Yermak's Conquest of the Khanate of Sibir

Timeline

1. c. 1579–1582Stroganov frontier fort on the Kama–Chusovaya · Kama basinThe Stroganov family on the western slopes of the Urals held tsarist charters for the salt and fur trades and were authorized to fortify toward Tura and Tobol. They equipped Yermak's Cossacks with muskets, powder, and light boats to resist raids by Kuchum Khan's subjects. Chronicles disagree on whether the expedition was defensive or a deliberate seizure of the khanate's capital, but the band subsequently traveled by river across the Urals into the Siberian water system.
2. 1582Chuvash Cape and Kashlyk · Tobol–IrtyshAfter entering the Irtysh via the Tura and Tobol rivers, the Cossacks fought Kuchum Khan and Mametkul's Tatar, Khanty, and Mansi forces at Chuvash Cape. Volley fire routed the tribal levies, and Mametkul withdrew wounded. Kuchum abandoned the capital at night, and Yermak's men entered Kashlyk on 26 October. Chronicles record about a hundred Russian losses. The khanate's central authority thereby collapsed, though Kuchum continued organizing resistance on the steppe.
3. 1583–1585Around Kashlyk on the Irtysh · Western SiberiaYermak sent furs and news of victory to Ivan IV, who recognized the expedition and dispatched reinforcements. After Ivan's death in 1584 supplies became unstable. Around August 1585 Kuchum's men night-attacked the Irtysh camp, and legend holds Yermak drowned under the too-heavy armor the tsar had bestowed. After the Cossack main force withdrew, Moscow kept sending troops to build forts; the Khanate of Sibir never again controlled the middle Irtysh, and Russia's eastward expansion turned from an adventure into sustained occupation.