Veche in the Novgorod Republic. Novgorod veche. History of the Novgorod Republic Short essay on the topic of the Novgorod veche

Prerequisites for the appearance

Story

In written sources, the Novgorod veche was first mentioned in 1016, when it was convened by Yaroslav the Wise.

By the 15th century, the Novgorod veche had lost its democratic features due to increased economic inequality among the people, effectively degenerating into an oligarchy. Large landowners-boyars, by bribing the poor, created large parties for themselves at the councils and adopted those laws and decisions that were beneficial to them. On this basis, conflicts and unrest arose, which were one of the reasons for the fall of the Novgorod Republic, along with the strengthening of the Moscow Principality.

Location

As a rule, townspeople gathered at a citywide meeting in a strictly defined place. In Novgorod and Kyiv - at the St. Sophia Cathedrals.

In case of serious disagreements, some of the townspeople who were dissatisfied with the decision made gathered in another place. In Novgorod, such an alternative meeting was convened at Yaroslav's Dvorishche, on the Trade Side.

Etymology

Range of questions

There is no unity among historians in assessing the powers of the veche. The reason for this is the instability of this legal institution. Often the veche itself determined its competence, so it was different in different historical periods.

Notes

Academician of the Russian Academy of Sciences V. L. Yanin. Origins of Novgorod statehood // Science and Life, No. 1, 2005
Academician of the Russian Academy of Sciences V. L. Yanin. At the origins of Novgorod statehood, a conversation with “Knowledge is Power” correspondent Galina Belskaya. // Knowledge is power, No. 5-6, 2000
// Encyclopedic Dictionary of Brockhaus and Efron: In 86 volumes (82 volumes and 4 additional ones). - St. Petersburg. , 1890-1907.
Grebennikov V.V., Dmitriev Yu.A. Chapter II. Legislatures state power Russia until October 1917 // Legislative bodies of Russia from the Novgorod Council to Federal Assembly: a difficult path from patriarchal tradition to civilization. - M.: “Manuscript”, “TEIS”, 1995. - P. 35. - 102 p. - 1 thousand, copies. - ISBN 978-5-860-40034-4
Veche // Big school encyclopedia “Russika”. Russian history. IX - XVII centuries / Edited by V. P. Butromeev. - M.: Olma-Press, 2001. - P. 117. - 800 p. - 5 thousand, copies. - ISBN 5-224-00625-2
Platonov S. F. A complete course of lectures on Russian history.
Pchelov E. V. Moscow Rurik dynasty // Monarchs of Russia. - M.: Olma-Press, 2003. - P. 263. - 668 p. - (Historical Library). - 10 thousand, copies. - ISBN 5-224-04343-3
Podvigina N. L.§ Novgorod veche // Essays on socio-economic and political history Novgorod the Great in the XII-XIII centuries. / edited by corresponding member. USSR Academy of Sciences V. L. Yanina. - M.: Higher School, 1976. - P. 104. - 151 p. - 9 thousand, copies.
Yanin V.L. Novgorod mayors. - 2nd edition, revised and expanded. - M.: Languages of Slavic culture, 2003. - P. 8. - 511 p. - (Studia historica). - ISBN 978-5-944-57106-9
Rozhkov N. A. Russian history in comparative historical coverage (fundamentals social dynamics). - 3rd ed. - M., 1930. - T. 2. - P. 269.

Literature

Khalyavin N.V. Novgorod veche meetings in Russian historiography of modern times // Bulletin of UdSU. Series "History". - Izhevsk:

(according to the chronicle, 862). The Novgorod veche existed for more than six centuries, longer than in other Russian lands - until 1478.

Prerequisites for the appearance

Story

In written sources, the Novgorod veche was first mentioned in 1016, when it was convened by Yaroslav the Wise.

On Thursday, January 15, 1478, the independent existence of the Novgorod state ended. Moscow boyars and clerks of Ivan III entered the city. The veche bell of Novgorod was taken to Moscow. Self-government was completely liquidated, and the Novgorod veche has since ceased to meet.

