Page 200 - 1992 - XVIII Congresso Internazionale di Storia Militare

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"MaMg<: ro widen Russian influcnce to bring Americans (i.e. aborìgines) peacc
and glory co rhc Russian State witbin the la od of America and California dcvdoped
dLI 40 degrees". Thus, che fìcsc npprox.imace frontier of the Russian lands on the
conrinenr was established (7>.
Thc exped.ition led by J.L Bilings and G.A. Sarycht:va in 1790·1792 was ex-
rremely fruirful in a scicmifìc sense and as a resuJt of which precise maps of ali
rht Alcutian lslands and Alaska coase were drawn up. That facr comributed a lot
co secdemencs i.n che region.
Alexander Andreyevitch Baranov, Shelikhov's successor, conrinued che develop·
ment ofnew lnnds energerically.ln 1796 he fouodcd the ''capitai" ofRussian America
oo Sitkha-Novo-Arkhangelsk (now Sitkha). The Pacifìc coast from Alaska co che
California Bay scarred robe sett!cd by Russia n people. The Russian-American Com·
pany fouoded on July 8 ( 19), 1799 comrìbured ro the process. The Russia n Govern·
mem had given it thc righe to carry on rrade io Norch America, on che Aleuùan
Islands "in accordance wich che righe of discovery... ·
Of course, not aJJ ehings went smoothly. The Russian lands were also invaded
by uninvited guests: privateers a od smugglers of differenr national.ities. They sold
tbc powder and fire arms ro lndians and provoked dashes with Russians.
The firsr Russian round-rhc-world expedicion, headed by LF. Cmzenshrern
and Yu.F. Lisyanski (1803-1806) carried out not only a diplomacic and sciencifìc
mission, but belped Russian serders in America practically to repel che anack of
an Jndian crihe, incired by Bricish and .American privareers.
So, in ISO:> Yu.f. Lisyanski, who a.rrived at Novo·Arkhangelsk (now Sitkha),
helped tO rebuild the rown, which had been bu.rned by the Indians. The penetra-
tion of the Russi.ans ro the distanr corners of North America cÒncinued. [n 181 l
Barauov's deputy lvan A. K uskov founded Fon Ross in California (nor fa.r from
the prescnt San Fransisco) and was rhe mosr souchcrn limir of Russian America
on the conti.oeot.
Bur thc prob!em of Ru.ssian possessions in North America was getting more
and more acute. Demands on Russia co makc concessions were growiog in spire
of che facr chat tbe Russia n governmenr maimained armed neu:trality in che Ameri-
ca n war for ind:ipendence in l775-1783, rejecting all of England's calls ro honou.r
ics alli ance obligaci()nS <Sl. In 1841 Fon Ross was sold. Tbc Bricish and Amecican
seafarers and traders contioued unoffidal raids o n ocher rcrritories in Russia n pos-
sessi an.
Because Russia n America was remote &om centrai Russia i t was gcning more
an d more diffìcul.t ro srop uncontrolled sailings of American a od Englisb srups in
che warers belonging to che Russian American Company. The defeat of Russia in
che Crimean War 1854-:>6 and the complicaced siruacion on the European conci-
ncnc led to che decis.ion w sell Russian possessions in America. The csarisr govern·
mem reaLized rbat wirhout a powerful milicary aod merc:hant lleer ir was impossible
eo keep che inviolabilicy of Russia n America. Bur i t decided ro use tbe Russjan pos·