G. Ivan created the Cathedral of Reconciliation. Subsequently, such cathedrals were called Zemsky. By "cathedral" was meant any meeting. Including a meeting of the boyars ("boyar cathedral"). The word "zemstvo" could mean "nationwide" (that is, the cause of "the whole earth"). During the reign of Ivan IV the Terrible, the practice of calling class conferences, called "zemstvo councils", spread only from the 17th century.
The history of zemstvo councils is the history of the internal development of society, the evolution of the state apparatus, the formation of social relations, changes in the estate system. In the 16th century, the process of the formation of the given is just beginning, initially it was not clearly structured, and its competence was not strictly defined. The practice of convening, the procedure for forming, especially, its composition of the Zemsky Sobor for a long time, were also not regulated.
As for the composition of the Zemsky Councils, even during the reign of Mikhail Romanov, when the activity of the Zemsky Councils was the most intense, the composition varied depending on the urgency of the issues to be solved and on the very nature of the issues.
Periodization of Zemsky Sobors
The periodization of the Zemsky Councils can be divided into 6 periods:
1. The history of Zemsky Sobors begins during the reign of Ivan IV the Terrible. The first council took place in the city of Councils convened by the imperial power - this period lasts until the city of
There is also an opinion that it was the so-called "cathedral of reconciliation" (perhaps the tsar with the boyars or reconciliation between representatives of different classes among themselves).
BA Romanov that the Zemsky Sobor consisted, as it were, of two "chambers": the first consisted of boyars, okolnichy, butlers, treasurers, the second - governors, princes, boyar children, great nobles. Nothing is said about who the second "chamber" consisted of: from those who happened to be in Moscow at that time, or from those who were summoned to Moscow on purpose. Data on the participation of the posad population in the zemstvo councils is very doubtful, although the decisions made there were often very beneficial to the top of the posad. Often, the discussion took place separately among the boyars and okolniks, clergy, service people, that is, each group separately expressed its opinion on this issue.
The earliest council, the activity of which is evidenced by the Sentence that has come down to us (with signatures and a list of participants in the Duma council) and the news in the annals, took place in 1566, where the main issue was the continuation or termination of the bloody Livonian War.
An important place in the composition of the Zemsky Councils was occupied by the clergy, in particular the Zemsky Councils of February - March 1549 and the spring of 1551 were simultaneously full church councils, and only the Metropolitan and the higher clergy participated in the rest of the Moscow Councils. Participation in the councils of the clergy was intended to emphasize the legitimacy of the decisions made by the monarch.
Historical preconditions for the appearance and disappearance of Zemsky sobors
RG Skrynnikov expresses the opinion that the Russian state of the 16th century before the Zemsky Sobor in 1566 was an autocratic monarchy with an aristocratic boyar duma, and later followed the path of transformation into an estate-representative monarchy.
Already under the Grand Duke Ivan III, the supreme power, trying to reduce the power functions of large feudal lords, turned to peasant self-government for support. The Code of Law of 1497 determined that the court, elders and the best people from the volosts, that is, representatives of peasant communities, must be present at the court of governors.
Even under Ivan IV, the government is trying to expand its social base, addressing directly to the various estates overcoming the feudal fragmentation of the Russian state. The Zemsky Sobor can be viewed as an organ replacing the veche. Perceiving the tradition of the participation of public groups in solving government issues, he replaces the elements of democracy with the principles of estate representation.
According to some historians, the existence of Zemsky Councils was relatively short-lived and did not have a big impact on the social development of Russia:
Firstly, councils were never assembled independently, they were convened by the monarch, most often to support his policy, in order to give them legality and justice in the eyes of the people (the approval of new taxes by the will of “the whole earth” excluded complaints from the population);
Secondly, the estate-representative body could not develop in Russia due to the fact that all estates, by and large, were equally disenfranchised before the unlimited tsarist power, regardless of nobility and wealth. "We are free to execute and have mercy on our servants," Ivan the Terrible asserted, meaning all his subjects, from the noble princes to the last enslaved peasants, by the servants. As V.O. Klyuchevsky wrote: "Estates in Russia XVI-XVII differed not in rights, but in duties."