Location

As a rule, townspeople gathered at a citywide meeting in a strictly defined place. In Novgorod and Kyiv - at the St. Sophia Cathedrals.

Etymology

Range of questions

Write a review about the article "Novgorod Assembly"

Notes

Academician of the Russian Academy of Sciences V. L. Yanin. // Science and Life, No. 1, 2005
Academician of the Russian Academy of Sciences V. L. Yanin. , conversation with “Knowledge is Power” correspondent Galina Belskaya. // Knowledge is power, No. 5-6, 2000
Novgorod the Great // Encyclopedic Dictionary of Brockhaus and Efron: in 86 volumes (82 volumes and 4 additional). - St. Petersburg. , 1890-1907.
Grebennikov V.V., Dmitriev Yu.A. Chapter II. Legislative bodies of state power in Russia before October 1917 // Legislative bodies of Russia from the Novgorod Council to the Federal Assembly: a difficult path from patriarchal tradition to civilization. - M.: “Manuscript”, “TEIS”, 1995. - P. 35. - 102 p. - 1 thousand, copies. - ISBN 978-5-860-40034-4.
Volkov V. Veche // . - M.: Olma-press, 2001. - T. 1. - P. 117. - ISBN 5-224-01258-9.
Platonov S. F. .
Pchelov E. V. Moscow Rurik dynasty // . - M.: Olma-Press, 2003. - P. 263. - 668 p. - (Historical Library). - 10 thousand, copies. - ISBN 5-224-04343-3.
Podvigina N. L.§ Novgorod Veche // Essays on the socio-economic and political history of Novgorod the Great in the XII-XIII centuries. / edited by corresponding member. USSR Academy of Sciences V. L. Yanina. - M.: Higher School, 1976. - P. 104. - 151 p. - 9 thousand, copies.
Yanin V.L. Novgorod mayors. - 2nd edition, revised and expanded. - M.: Languages of Slavic culture, 2003. - P. 8. - 511 p. - (Studia historica). - ISBN 978-5-944-57106-9.
Rozhkov N. A. Russian history in comparative historical light (fundamentals of social dynamics). - 3rd ed. - M., 1930. - T. 2. - P. 269.

Literature

Khalyavin N.V.// Bulletin of UdSU. Series "History". - Izhevsk: UdGU, 2005. - P. 3-25.
Lukin P.V. Novgorod veche / Rep. ed. V. A. Kuchkin; Reviewers: A. A. Gorsky, E. R. Squires; . - M.: Indrik, 2014. - 608 p. - 800 copies. - ISBN 978-5-91674-308-1.(in translation)

