The governors are ... The meaning of the word "governor"

The 13th century in Rus was marked by the unification of the northeastern principalities. The capital city in which the prince sat, Moscow was elected. In the service he had many boyars, some of whom were engaged in servicing and providing everything the prince and his palace needed (the butlers themselves), followed the filling of the treasury (treasurer), for the content of combat-ready military units, and many others. However, the prince, no less than life in the capital, was interested in the welfare of the people in the volosts, or, more simply, on the periphery of the state. It was then that the prince decided to create such posts as governors and volostels. This decision was designed not only to strictly observe order in the state, but also to follow the borders of Russia. To whom did the emperor entrust these posts? What duties did he entrust to the governors and volostels? What was their main role? This article and many other things will tell this article.

The meaning of the word "governor"

In scientific terms, among the governors there are people who, on the orders of the prince, went to a major city of Russia to represent his interests there. For the first time the governorship was tested in Novgorod, and initially the person acting as the sovereign "on the spot" was called "the prince's husband". Only towards the end of the 13th century the incumbents began to be called "governors" everywhere. This phenomenon contributed to strengthening the power of the prince on the one hand, but at the same time unleashed the hands of some unscrupulous officials, who sometimes could forgo law in their own interests. However, the governorship existed until the ascent to the throne of Ivan the Terrible, that is, almost 4 centuries.

At present, the word "governor" has not come out of use. This is how the representatives of the church are called, who are entrusted with the discharge of the bishop's duties during his absence.

Procedure for obtaining a position

As we learned earlier, the governors are the representatives of the prince, from which it can be concluded that only a man from the clan boyars, who were particularly close to the reigning person, could receive this post. The prince did not take into account the opinion of the people living in a particular principality or county, but was guided by their own interests. In every major city the prince of Moscow had his own governors. This could not but affect the order of future appointments, as a result of which the post was inherited from father to son. An example of this can serve as a fact: in Meshchera for almost 2 centuries governors served as representatives of one boyar surname.

The main functions of the governor

What functions did the governors have? First, they could carry out judicial and other actions designed to restore order in the territories entrusted to them. Under the jurisdiction of the governor came both civil and criminal cases. Secondly, they were both generals and administrators of princely property in their patrimony. However, the main business of the governor was to collect the following taxes and taxes in favor of the prince:

• Periodic collections (Christmas, Petrovsky and the Great);
• Court fees;
• Trading and marriage fees;
• Entrance tax from the wagons crossing the principality with the goods.

It is worth noting that not only the prince, but also the governors himself, existed on the means received in this way. This occupation they often put above their other duties, because of which often raised up unrest among ordinary people.

Vimes and Volostel: what's the difference?

Viceroy and volostel are two concepts that are inextricably linked. Despite the great similarity of the duties performed, the volosts always stood on the step below the governors. If we compare with the modern system of state structure, the volostel can be equated to the head of a small municipal formation, and the governor to the head of a city or an entire region. If the governor could be tried for criminal offenses, the volostels were allowed to conduct only civil cases. Certificates for "feeding", that is, the collection of taxes and fees, volostel received from the governor or directly from the prince. Just like the governors, the Volostels often abused power, as a result of which, with the coming to power of Ivan the Terrible, both these posts were abolished.