Emelian Pugachev starts the rebellion in Samara

Background. Pugachev's Rebellion began as an organized insurrection of Yaik Cossacks headed by Yemelyan Pugachev, a disaffected ex-lieutenant of the Imperial Russian Army. The revolt occurred against a background of profound peasant unrest and war with the Ottoman Empire. Pugachev rallied peasants and Cossacks, promising serfs land and freedom from their lords, initiating open revolt against Catherine in 1773.

Initial Developments. Pugachev launched the rebellion in mid-September 1773. His army, composed of a diverse mixture of disaffected peoples including Cossacks, Bashkirs, and industrial serfs, attacked Samara and occupied it in 1773. This event marked the start of the principal revolt in a series of popular rebellions in the Russian Empire after Catherine II seized power.

Leadership and Claims. After initial success, Pugachev assumed leadership of an alternative government, claiming to be Catherine's late husband Tsar Peter III. He proclaimed an end to serfdom, gaining popularity among peasants, Cossacks, and Old Believers. His forces quickly overran much of the region between the Volga and the Urals, establishing a significant threat to imperial authority.