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Sometimes, the Cossacks are considered to be the direct descendants of the non-Slavian tribes (Khasares, Cossogens, Tcherkesses, a.o.), who settled in some of the areas of southern Russia, in the period of the desintegration. This conclusion is only based on the origin of the word "Cossack" from the Tatarian language. The Tatars hereby described a minor armed force division. It often dealt with single horsemen or any armed units that were independent from the Khan (the commander of the Tatars). Ethnically, though, the Cossacks are Russians and Ukrainians, respectively, inspite of their rented name. In the 15th century, the constant danger of attacks by the Tatarian Golden Hordes meant a menace for the southern outer circuits of the Russian and the Polish-Lithuanian Kingdom, which could not be put an end to by themselves. This made the inhabitants of the boderline areas become warriors, who learned the war-strategies of their opponents. The Tatarian horsemen were not only in opposition to the Russian horsemen, not only adapting the battle strategies of their enemies but rather also the name of the Cossacks.

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