Tatiana Markina was born on the Don, in the Utkin farm of the village of Nagavskaya. The beautiful twenty-year-old Don Cossack Tatiana Mironovna Markina ran away from her home from the village grooms bored by her. She stole men's clothing from her neighbors and left her own on the lake. Soon the girl was considered drowned and, having buried an empty coffin, they celebrated a magnificent funeral service.
Tatiana Markina was a twenty-year-old Don Cossack from the village of Nagaevsk who, during the reign of Catherine II, disguised herself as a man with the surname of "Krutochkin" and enlisted as a soldier in an infantry regiment in Novocherkassk. She was promoted to the rank of captain and described as being "strong-willed, energetic, and militant." Someone apparently discovered her true identity and made a complaint, forcing "Captain Krutochkin" to appeal to the empress, who had physicians settle the question of "Krutochkin's" identity. Although Markina was forced to leave the service, she was given military retirement and a pension. She returned to her village near the Don River. Unfortunately, she left no writings or memoirs to describe her experiences and motivations. Her story is only beginning to be pieced together by Russian researchers from documents and archival materials.
Tatiana Markina was considered an outstanding musketeer and expert in service. When the retired military captain Tatyana Markina returned to her native village, she was received as a hero. Markina enjoyed continual respect from her neighbors and even represented the village as a deputy when the Cossack’s interests were infringed upon.
Tatiana Markina "Krutochkin" became the subject of a criminal case. Krutochkin was accused of rape and breaking a marriage agreement. Under the threat of being decommissioned and sent to Siberia, Markina had to open up to the Empress. Catherine the Great had herself dressed up in men’s clothing more than once and expressed the opinion that it would have been good to be born a man and a warrior. She took an interest in Markina-Krutochkin’s affairs. After an investigation and medical examination, Krutochkin was fully acquitted.
