The history of Alaska has often been complex, in terms of how it was colonised by European powers, so it is perhaps less surprising than it sounds that Russia was one of the nations which played a major role in its development. Although not much of a palpable legacy was left behind, they did play a key role. They also encountered significant conflict with local Native Americans.
One of the Native groups who came into damaging contact with the Russians were the Aleuts, who suffered considerably from their lack of resistance to European diseases. Almost 80 per cent of the original inhabitants of the Aleutian Isles were killed by diseases, and there was also significant conflict with other Native groups too. Contact between the Russians and the Natives was not always disastrous though, and in some areas the two groups interacted reasonably well.
Kodiak Island was the site of the first permanent Russian settlement, with Grigory Ivanovich Shelikhov landing in Three Saints Bay in 1794. This was in the territory of the Koniag people, who were killed in the hundreds by the invaders. Several Russian settlements were also established on the Alaskan mainland, with Cook Inlet being the site of many of them.
One of the triggers for this Russian expansion in the area was the presence of sea otters with especially fine pelts. Despite this economic impetus, Russian progress in the area was still slow, largely due to a shortage of sailors; they also lacked the ships needed to make a proper attempt at colonisation. The Russians managed to reach Yakutat Bay by 1794, and by 1795 had constructed the settlement called Slavorossiya there.
They reached Sitka Sound in 1795, with Alexandr Baranov leading the expedition there, and trappers and hunters followed him soon afterwards. By the time of the early 1800s, a vast percentage of the sea otter pelts produced in Russian American had their origins in this part of Alaska. Baranov would go on to found the settlement of Arkhangelsk, though it would be destroyed by the Tlingit nation of Native Americans in 1802.
It would be rebuilt though, and go on, with its new name of Sitka, to be an important town once the Americans had established hegemony over the region. By the mid-19th century, there were still only around 700 Russian settlers in Alaska, a tiny amount in such a large territory. American influence in the region began to grow, and the Tlingits continued to be aggressive towards the Russians.
The Russians did not leave very much which was tangible behind them, apart from their religion. The Russian Orthodox faith was proselytised vigorously in the Aleutian Islands, and a missionary presence would be maintained by the church there until the mid-19th century. Translations of holy texts into the Aleut language were completed very early on.
The Russians actually played a reasonably significant role in the history of Alaska. Although they left little tangible sign of their presence, beyond the lingering presence of their religion in some places, they were an important part of the colonial era. Sadly, they also contributed to the decline of the Native American population in the region, with the diseases and conflict that they brought resulting in the deaths of large numbers of indigenous people.
One of the Native groups who came into damaging contact with the Russians were the Aleuts, who suffered considerably from their lack of resistance to European diseases. Almost 80 per cent of the original inhabitants of the Aleutian Isles were killed by diseases, and there was also significant conflict with other Native groups too. Contact between the Russians and the Natives was not always disastrous though, and in some areas the two groups interacted reasonably well.
Kodiak Island was the site of the first permanent Russian settlement, with Grigory Ivanovich Shelikhov landing in Three Saints Bay in 1794. This was in the territory of the Koniag people, who were killed in the hundreds by the invaders. Several Russian settlements were also established on the Alaskan mainland, with Cook Inlet being the site of many of them.
One of the triggers for this Russian expansion in the area was the presence of sea otters with especially fine pelts. Despite this economic impetus, Russian progress in the area was still slow, largely due to a shortage of sailors; they also lacked the ships needed to make a proper attempt at colonisation. The Russians managed to reach Yakutat Bay by 1794, and by 1795 had constructed the settlement called Slavorossiya there.
They reached Sitka Sound in 1795, with Alexandr Baranov leading the expedition there, and trappers and hunters followed him soon afterwards. By the time of the early 1800s, a vast percentage of the sea otter pelts produced in Russian American had their origins in this part of Alaska. Baranov would go on to found the settlement of Arkhangelsk, though it would be destroyed by the Tlingit nation of Native Americans in 1802.
It would be rebuilt though, and go on, with its new name of Sitka, to be an important town once the Americans had established hegemony over the region. By the mid-19th century, there were still only around 700 Russian settlers in Alaska, a tiny amount in such a large territory. American influence in the region began to grow, and the Tlingits continued to be aggressive towards the Russians.
The Russians did not leave very much which was tangible behind them, apart from their religion. The Russian Orthodox faith was proselytised vigorously in the Aleutian Islands, and a missionary presence would be maintained by the church there until the mid-19th century. Translations of holy texts into the Aleut language were completed very early on.
The Russians actually played a reasonably significant role in the history of Alaska. Although they left little tangible sign of their presence, beyond the lingering presence of their religion in some places, they were an important part of the colonial era. Sadly, they also contributed to the decline of the Native American population in the region, with the diseases and conflict that they brought resulting in the deaths of large numbers of indigenous people.
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