 | This article possibly contains original research. (June 2015) |
 Flag of the Don Cossacks[1] | |
| Total population | |
|---|---|
| 0.2–2 million | |
| Regions with significant populations | |
 Russia: Rostov and Volgograd Oblasts | 1,500,000 in 1918; 140,000 in 2010[2] |
| Languages | |
| Don Gutar (Southern Russian dialect), Don Balachka (Eastern Ukrainian dialect) | |
| Religion | |
| Predominantly Eastern Orthodox Minority Old Believers | |
| Related ethnic groups | |
| Russians,[3] Ukrainians, Buzava | |
| Part of a series on |
| Cossacks |
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| Cossack hosts |
| Other Cossack groups |
| History |
| Notable Cossacks |
| Cossack terms |
| Cossack folklore |
Don Cossacks (Russian: Донские казаки, romanized: Donskiye kazaki, Ukrainian: Донські козаки, romanized: Donski kozaky) or Donians (Russian: донцы, romanized: dontsy, Ukrainian: донці, romanized: dontsi), are Cossacks who settled along the middle and lower Don. Historically, they lived within the former Don Cossack Host (Russian: Донское казачье войско, romanized: Donskoe kazache voysko, Ukrainian: Головне Донське військо, romanized: Holovne Dons'ke viis'ko), which was either an independent or an autonomous democratic republic in present-day Southern Russia and parts of the Donbas region of Ukraine, from the end of the 16th century until 1918. As of 1992, by presidential decree of the Russian Federation, Cossacks can be enrolled on a special register. A number of Cossack communities have been reconstituted to further Cossack cultural traditions, including those of the Don Cossack Host. Don Cossacks have had a rich military tradition - they played an important part in the historical development of the Russian Empire and participated in most of its major wars.
- ^ "Don Cossacks' flags (Russia)".
- ^ "Демоскоп Weekly – Приложение. Справочник статистических показателей". Retrieved 23 April 2015.
- ^ Russian History Dating Back to the Most Ancient Times by Vasily Tatishchev Vol.1., Chapter 33:7. 1739