CITIES AND PEOPLES OF CRIMEA IN THE PERCEPTION OF BARON HAXTHAUSEN

Abstract

The research purpose. The article analyzes the state of the Crimean Peninsula after it became part of the Russian Empire based on the travel notes of German Baron August von Haxthausen in the 1840s. The source stands out for its use of significant statistical material and a thorough description of the cities of Crimea. The methodological foundation of the research approach to the study of travelogues as "literature of fact". The main research findings. The informational potential of Haxthausen's travelogues allows for the reconstruction of imperial influence on the topography of Crimean cities, the devastation that occurred after the peninsula's incorporation into the empire, the destruction of architectural monuments, and the decline of the "old" (Tatar) Crimea and the development of the new (Russian) Crimea, which involved the development of strategic cities, particularly Sevastopol. By analyzing Baron Haxthausen's notes on his visits to places of social activity and communication with representatives of ethnic communities on the peninsula, one can trace the interethnic relations between the indigenous peoples of the peninsula and the Russians, representatives of the occupying power, highlight the cultural and religious life, and recreate the daily life of the peoples of the Crimean Peninsula, namely the Tatars, Karaims, Armenians, and Greeks. The author drew attention to the decline of the "old" (Tatar) Crimea and the development of the new Russian Crimea, which consisted in the development of strategic cities (in particular Sevastopol). Being under the ideological influence of imperial myths, entertainment, and the extraordinary attention of local authorities, without professional knowledge of the history of the region and not being initially familiar with the tsarist measures to maintain control over the annexed region, the author sometimes reproduced the actions of the tsarist government in the region too complementarily. However, his long stay in the Crimea shows that Baron A. von Haxthausen's views changed. The devastation of the land, religious and social oppression of the local population, and the destruction of architectural monuments did not escape his attention. Conclusions. Attention is drawn to the differences between A. von Haxthausen's observations and the declarations of Russian officials, as well as the partial censorship of the text of the travelogues, which led to some historical errors and inconsistencies in the notes. Keywords: A. Haxthausen, travel notes, Crimea, cities, ethnic composition.