An excerpt characterizing the Novgorod veche

It was always a holiday because everyone loved her pies. And no matter who came in at that moment, there was always a place for him at the large and hospitable grandmother’s table. We always stayed up late, prolonging the pleasure at the “tea” table. And even when our “tea party” ended, no one wanted to leave, as if grandmother “baked” a piece of her good soul there along with the pies, and everyone also wanted to sit and “warm up” by her warm, cozy hearth.
Grandma truly loved to cook and whatever she made, it was always incredibly tasty. It could be Siberian dumplings, smelling so much that all our neighbors suddenly began to salivate with “hungry.” Or my favorite cherry-curd cheesecakes, which literally melted in the mouth, leaving for a long time the amazing taste of warm fresh berries and milk... And even her simplest pickled mushrooms, which she fermented every year in an oak tub with currant leaves, dill and garlic, were the most delicious that I have ever eaten in my life, despite the fact that today I have traveled more than half the world and tried all sorts of delicacies that, it would seem, one could only dream of. But those unforgettable smells of grandma’s stupendously delicious “art” could never be overshadowed by any, even the most exquisitely refined foreign dish.
And so, having such a homemade “sorcerer”, to the general horror of my family, one fine day I suddenly really stopped eating. Now I no longer remember whether there was any reason for this or whether it just happened for some reason unknown to me, as it usually always happened. I simply completely lost the desire for any food offered to me, although I did not experience any weakness or dizziness, but on the contrary, I felt unusually light and absolutely wonderful. I tried to explain all this to my mother, but, as I understood, she was very frightened by my new trick and did not want to hear anything, but was only honestly trying to force me to “swallow” something.
I felt very bad and vomited with every new portion of food I took. Only pure water was accepted by my tormented stomach with pleasure and ease. Mom was almost in a panic when our then family doctor, my cousin Dana. Delighted by her arrival, my mother, of course, immediately told her our whole “horrible” story about my fasting. And how happy I was when I heard that “there’s nothing so bad about it” and that I could be left alone for a while without food being forced into me! I saw that my caring mother didn’t believe it at all, but there was nowhere to go, and she decided to leave me alone at least for a while.
Life immediately became easy and pleasant, because I felt absolutely wonderful and there was no longer that constant nightmare of anticipation of stomach cramps that usually accompanied every slightest attempt to take any food. This lasted for about two weeks. All my senses became sharper and my perceptions became much brighter and stronger, as if something most important was being snatched out, and the rest faded into the background.
My dreams changed, or rather, I began to see the same, repeating dream - as if I suddenly rose above the ground and walked freely without my heels touching the floor. It was such a real and incredibly wonderful feeling that every time I woke up, I immediately wanted to go back. This dream was repeated every night. I still don't know what it was or why. But this continued after, many, many years. And even now, before I wake up, I very often see the same dream.
Once, my father’s brother came to visit from the city in which he lived at that time and during a conversation he told his father that he had recently seen a very good film and began to tell it. Imagine my surprise when I suddenly realized that I already knew in advance what he would talk about! And although I knew for sure that I had never seen this film, I could tell it from beginning to end with all the details... I didn’t tell anyone about it, but I decided to see if something similar would appear in something else. Well, naturally, my usual “new thing” didn’t take long to arrive.
At that time in school we studied old ancient legends. I was in a literature lesson and the teacher said that today we would study “The Song of Roland.” Suddenly, unexpectedly for myself, I raised my hand and said that I could tell this song. The teacher was very surprised and asked if I often read old legends. I said not often, but I know this one. Although, to be honest, I still had no idea where it came from?
And so, from that same day, I began to notice that more and more often some unfamiliar moments and facts were opening up in my memory, which I could not have known in any way, and every day more and more of them appeared. I was a little tired of all this “influx” of unfamiliar information, which, in all likelihood, was simply too much for my child’s psyche at that time. But since it came from somewhere, then, in all likelihood, it was needed for something. And I accepted it all quite calmly, just as I always accepted everything unfamiliar that my strange and unpredictable fate brought me.
True, sometimes all this information manifested itself in a very funny form - I suddenly began to see very vivid images of places and people unfamiliar to me, as if taking part in it myself. “Normal” reality disappeared and I remained in some kind of “closed” world from everyone else, which only I could see. And that's how I could stay for a long time standing in a “pillar” somewhere in the middle of the street, not seeing anything and not reacting to anything, until some frightened, compassionate “uncle or aunt” began to shake me, trying to somehow bring me to my senses and find out if everything was wrong I'm fine...
Despite his early age, I already (from my own bitter experience) understood perfectly well that everything that was constantly happening to me, for all “normal” people, according to their usual and habitual norms, seemed absolutely abnormal (although regarding “normality” I was ready argue with anyone even then). Therefore, as soon as someone tried to help me in one of these “unusual” situations, I usually tried to convince them as quickly as possible that I was “absolutely fine” and that there was absolutely no need to worry about me. True, I was not always able to convince, and in such cases it ended with another call to my poor, “reinforced concrete-patient” mother, who after the call naturally came to pick me up...