Other researchers, such as I.D.Belyaev, believed that Zemsky Cathedrals:
Contributed to overcoming the remnants of feudal fragmentation in Russian society, both politically and psychologically;
We accelerated the implementation of reforms in the court and local government, because different classes of society have the opportunity to inform the supreme power about their needs.
Zemsky Cathedrals of the XVI-XVII centuries for quite objective reasons did not give rise to a stable estate representation in Russia. The Russian economy of that period was still insufficiently productive for the development of industrial and commercial estates (and absolutism prevailed in most European countries of that period, which were much stronger in economic terms), but zemstvo councils played a significant role in overcoming crises and the development of Russian society in the 16th century. XVII centuries
Bibliography
- A. N. Zertsalov. "To the history of Zemsky Sobors". Moscow ,
- A. N. Zertsalov. "New data on the Zemsky Councils in Russia 1648-1649". Moscow, 1887.
Notes (edit)
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See what "Zemsky Sobor" is in other dictionaries:
Zemsky Cathedral- (English Zemsky Sobor) in the Russian state in the XVI XVII centuries. a nationwide meeting of representatives of the elite estates, convened for collegial discussion and resolution of issues usually related to the competence of the monarch. History … Encyclopedia of Law
S. Ivanov Zemsky Sobor Zemsky Sobor (Council of the Whole Land) the highest estate representative institution of the Russian kingdom from the middle of the 16th to the end of the 17th century, present the collection ... Wikipedia
Zemsky Cathedral- (English Zemsky Sobor) in the Russian state in the XVI XVII centuries. a nationwide meeting of representatives of the elite estates, convened for collegial discussion and resolution of issues usually related to the competence of the monarch. State history and ... Big Law Dictionary
Zemsky Cathedral- Zemsky Cathedral (historical) ... Russian spelling dictionary
Zemsky Cathedral- (source) ... Spelling dictionary of the Russian language
ZEMSKY CATHEDRAL- - - the central body of estate representation in the Russian state from the middle of the 16th century. until the middle of the 17th century, which was an instrument of influence primarily of the local nobility. Appearance 3. p. was caused by changes in the economy and social order ... ... Soviet legal dictionary
ZEMSKY CATHEDRAL- the highest estate representative body in medieval Russia (XVI XVII centuries), which included members of the Consecrated Cathedral, the Boyar Duma, the sovereign's court, elected from the provincial nobility and the elite of the townspeople. Z.with. solved the most important issues ... ... Political Science: Reference Dictionary
Periodization of Zemsky Sobors
The periodization of the Zemsky Councils can be divided into 6 periods:
1. The history of Zemsky Sobors begins during the reign of Ivan IV the Terrible. The first council took place in 1549 Councils convened by the royal authorities - this period lasts until 1565.
2. Starting with the death of Ivan the Terrible and up to the fall of Shuisky (1584-1610). This was the time when the preconditions for civil war and foreign intervention were taking shape, and the crisis of autocracy began. Councils performed the function of election to the kingdom, often becoming an instrument of forces hostile to Russia.
3.1610-1613 Under the militias, the Zemsky Sobor turns into the supreme body of power (both legislative and executive), deciding issues of domestic and foreign policy. It was during this period of time that the Zemsky Sobor played the most important and significant role in the social life of Russia.
4.1613-1622 The council operates almost continuously, but already as an advisory body under the tsarist government. Resolves current administrative and financial issues. The tsarist government seeks to rely on the zemstvo councils when carrying out financial measures: collecting five-a-side money, restoring the undermined economy, eliminating the consequences of the intervention and preventing new aggression from Poland. From 1622 the cathedrals ceased to operate until 1632.
5.1632-1653 Councils meet relatively rarely, but to address important issues of both domestic policy: the drafting of the Code, the uprising in Pskov, and foreign: Russian-Polish and Russian-Crimean relations, the annexation of Ukraine, the question of Azov. During this period, the actions of the estate groups, making demands to the government, became more active, not so much through the zemstvo councils, but through the petitions filed.
6.1653-1684. The importance of zemstvo councils is declining (a slight rise was observed in the 80s). The last council with its full complement met in 1653 on the question of accepting Ukraine into the Russian state.
