The poor, the wrongheaded, and the faint in the Don Cossacks community: statuses and functions

Abstract

The article presents the unique status of “abnormal” individuals within the traditional Don Cossack community, encompassing the sick, the crippled, the poor, the insane, and the deceased. These individuals are labeled as “abnormal” by scholars due to deviations from the community's perceived norms and the absence of certain societal markers like pairing. Despite this categorization, the traditional Cossack community displayed a distinct level of attention and care towards these members by singling them out with specific terms.

Within the Cossack society, aiding the less fortunate and disabled was not only deemed a religiously commendable act but also a secular obligation. Wealthier Cossacks often extended substantial financial support to those in need. Some individuals within the “abnormal” group were recognized for their symbolic border status, leading to the attribution of sacred duties to them. For example, those unfit for combat service due to illness or disability were assigned roles such as herding livestock and conducting Yuletide rounds in the yards.

Certain “abnormal” individuals were acknowledged as possessing specialized knowledge, granting them a revered status within the community. Overall, it can be observed that these marginalized groups not only received material and emotional support within the Cossack community but also found a meaningful place, albeit with limited opportunities, in both the spiritual and social realms of communal life.