(according to the chronicle, 862). The Novgorod veche existed for more than six centuries, longer than in other Russian lands - until 1478.

Prerequisites for the appearance

Story

Location

As a rule, townspeople gathered at a citywide meeting in a strictly defined place. In Novgorod and Kyiv - at the St. Sophia Cathedrals.

Etymology

Range of questions

Write a review about the article "Novgorod Assembly"

Notes

Academician of the Russian Academy of Sciences V. L. Yanin. // Science and Life, No. 1, 2005
Academician of the Russian Academy of Sciences V. L. Yanin. , conversation with “Knowledge is Power” correspondent Galina Belskaya. // Knowledge is power, No. 5-6, 2000
// Encyclopedic Dictionary of Brockhaus and Efron: in 86 volumes (82 volumes and 4 additional). - St. Petersburg. , 1890-1907.
Grebennikov V.V., Dmitriev Yu.A. Chapter II. Legislative bodies of state power in Russia before October 1917 // Legislative bodies of Russia from the Novgorod Council to the Federal Assembly: a difficult path from patriarchal tradition to civilization. - M.: “Manuscript”, “TEIS”, 1995. - P. 35. - 102 p. - 1 thousand, copies. - ISBN 978-5-860-40034-4.
Volkov V. Veche // . - M.: Olma-press, 2001. - T. 1. - P. 117. - ISBN 5-224-01258-9.
Platonov S. F. .
Pchelov E. V. Moscow Rurik dynasty // . - M.: Olma-Press, 2003. - P. 263. - 668 p. - (Historical Library). - 10 thousand, copies. - ISBN 5-224-04343-3.
Podvigina N. L.§ Novgorod Veche // Essays on the socio-economic and political history of Novgorod the Great in the XII-XIII centuries. / edited by corresponding member. USSR Academy of Sciences V. L. Yanina. - M.: Higher School, 1976. - P. 104. - 151 p. - 9 thousand, copies.
Yanin V.L. Novgorod mayors. - 2nd edition, revised and expanded. - M.: Languages of Slavic culture, 2003. - P. 8. - 511 p. - (Studia historica). - ISBN 978-5-944-57106-9.
Rozhkov N. A. Russian history in comparative historical light (fundamentals of social dynamics). - 3rd ed. - M., 1930. - T. 2. - P. 269.

Literature

Khalyavin N.V.// Bulletin of UdSU. Series "History". - Izhevsk: UdGU, 2005. - P. 3-25.
Lukin P.V. Novgorod veche / Rep. ed. V. A. Kuchkin; Reviewers: A. A. Gorsky, E. R. Squires; . - M.: Indrik, 2014. - 608 p. - 800 copies. - ISBN 978-5-91674-308-1.(in translation)

