The first Sudebnik was published ... Sudebnik 1497 - a characteristic. Consequences of the Code of Law of 1497

At the end of the XV century, the Russian lands experienced a new milestone in their history. At this time the princes of Moscow had to make decisions that would help to secure all the lands and keep them together. The first Code of Law was published for this purpose.

State before the adoption of an important document

Since 1132 in Russian history the period of fragmentation begins. The Old Russian state with its center in Kiev virtually ceased to exist. Although the princes fought for the throne of Kiev, their victory did not mean that they would take power over all the Russian lands. Very soon, the Kiev possessions were plundered, and city residents fled to other lands to find salvation from nomads and wars for themselves.

In a situation where the brother went to war with his brother and his son on his father, the Russian lands were easy prey for the nomadic tribes. During these years, Mongol-Tatar tribes recruited power. The disunity of the Russian princes and the lack of a common command helped the conquerors enslave the Old Russian state for many years.

Over time, several cities have gained enough strength to become the center of the new state. Thanks to the favorable geographical position, wisdom and cunning of local princes and support of the Orthodox Church, Moscow was able to win in this confrontation.

For decades the Moscow princes gathered Russian lands. He finished the design of the new state Ivan III. This required the creation of a code of laws by which it could exist. The king realized this need. The first Code of Law was published in 1497.

Ivan III

Ivan Vasilievich was born in Moscow in 1440. His father was Basil II, nicknamed the Dark One. Father Ivan Vasilievich took part in princely feuds. It was then that he earned his nickname. Seeking to deprive Vasili of the strength and the opportunity to fight, he was captivated and gouged out his eyes. Basil II survived and took the throne. But he needed help.

The assistant was the man whom Basil the Dark trusted just like himself. Ivan Vasilyevich, his son, began to take part in solving state problems after he turned 16. Six years after this event, Vasily the Dark died.

Ivan III was to annex Novgorod, Tver and many other rich territories to his lands. It was at this ruler that the design of the Russian state was over. And it was with him that there were changes in governance that would determine the history of the Fatherland for many years to come.

Burying his first wife, Ivan III decides to marry again. This time his chosen one is the niece of the last Byzantine ruler, Sophia Palaeologus. After long negotiations, she arrives in Moscow and becomes the wife of the Russian ruler.

Contemporaries wrote that Sophia was an extremely smart and cunning woman. She influenced her husband and taught him that only the Byzantine way of life can be called the only correct way of life. Words of the wife liked Ivan III, therefore soon after the wedding he started reforms.

The Byzantine courtyard was distinguished by its magnificence and richness of furnishings. Ceremonies, during which the subjects recognized their insignificance in comparison with the sovereign, exalted the ruler and emphasized the divine origin of his authority. After the wedding with Sophia Palaeologus, Ivan III established the same rules in his native country. In addition to the traditions, the coat of arms of Byzantium was adopted. Ivan III and his descendants were now considered the main defenders of the Orthodox faith, heirs of Byzantium.

Preservation of traditions

Ivan III did not dare to risk and make great changes in the established traditions of domestic policy. Many norms that were adopted in the old days, preserved their existence. Among those was "feeding". During the years of fragmentation, several small principalities appeared on the site of Kievan Rus', which differed in size and wealth. In most of them rulers independently managed their lands, in some they had to consult with boyars.

If the land was too large to manage it on its own, the prince sent out his deputies. They did not receive salaries, but, however, they had a comfortable existence: they were allowed to make wealth on their own lands. The governors without shame robbed the peasants and artisans. They had the right to take big taxes in the form of money and food.

The Code of Law of 1497 preserved "feeding", despite the fact that they inflicted a huge blow to the peasantry. But after the publication of the code of laws, their exact size was set, which no one could exceed.

Court and Proceedings

In creating the first Code of Law, Ivan III ordered that special attention should be paid not to laws, but to legal proceedings. Therefore, this document specifies separately who and how to make decisions.

The boyars, okolnichii and clerks were tried. In the event that the crime was serious, and it was not easy to solve it, the court was executed by the Grand Duke himself.

