Zemsky order - the central government body. Zemsky order: description and history

After a period of Great Troubles, the gradual restoration of the administration of the Vladimir and Moscow lands began. Numerous wars and insurrections are a thing of the past, the tsarist autocracy has stabilized and gained strength in the country. Strengthening of control was accompanied by the expansion of the network of administrative authorities, among which was the Zemsky order - the central state body of management and control.

First mentions

During the Time of Troubles, there were no significant authorities . The whole territory of Russia was fragmented. But the gradual strengthening of the influence of the Moscow Principality led to the expansion of lands falling under the jurisdiction of the Moscow prince, which means that he needed his own land administration bodies.

As an independent institution Zemsky order was first mentioned in the documents of 1564, although some employees, who were called zemstvo deacons, performed their duties since 1500. The emergence of centralized government bodies of Russian lands speaks of the weakening influence of the princely and boyar aristocracy, the strengthening of central power. Zemsky Sobor and orders were two branches of the existing power: legislative and executive. The first cathedral was convened during the reign of Ivan the Terrible in 1549 and coincides with the sharp aggravation of the conflict between the "lower classes" and the "upper classes", which manifested itself both in the capital of Russian lands and on the outskirts of principalities. The history of the convocation of the Zemsky Sobor goes back two centuries. Historically, two chambers engaged in appointments and orders: in the first there were convicts, boyars, treasurers and butlers, in the second - boyar children, voivods, princes and nobles.

Structure of the Zemsky order

The bulk of the officials of the Zemsky order consisted of traveling heads, appointed from local nobles. They led street guards, archers and gunners. They were also subordinated to the lattice bailiffs who ran the gates blocking the streets of old Moscow, yarygy - responsible for the cleaning of the roadways and various people from the towns, performing a variety of assignments.

Obligations of the Zemsky Order

Zemsky order fulfilled its numerous duties on the basis of decrees and orders of the acting authorities. His officials replaced the existing city clerks and trotnikov - puppets of boyars and princes. Among the main duties of the officials of the order were:

• Improvement of the subordinated territory, management of the city economy;
• Collection of taxes;
• Litigation and litigation with the lower classes of the population;
• Protection of law and order, fire extinguishing;
• The struggle against riches, brothels and gambling.

The general level of Moscow's development was typical of a medieval city: narrow streets, clogged with waste, heaps of manure on the pavement and an intolerable stench. On weekends and holidays, attempts were made to restore order in the streets of Moscow, the condition of the streets of Nikolskaya and Myasnitskaya streets, according to which the tsar often passed, was supported almost in an ideal. Later all the rough work was assigned to the people of the low class - the arrogant. They were also ordered to clean streets, take out sewage, and serve in the stables of noble officials.

The work of the Moscow police

Zemsky order paid for the work of the Moscow police, which was responsible for order and prevented minor offenses. The staff of the administration itself was not large. The head of the police department was chosen by a round-headed head, to whom a cabinet and a small office were allocated. To help the head stood archers and lattice bailiffs. Rich courtyards had their own security and search services and had virtually no contact with the police.

Development of Zemsky management

At the beginning of the 17th century, the Zemsky land order was divided into two Zemstvo courts, which were run by two different parts of Moscow. The number of officials who served in the orders increased, and its functions expanded. All clerical work was divided into "ship" and "money" tables. In the special books petitions, petitions and decisions taken after their consideration were recorded.

After the innovations of Peter I, oriented towards the European way of life, the order and the Zemsky Sobor were abolished. The Ministry and the Collegium were formed according to Western European standards. It was they who were given the responsibility to perform the functions of the old government.

Zemstvo Revival

In the second half of the 19th century, the decline of the existing system forced Tsar Alexander II to carry out reforms concerning the reorganization of state administration. One of the first was the reform of local self-government, in which local authorities received more powers and could partially make independent decisions.

At this time, the issue of treating rural residents is raised and the "Zemsky Doctor" program is launched. The order to provide medical assistance led doctors and feldshers to the remote corners of the country, whose duties included providing emergency medical care.

The conditions of educational programs gave the right to learn to read and write to the most numerous sections of the population - the peasants. The zemstvo itself made the decision to build railways or build large industrial enterprises. Great attention was paid to the cultural life of small towns and villages: theaters, women's courses, public libraries and other cultural and educational institutions were opened. Unfortunately, revolutions and wars destroyed all the potential that the reforms of the 19th century brought to the state's life.

At the present time, at the lessons of history and olympiads devoted to the study of the past of the native land, such an assignment is often encountered: "The order, the Zemsky Sobor, the ministry, the collegium - what is superfluous?" The correct answer is "Zemsky Sobor", since it was a legislative body of power, and all other listed institutions of state administration are executive.