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Cherkassk (, currently Stanitsa Starocherkasskaya ) is an old Russia n town in Rostov district that was the capital of Don Voisko Province between 1640s and 1805 . HISTORY A cossack fortress Cherkassk on the island (later called ''Monastyrsky'') of Don river was probably started before 1570 but it was first mentioned at chronicles in 1593 . After fifty years it became the capital of Don Cossacks , first as an independent entity in between of Russia, Turkey and Poland , then a Vassal of Russian tzars, then as an administrative region Don Voisko Province of Russian Empire. In its heyday in 18th century it was a busy city and a strong fortress. The city was the major residence of all famous Don cossacks of 17th and 18th century including Stepan Razin , Yermak Timofeyevich , Kondraty Bulavin , Matvei Platov , etc. It was also the place of fierce battles between Russian troops, Turkey, Crimea , Crimean Khanate and cossack troops. The position of the city on the island was very convenient for a fortress and military camp, but inconvenient for an administrative and trade center - in spring the island was flooded by Don river and the crowded wooden city was a subject to devastating fires. In 1805 Hetman of Don Voisko Province Matvei Platov moved the capital to the new specially built city of Novocherkassk (literally ''New-Cherkassk'') on a hill, not very far (around 40 km) from Cherkassk. Most of the residents of Cherkassk moved to the new capital. The remnants of the old city got the name stanitsa (village) Starocherkasskaya (literally Old-Cherkassk). Now it is a site of an important museum, tourist center and orthodox male convent. Michail Aleksandrovich Sholokhov contributed a lot into organizing Starocherkasskaya museum. TOURIST INFO
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