The first is considered the Zemsky Sobor in 1549, which lasted two days, and was convened to resolve issues about the new tsarist Code of Laws and the reforms of the "Chosen Rada". In the process of the council, the tsar, the boyars spoke, and later a meeting of the Boyar Duma took place, which adopted a provision on the non-jurisdiction (except for major criminal cases) of boyar children to governors. According to I.D.Belyaev, elected representatives of all estates took part in the first Zemsky Sobor. The tsar asked the blessing of the saints who were at the council to correct the Code of Law "according to the old days"; then he announced to the representatives of the communities that throughout the state, in all cities, suburbs, volosts and churchyards, and even in the private estates of boyars and other landowners, the elders and kisses, sotsk and courtyards should be elected by the residents themselves; for all regions statutory letters will be written, with the help of which the regions could be governed by themselves without the sovereign governors and volostels.
Zemsky Cathedral is called the highest estate-representative state institution, which was a meeting of representatives of the majority of the population (with the exception of serfs) to discuss administrative, economic, and political issues.
Convocation of the very first Zemsky Sobor in 1549(February twenty-seventh) coincided with the beginning of the reform period of Tsar Ivan the Fourth (the Terrible). It addressed two main issues: the abolition of feedings, as well as the abuse of local officials. The cathedral appears as a national analogue of city councils, which previously existed in large county towns. The first Zemsky Sobor united the higher clergy (members of the Consecrated Cathedral), boyars and appanage princes (Boyar Duma), wealthy townspeople, and also the king's courtiers. The meeting was held by rank, and the decisions taken were recorded as completely unanimous. The Zemsky Cathedral consisted of two chambers. The first consisted of: treasurers, attendants, butlers, as well as boyars. And in the second: great nobles, princes, boyar children and governors. The council lasted two days. During this time, the tsar, the boyars spoke three times and, finally, the boyar meeting took place.
This first Zemsky Sobor was nicknamed the "Cathedral of Reconciliation", since it was he who marked the change of the Russian state into an estate monarchy through the formation of an estate-representative central institution, in which the nobility played a significant role. However, at the same time, the aristocracy was obliged to give up its privileges in favor of the simple stratum of the population. This cathedral also became famous thanks to the compilation (correction and addition) of the new Code of Law, which was approved already in June 1550.
Also, simultaneously with the Zemsky Sobor, meetings of the Church Council took place, by decision of which, after considering their lives, the celebration of sixteen saints was established.
Another innovation introduced at the Zemsky Sobor in connection with the decision to "give judgment" to the boyars with a petition was the petition for the boyars. It not only received petitions for the sovereign's name, but also made decisions. This Izba became a kind of control body and an appellate department, which supervised the rest of the institutions.
the highest estate representative institutions in Russia in the middle of the 16th - the end of the 17th centuries. Convened by the tsar, and in his absence by the metropolitan (later patriarch) and the Boyar Duma. Permanent members of the council are the Duma officials, including the Duma clerks, and the Consecrated Cathedral (archbishops, bishops headed by a metropolitan, since 1589 - with a patriarch). Representatives of the "sovereign's court," elected from the provincial nobility, the upper ranks of the posad (the latter were represented at cathedrals in 1566, 1598 and most cathedrals of the 17th century) were involved in the participation in the Zemsky Sobor. There were no representatives of the peasants at the Zemsky Councils. The exception is the cathedral of 1613; it is believed that several representatives of the Black-sowed peasantry took part in its work. The practice of calling and the course of meetings was not strictly regulated and gradually changed. It is not always possible to establish the differences between the actual zemstvo councils and council meetings, that is, meetings of duma officials, higher clergy with representatives of certain groups of nobles or the townspeople, especially for the 16th century. In the first half of the 17th century, zemstvo councils were convened, both consisting of a large number of elected people from the localities, and cathedrals at which only servicemen and townspeople who were in Moscow were represented. Such representation depended on the degree of urgency of the convocation of the council and on the nature of the issues brought up for their discussion. The appearance of zemstvo