An excerpt characterizing the Novgorod veche

“Get out, otherwise they’ll think I’m holding on,” said Dolokhov.
“The Englishman is bragging... huh?... good?...” said Anatole.
“Okay,” said Pierre, looking at Dolokhov, who, taking a bottle of rum in his hands, was approaching the window from which the light of the sky and the morning and evening dawns merging on it could be seen.
Dolokhov, with a bottle of rum in his hand, jumped up onto the window. "Listen!"
he shouted, standing on the windowsill and turning into the room. Everyone fell silent.
- I bet (he spoke French so that an Englishman could understand him, and did not speak this language very well). I bet you fifty imperials, would you like a hundred? - he added, turning to the Englishman.
“No, fifty,” said the Englishman.
- Okay, for fifty imperials - that I will drink the entire bottle of rum without taking it from my mouth, I will drink it while sitting outside the window, right here (he bent down and showed the sloping ledge of the wall outside the window) and without holding on to anything... So? ...
“Very good,” said the Englishman.
Anatole turned to the Englishman and, taking him by the button of his tailcoat and looking down at him (the Englishman was short), began repeating to him the terms of the bet in English.
- Wait! - Dolokhov shouted, banging the bottle on the window to attract attention. - Wait, Kuragin; listen. If anyone does the same, then I pay one hundred imperials. Do you understand?
The Englishman nodded his head, not giving any indication as to whether he intended to accept this new bet or not. Anatole did not let go of the Englishman and, despite the fact that he nodded, letting him know that he understood everything, Anatole translated Dolokhov’s words to him in English. A young thin boy, a life hussar, who had lost that evening, climbed onto the window, leaned out and looked down.
“Uh!... uh!... uh!...” he said, looking out the window at the stone sidewalk.
- Attention! - Dolokhov shouted and pulled the officer from the window, who, entangled in his spurs, awkwardly jumped into the room.
Having placed the bottle on the windowsill so that it would be convenient to get it, Dolokhov carefully and quietly climbed out the window. Dropping his legs and leaning both hands on the edges of the window, he measured himself, sat down, lowered his hands, moved to the right, to the left and took out a bottle. Anatole brought two candles and put them on the windowsill, although it was already quite light. Dolokhov's back in a white shirt and his curly head were illuminated from both sides. Everyone crowded around the window. The Englishman stood in front. Pierre smiled and said nothing. One of those present, older than the others, with a frightened and angry face, suddenly moved forward and wanted to grab Dolokhov by the shirt.
- Gentlemen, this is nonsense; he will be killed to death,” said this more prudent man.
Anatole stopped him:
“Don’t touch it, you’ll scare him and he’ll kill himself.” Eh?... What then?... Eh?...
Dolokhov turned around, straightening himself and again spreading his arms.
“If anyone else bothers me,” he said, rarely letting words slip through his clenched and thin lips, “I’ll bring him down here now.” Well!…
Having said “well”!, he turned again, let go of his hands, took the bottle and brought it to his mouth, threw his head back and threw his free hand up for leverage. One of the footmen, who began to pick up the glass, stopped in a bent position, not taking his eyes off the window and Dolokhov’s back. Anatole stood straight, eyes open. The Englishman, his lips thrust forward, looked from the side. The one who stopped him ran to the corner of the room and lay down on the sofa facing the wall. Pierre covered his face, and a weak smile, forgotten, remained on his face, although it now expressed horror and fear. Everyone was silent. Pierre took his hands away from his eyes: Dolokhov was still sitting in the same position, only his head was bent back, so that the curly hair of the back of his head touched the collar of his shirt, and the hand with the bottle rose higher and higher, shuddering and making an effort. The bottle was apparently emptied and at the same time rose, bending its head. “What’s taking so long?” thought Pierre. It seemed to him that more than half an hour had passed. Suddenly Dolokhov made a backward movement with his back, and his hand trembled nervously; this shudder was enough to move the entire body sitting on the sloping slope. He shifted all over, and his hand and head trembled even more, making an effort. One hand rose to grab the window sill, but dropped again. Pierre closed his eyes again and told himself that he would never open them. Suddenly he felt that everything around him was moving. He looked: Dolokhov was standing on the windowsill, his face was pale and cheerful.
- Empty!
He threw the bottle to the Englishman, who deftly caught it. Dolokhov jumped from the window. He smelled strongly of rum.
- Great! Well done! So bet! Damn you completely! - they shouted from different sides.
The Englishman took out his wallet and counted out the money. Dolokhov frowned and remained silent. Pierre jumped onto the window.
Gentlemen! Who wants to bet with me? “I’ll do the same,” he suddenly shouted. “And there’s no need for a bet, that’s what.” They told me to give him a bottle. I'll do it... tell me to give it.
- Let it go, let it go! – said Dolokhov, smiling.
- What you? crazy? Who will let you in? “Your head is spinning even on the stairs,” they spoke from different sides.
- I'll drink it, give me a bottle of rum! - Pierre shouted, hitting the table with a decisive and drunken gesture, and climbed out the window.
They grabbed him by the arms; but he was so strong that he pushed the one who approached him far away.
“No, you can’t persuade him like that,” said Anatole, “wait, I’ll deceive him.” Look, I bet you, but tomorrow, and now we're all going to hell.
“We’re going,” Pierre shouted, “we’re going!... And we’re taking Mishka with us...
And he grabbed the bear, and, hugging and lifting it, began to spin around the room with it.

