Appear to set up military detachments and Kievan princes, as opposed to nomads. Presence Slavic element in the steppe regions of southern Russia throughout the Middle Ages, no doubt, but this does not follow the conclusion of the genetic continuity of the Cossacks, say, Don and Kuban troops xix century. and the Slavs (and not Slavs) – members of military communities IX-XII centuries. Of the few and contradictory sources, as well as numerous, but no less controversial research historians kazakovedov can draw several conclusions and observations. The first reliable evidence about the Cossacks within the Russian state belong to the xv century.
Further mention of Cossacks occur more often, and as a 'service class' and 'voluntary' or 'thieves'. An interesting fact is that Cossack communities occur in areas not controlled by either shrapnel Golden Horde, or other states – in the 'wild field', which is actively rush and the Tatars and Russian, and Polish (3). It is in XV-XVI centuries. an opportunity colonization of the vast steppes of Southern Russia, had not yet returned in the state. This was for several reasons.
Firstly, due to the weakening of the nomads, gradually break up and lose military-political influence. Secondly, the permanent war in the region against the 'nahodnikov' led to the formation of layers of people ready and able to operate successfully and survive in the steppes. Thirdly, the strengthening of the feudal operating in Poland, and Russia created the prerequisites for the outflow of the population in the border lands.