Yermak Timofeyevich - Commemoration

Commemoration

The Russian people pay tribute to the legend of Ermac in a variety of ways.

Multiple statues and monuments have been erected in his honor throughout Russia. V. A. Beklemishev began his construction project for a monument dedicated to Ermac in 1903 in the Cathedral Square of Novocherkassk, the capital of the Don Cossack country. On the monument Ermac is shown holding his regimental banner in his left hand and the ceremonial cap of his rival Kuchum Khan in his right hand. The back of the monument reads: “To the Don Cossack Ataman Ermak Timofeevich, the Siberia conqueror from the grateful posterity. In honor of Don Cossack Army 300th Anniversary. He passed away in Irtysh waves on August 5, 1584.” Some believe that Ermac was born in the village of Kachalinskaya on the Don. Though this region has long claimed Ermac to be one of its own, there is no evidence that he was born there or ever visited.

There is also a statue of Ermac at Tobolsk and one in the State Russian Museum in Leningrad designed by M. M. Antolkol’skiy.

Two icebreakers have been named after Ermac. The first, built in Newcastle, England, in 1898, was one of the first major vessels of that type ever built and the second, which entered the service in 1974, was the first of an impressive new type of ship.

In commemoration of Ermac, there is a town named after him on the upper Irtysh. Similarly, a mountain in the Perm Region made up of three cliff stacks is called the Ermac Stone after Ermac. Legend has it that Ermac and his brigade passed one of the harsh Siberian winters on the cliff side.