Monument Erofey Khabarov, Khabarovsk, Khabarovskiy kray, Russia
This statue is a major landmark in Khabarovsk. Yerofey Khabarov was a famous cossack explorer of the amur river and surrounding regions.In the 1650’s he arrived in Khabarovsk, and had a few skirmishes with the Chinese (Qing Dynasty) who had already settled in the surrounding areas.He built a fort, and fought a force of Chinese and Koreans. Khabarovsk was victorious despite being heavily outnumbered. A larger Qing force was sent to battle, but Khabarovsk managed to escape the settlement without having to fight. He never accomplished a settlement on the Amur, but it is recognised as the first attempt by Russia to claim this area.
In 1858, the Qing Dynasty in the midst of the second opium war with Britain and France, were threatened when Russia moved thousands of soldiers to it’s northern borders. The Qing decided to negotiate with Russia, instead of going to war, and transferred much of the territory surrounding the Amur River to Russia. This territory included Khabarovsk.
Epic Russia Culture & Adventure Route © Monika Newbound