s - collectivisation and mass repressions, famine before and
after the Second World War;
1950s - continued industrialisation and colonisation encourage
assimilation and the destruction of ethnic culture (especially in
cities).
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