Grigori Kosh
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Grigori Kosh Григорій Кош | |
|---|---|
 19th century posthumous portrait of Kosh | |
| 1st Governor of the Colony of Chistovodia | |
| In office August 2, 1567 – June 9, 1588 | |
| Monarch | Ivan IV |
| Succeeded by | Vanechka Kyzyma |
| Personal details | |
| Born | April 29, 1519 Luchintsy, Archduchy of Narozalica |
| Died | June 9, 1588 (aged 69) Samistopol, Narozalic Empire |
| Resting place | Grigori Kosh Mausoleum, Luchintsy, Narozalica |
| Spouse | Valeria Kosh |
| Children | 5 |
| Occupation | Explorer |
Grigori Kosh (29 April 1519 – 9 June 1588; aged 69) was a Narozalic explorer, navigator and admiral whose discoveries in the eastern Asterias led to the establishment of the first Narozalic colonies on the continent. Along with Hennish explorer John Aanholt, Kosh's voyages across the Lumine Ocean in the 1560s were the first to cross the ocean in its entirety and essentially confirmed Kylaris' spherical nature, paving the way for later attempts at global circumnavigation. Kosh also served as the first Governor of Chistovodia when the colony was established in 1567, a position he held until his death in 1588.
Kosh was born into a fishing family in the maritime city of Luchintsy in 1519, where he spent most of his childhood. He enjoyed studying maps and became interested in cartography from a young age. Supposedly, Kosh met Weranic cartographer Hinrick Richenbachs when he was 16, who later published one of the first comprehensive maps of the Asterias in 1563 as Atlas Orbis Terrarum Nova inventa est. Kosh first went to sea at 17 and studied at the University of Malbay, graduating after three years with a degree in astronomy. Kosh worked at an observatory in Samistopol for most of his young adult life, but pursued his own naval and astronomical interests in his own time. In 1557, Kosh met Aanholt in Samistopol and the two planned an expedition west, hoping to reach the Arucian. Archduke Ivan IV was quick to give financial backing to Kosh, and was personally interested in the establishment of Narozalic colonies abroad. Departing in 1565, Kosh reached the eastern Asterias 212 days later, founding the outpost of Fort Ruda some 40 miles north of modern-day Misto Myru in 1566. Word of Kosh's discovery spread quickly back to Narozalica and continental Euclea, and was one of the primary discoveries of the 16th century.
Kosh made two more voyages from Narozalica to Chistovodia in 1569 and 1571, by which he had been appointed as Governor of the Colony of Chistovodia by Ivan IV for his efforts. As governor, Kosh oversaw the establishment and expansion of the lucrative coastal fur trade that massively boosted Narozalica's economy in the late 16th century. Kosh spent most of his later life travelling between Narozalica and Chistovodia, but spent the plurality of his time in his hometown of Luchintsy. Throughout the 1570s, despite skepticism by Ivan, Kosh convinced the young king to dedicate military resources to convert the native populations of the coast to Episemialist Sotirianity, but in practise it was mainly use to conduct mass killings and relocations of the native populations throughout the coast. In what is now referred to as the Kosene War, thousands of natives were killed and expelled from the coast under the command of Kosh, whose primary goal was to establish ultimate Narozalic hegemony over the land and trade of the eastern Asterian coast. Kosh retired to Luchintsy officially in 1587, although retained the position of Governor until his death in 1588.
Kosh is an extremely controversial figure throughout the world. As a pioneer of translumine navigation, global circumnavigation and Asterian discoveries, Kosh was a celebrated and revered figure throughout Euclea for much of history, centuries after his death. Recently, however, his legacy has come under scrutiny for his direct and unparalleled role in the extermination of the native Asterian population and the forceful eradication of their culture and beliefs, and is credited for beginning the series of harsh Narozalic policies on Asterian natives later enhanced by Louis II during the Yellow Tree War. Kosh has many monuments in Narozalica, Chistovodia and throughout Euclea and rests in the Grigori Kosh Mausoleum in northwest Luchintsy.