Yemelyan Pugachov Yemelyan Pugachov, detail of a portrait by an unknown artist; in the State Historical Museum, Moscow. (more) Yemelyan Pugachev Russian leader Ask the Chatbot a Question More Actions Print Cite verifiedCite While every effort has been made to follow citation style rules, there may be some discrepancies. Please refer to the appropriate style manual or other sources if you have any questions. Select Citation Style MLA APA Chicago Manual of Style Copy Citation Share Share Share to social media Facebook X URL https://www.britannica.com/biography/Yemelyan-Pugachev Feedback Feedback Corrections? Updates? Omissions? Let us know if you have suggestions to improve this article (requires login). Feedback Type Select a type (Required) Factual Correction Spelling/Grammar Correction Link Correction Additional Information Other Your Feedback Submit Feedback Thank you for your feedback Our editors will review what you’ve submitted and determine whether to revise the article.

　　External Websites Ask the Chatbot a Question Also known as: Yemelyan Ivanovich Pugachov, Yemelyan Pugachov Written by The Editors of Encyclopaedia Britannica Encyclopaedia Britannica's editors oversee subject areas in which they have extensive knowledge, whether from years of experience gained by working on that content or via study for an advanced degree.... The Editors of Encyclopaedia Britannica Article History Table of Contents Table of Contents Ask the Chatbot Quick Facts In full: Yemelyan Ivanovich Pugachev (Show more) Pugachev also spelled: Pugachov (Show more) Born: c. 1742, Zimoveyskaya-na-Donu, Russia (Show more) Died: January 21 [January 10, Old Style], 1775, Moscow (Show more) See all related content Yemelyan Pugachev (born c. 1742, Zimoveyskaya-na-Donu, Russia—died January 21 [January 10, Old Style], 1775, Moscow) was the leader of a major Cossack and peasant rebellion in Russia (Pugachev Rebellion, 1773–75).

　　An illiterate Don Cossack, Pugachev fought in the Russian army in the final battles of the Seven Years’ War (1756–63), in Russia’s campaign in Poland (1764), and in the Russo-Turkish War of 1768–74. Following the siege and conquest of Bendery (1769–70), however, he returned home as an invalid. For three years after his recovery, he wandered, particularly among settlements of Old Believers, a dissident religious group that exercised considerable influence over him.

　　Learning in the course of his travels of the Yaik (Ural) Cossack Rebellion of 1772 and of its cruel suppression, Pugachev proceeded to Yaitsky Gorodok (now Oral), where the Cossacks remained discontented. Although he was arrested there for desertion from the army, imprisoned at Kazan, and sentenced to be deported to Siberia, he escaped and in June 1773 appeared in the steppes east of the Volga River. Claiming to be Emperor Peter III (who had been deposed by his wife, Catherine the Great, and assassinated in 1762), Pugachev decreed the abolition of serfdom and gathered a substantial following, including Yaik Cossacks, peasant workers in the mines and factories of the Urals, agricultural peasants, clergymen, and the Bashkirs. Planning ultimately to depose Catherine, Pugachev stormed and laid siege to Orenburg, an important commercial and industrial centre of the Ural region (fall 1773).

　　As the landowners of the region, fearing for their lives, fled to Moscow, Catherine recognized the seriousness of the rebellion and sent an army commanded by Gen. A.I. Bibikov against Pugachev (January 1774). In the spring Bibikov defeated Pugachev at Tatishchevo, west of Orenburg, but Pugachev proceeded to Kazan and burned the city (July 1774). He was defeated again several days later, but he crossed the Volga River, intending to gather reinforcements among the Don Cossacks. He captured Saratov (August 1774) and besieged Tsaritsyn (now Volgograd), where Gen. A.V. Suvorov finally defeated him (September 3 [August 23, Old Style], 1774). Pugachev escaped but was betrayed by some Yaik Cossacks, sent to Moscow, and executed.

　　The Editors of Encyclopaedia BritannicaThis article was most recently revised and updated by Encyclopaedia Britannica.