councils was the result of the unification of the Russian lands into a single state, the weakening of the princely-boyar aristocracy, the growth of the political significance of the nobility and the upper classes of the posad. The first zemstvo councils were convened in the middle of the 16th century. Reforms during the reign of the Chosen Rada are associated with the Zemsky Councils of 1549, 1550. At the beginning of the 17th century, in the Time of Troubles, the "Council of All Land" was convened, a continuation of which was essentially the Zemsky Sobor of 1613, which elected Mikhail Fedorovich, the first king of the Romanov dynasty, to the throne. During his reign (1613-45) Zemsky Sobors were convened most often. Zemsky councils were convened to confirm the throne or to elect the tsar (councils 1584, 1598, 1613, 1645, 1676, 1682). At the Ulozhenny Cathedral (1648-1649), the Soborno Ulozhenie 1649 was drawn up and approved. At this Cathedral, the largest number of representatives from the localities was noted. The Zemsky Sobor in 1650 was convened in connection with the uprising in Pskov. The Council Decision of 1682 approved the abolition of parochialism. With the help of zemstvo councils, the government introduced new taxes, changed the old ones. At the councils, foreign policy issues were discussed, especially in connection with the danger of war, the need to assemble an army and the means to conduct it. These issues were constantly discussed, starting with the Zemsky Sobor of 1566, convened in connection with the Livonian War (1558-1583), and ending with the Councils of 1653-1654 on the reunification of Ukraine with Russia and 1683-1684 on Eternal Peace with the Commonwealth. Sometimes at the Zemsky Councils, unplanned questions were raised: at the Council of 1566 the question was raised about the abolition of the oprichnina, at the Council of 1642, convened to discuss the question of Azov, about the situation of the Moscow and city nobles. From the middle of the 17th century, the activities of the zemstvo councils gradually ceased. This is explained by the assertion of absolutism, as well as by the fact that the nobles and townspeople by the publication of the Cathedral Code (1649) achieved the satisfaction of many of their demands.
In 1549, the Zemsky Sobor was created - an advisory body, in which the aristocracy, clergy, "sovereigns" were represented; later, representatives of the merchants and the city elite were elected. The convocation of the Council testified to the creation of an estate-representative institution and the transformation of Russia into an estate-representative monarchy. The Zemsky Sobor included the Boyar Duma, representatives of the clergy, feudal lords and townspeople. Although the Councils did not restrict the power of the tsar and were of a deliberative nature, they contributed to the implementation of local political events by the supreme power. Since the legal status of the Zemsky Sobor was not determined, they were collected extremely unevenly. The elected parliament directed the supreme power on the path of rapprochement with society and the organization of the state with public assistance. According to all data, the Zemsky Sobor owes its conviction to her. It is very likely that the idea of convening a Council originated in the midst of the clergy who surrounded the Tsar, who knew the Council of the Church for organizing the affairs of the church. Metropolitan Macarius and some other persons “venerated by presbytery”, who were the soul of “the chosen Rada,” who surrounded the Tsar, had led the tsar to convene the Council, perhaps. But even among the boyars, belonging to this chosen parliament, the idea of the Zemsky Sobor enjoyed sympathy. From the speech of the tsar, which he delivered at a church council in 1551, the impression is made that the first Zemsky council was convened for universal reconciliation, to end the litigation and displeasure that had accumulated in society from the preceding era of boyar and then royal tyranny and tyranny. So, the first Zemsky Sobor gathered in Moscow for the internal pacification of the state after the troubles of the 30s and 40s. His role, by all indications, was not limited only to the general formulation of this problem. In the history of the development of the supreme power of the new Moscow state, a moment came when a certain limitation of monarchical absolutism was established. This restriction was mainly the work of a well-known circle of people who took advantage of the favorable turn in the tsar's mental life, and not the result of a united rebuff, solidarity efforts of the entire upper class or most of it. Not being the result of the struggle of an entire class with the monarch, this restriction was not secured by the proper political guarantees, the well-known constitution, which would define exactly the rights and obligations of the monarch in relation to his subjects. As a result of all this, the restriction turned out to be fragile and was not able to prevent the onset of an even bitter tyranny.
