The Moscow Realm — The Tara Frontier Watch
On February 11, the historical festival “The Moscow Realm — The Tara Frontier Watch” opened a series of winter and spring educational programs at Omsk Fortress. The event honoured the military traditions of the 17th century — the era of Siberia’s exploration.
Siberian Servicemen
Despite the frosty weather, hundreds of Omsk residents came to the Omsk Fortress
On the parade ground, reenactors present various social classes and military branches
The institution’s director, Vasily Minin, describes each costume in detail
Many indigenous peoples of Siberia took an oath of allegiance to the Russian sovereign
In the 17th century, there were no uniform standards for equipment and weapons yet
European captives played a notable role in the expeditions of Russian forces
Armed with “fiery shot”, the riflemen were fearsome warriors of the past
Firing a matchlock musket took a great deal of effort
The Omsk reenactors’ skill at firing in unison has been honed at dozens of festivals
Musketeers
The chosen era made it natural to showcase musketeers from Europe as well
Examining their gear is fascinating in its own right
Getting ready to fire is no quick business
At last, the match is lit — all that remains is the command
The reenactors fire blanks and never point their weapons at spectators
This time, they didn’t fire simultaneously — but that’s hardly surprising for 17th‑century firearms
Once the educational part is over, the warriors of Europe and Asia exchanges know‑how
Visitors examine the armour and ask questions about the history of our country
Many will go home with memorable photos
Cannon Crews and Archers
Now the interactive areas are open, including the “Cannon Crew” one
This is what aiming might have looked like in the 17th century
The first cannon salvoes traditionally draw dozens of spectators
At the “Archery Skirmish” area, they teach you everything — if only you have the will
As soon as things starts going well, a healthy competitive spirit kicks in
Still, hitting your opponent isn’t enough here — you also need to dodge their arrows!
In the end, the frost gets the better of curiosity: an hour later, the fortress begins to empty
Only the hardiest visitors stay to hear the thunder of the cannonade at the program’s finale
Still, thanks to TV journalists, the festival’s brightest moments will make the news
Epilogue
As a farewell treat, many sample Peter the Great‑style porridge made with an old recipe…
…and once again watch the riflemen’s well‑coordinated manoeuvres
The Omsk Fortress is a perfect venue for events devoted to our history