The first Sudebnik was also issued in order to ensure the justice of punishment, therefore, the first laws against bribery were introduced. The judges were forbidden to accept gifts and money from the participants in the proceedings and make decisions based on personal preferences.

In the event that it was difficult to identify who was right and who was to blame, the court decided on a duel. To determine the outcome of the case, the plaintiff and the defendant in the armor fought each other until one of them won. However, none of the participants should not have died. This was followed by special people. In the event that one of the parties could not fight (a woman, an elderly person, a cripple), she had to find someone who would agree to defend her interests.

The Penalties

The Code of Law of 1497 contained the list of punishments to which criminals were subjected. Henceforth, the inhabitants of the state did not have the right to independently execute the court and punish the offenders. Also, the blood feud was banned.

For the first time among the punishments appeared the death penalty. The highest rate was subjected to criminals who committed murder, arson, sacrilege, etc. In addition, they executed those who committed theft for the second time. For the first offender flogged in the square, so that as many people could see his shame.

In the event that the guilt was practically proved, but the person refused to admit it, the Code of 1497 permitted the use of torture. This method of obtaining a confession also appeared for the first time.

The situation

Especially the fragmentation and oppression of the Mongol-Tatars were reflected in the peasantry. Some were taken into slavery, others were killed. Only after the Mongol-Tatars retreated, the state gradually began to reborn from the ashes.

At the time when the first Code was created, there were already dependent peasants. They were called slaves, whose position was no different from that of slaves in other countries. They lost their freedom those people who did not have the means to lead an independent existence or were captured during military operations. Becoming a servant, a man condemned to slavery all his descendants. This provision was inherited, and the child of the servant became a servant even if his father was a free man.

Relations between peasants and landowners before the Code of Law of 1497

Until the year when the first Sudebnik was published, peasants (not serfs) had the right to move from one landowner to another. For work on the land, the peasant received a loan in the form of plant seeds, tools and money. Some landowners also provided their workers with housing.

For the received loan, the peasant undertook to plant seeds, take care of the plants and harvest, in order to pay back the debt to the landowner. But no one could prevent him from leaving before the harvest is collected. Then the landowner had to hasten to find people who would agree to harvest, so as not to incur even greater losses. Landowners wanted the Code of Law of 1497 to correct this injustice.

Yuryev's Day

Ivan III could not ignore this problem. Therefore, in Sudebnik, the first restriction appeared, which concerned the peasantry.

The adoption of the Code of Law established a period when a peasant could pass from one landowner to another. This period was the week before St. George's Day (October 26) and a week after it. At this time, the harvest is collected, the peasants can pay the elderly (payment for living on a foreign land, using foreign labor tools) to the landowner and move on to another.

Not everyone liked this reform. Because of some of the peasants, the adoption of the Sudebnik forced them to flee to the Don, where a special world emerged - the Cossacks.

Consequences of adoption of the document

The Code of Law is not only a collection of laws, but also a reflection of the harsh life of the Russian people at that time. It is on this document that you can study the life of the inhabitants of the state.

During the invasion of the Mongol-Tatars, the culture of the Old Russian state declined. If before the arrival of the nomads the Russian people could be considered one of the most literate in all of Europe, then for a few centuries everything changed. Also, the oppression of the Mongol-Tatars changed the mentality of the Russian people, which can be seen on the example of the Code.

The adoption of the first Code of Law meant the death penalty, torture. Never before have there been such severe penalties for crimes. And with the years will only more of their kinds.

The Bolsheviks, describing the consequences of the Code of Law of 1497, believed that at that time the enslavement of the peasantry began. But they were wrong. Although the time for the transition of peasants from one landowner to another was limited, this fact can not yet be called a harbinger of serfdom. It began to take shape with the heirs of Ivan III. And it was canceled only after the reform of Alexander II - a representative of another ruling dynasty.

The first Sudebnik was created in order to regulate the life of a new state centered in Moscow. The document first appears new rules, some were taken from the Russian Truth - the first set of laws. But all the norms that the first Russian Sudebnik represents are a reflection of the difficult life of the Russian land, which is recovering from the oppression of the Mongol-Tatars.