A state entity with the capital in Novocherkassk that existed on the territory of the Don Host Oblast: an administrative-territorial unit of the Russian Empire, where Don Cossacks (military-agricultural and service class with traditions of autonomy) lived.

 

In May–June 1917, the Great Host Krug [assembly] approved a bill on the full self-government of the Don, democratically elected Host Ataman and Host Government. In November 1917, Don Host Oblast became an encampment center of anti-Bolshevik forces and the place of Volunteer Army formation by agreement of Ataman Aleksey Kaledin and General Mikhail Alekseev. A significant part of the region’s population disapproved of that decision (the Cossacks feared that the Bolsheviks would attack their lands). In December 1917, the Host Krug decided to hand over all power to the Host Government until the legitimate government of Russia was formed. On the initiative of Kaledin, half of the government vacancies were given to representatives of the non-Cossack population (nonresident peasants who came to the Don from other regions) to unite the entire population of the region.

 

Soviet power supported mainly by nonresidents and workers from large industrial centers (Rostov, Taganrog, Donetsk Basin) was established on the Don at the end of February 1918. Most of the Cossacks did not support the retreating Volunteer Army, expecting the war to end after its marching away. However, repression by the Reds, an attempt to abolish Cossack privileges and change the order of land use in favor of nonresidents resulted in the anti-Soviet uprising and the restoration of the Cossack administration in May 1918.

 

Don Salvation Krug (elective national assembly) proclaimed the formation of the Great Don Host on May 18, 1918 (the name was officially approved on September 15, 1918). The state was recognized by Germany, which partially occupied the territory of the Host in May 1918 under the Treaty of Brest-Litovsk. In August 1918, an exchange of authorized representatives and consuls with the Ukrainian State of hetman Pavel Skoropadsky took place.

 

The functions of the head of state were performed by the Host Ataman (from May 16, 1918, it was Pyotr Krasnov, from February 1919, Afrikan Bogaewsky), the functions of a parliamentary body by the Host Krug. The Host government (from August 28, 1918, referred to as the Board of Department Managers), the Don Governing Senate, and the regular Don army were created. Judicial power was exercised by the Host Court. The Constitution (The Basic Laws of the Great Don Host) was adopted in August–September 1918 based on the legislation of the Russian Empire prior to the February Revolution.

 

The creation of the united state of the Whites in the form of the Armed Forces of South Russia in January 1919 actually meant the loss of the independence of the Great Don Host. The Don administration did not want to give up independence but was forced to recognize the supremacy of Anton Denikin. After the defeats of the Whites in early 1920, most of the region was occupied by the Workers’ and Peasants’ Red Army. In March 1920, the Great Don Host was liquidated by the Soviet regime.