Prince Vasily fulfilled the promise made at the evening at Anna Pavlovna's to Princess Drubetskaya, who asked him about her only son Boris. He was reported to the sovereign, and, unlike others, he was transferred to the Semenovsky Guard Regiment as an ensign. But Boris was never appointed as an adjutant or under Kutuzov, despite all the efforts and machinations of Anna Mikhailovna. Soon after Anna Pavlovna's evening, Anna Mikhailovna returned to Moscow, straight to her rich relatives Rostov, with whom she stayed in Moscow and with whom her beloved Borenka, who had just been promoted to the army and was immediately transferred to guards ensigns, had been raised and lived for years since childhood. The Guard had already left St. Petersburg on August 10, and the son, who remained in Moscow for uniforms, was supposed to catch up with her on the road to Radzivilov.
The Rostovs had a birthday girl, Natalya, a mother and a younger daughter. In the morning, without ceasing, trains drove up and drove off, bringing congratulators to the large, well-known house of Countess Rostova on Povarskaya throughout Moscow. The countess with her beautiful eldest daughter and guests, who never ceased replacing one another, were sitting in the living room.
The Countess was a woman with an oriental type of thin face, about forty-five years old, apparently exhausted by children, of whom she had twelve. The slowness of her movements and speech, resulting from weakness of strength, gave her a significant appearance that inspired respect. Princess Anna Mikhailovna Drubetskaya, as home person, sat right there, helping in the matter of receiving and engaging in conversation with guests. The youth were in the back rooms, not finding it necessary to participate in receiving visits. The Count met and saw off the guests, inviting everyone to dinner.

The term “veche” appears frequently in sources. The Novgorod chronicler uses this concept very widely. He calls a veche a “citywide meeting” that decides important state issues (for example, on the election or expulsion of a prince, on war and peace), and meetings of conspirators and street people, and gatherings during a military campaign, and gatherings of conspirators in courtyards, etc. More often In total, the chronicler speaks of the veche as general meeting Novgorod residents on the occasion of emergency events on a national scale, led by officials. The Novgorod veche system was an example of feudal democracy in its Russian boyar version.

The chronicler does not say anything about the social composition of the veche. As a rule, he says: “the Novgorodians held a veche against the mayor Dmitr” (1207) or simply “they took away the mayor from Gyurg from Ivankovits and gave it to Tverdislav Mikhalkovich” (1216). The most commonly used word is “Novgorodians”. This is how the chronicler calls representatives of different classes of Novgorod. On occasions when he needed to emphasize that we're talking about about the boyars, he speaks of “boyars”, “vyachis” (1216, 1236) or “big” (Commission list, 1236). In some cases, “lesser ones” (1216, 1236) and “simple children” (1228) are mentioned. This indicates that the chronicler clearly understands the heterogeneity of Novgorod society. Talking about veche meetings, he does not emphasize this heterogeneity, but speaks only about “Novgorodians,” sometimes even about “all Novgorodians.”

Apparently, formally the participants in the veche could be representatives of different classes, but this does not mean that it was a people's assembly. The Veche was the most important body of the Novgorod Republic, defending the interests of the boyars in power.

B.D. very successfully described the features of such a political system. Grekov: “Veche assemblies live for a long time in the north-west (Novgorod, Pskov, Polotsk) as a result of a certain balance of class forces, in which the feudal nobility, having seized power into their own hands and limited the power of the princes in their own interests, was not able to destroy the people’s assembly , but was strong enough to turn him into an instrument of her interests."

Usually the veche gathered at Yaroslav's courtyard or on the square in front of St. Sophia Cathedral. The people gathered for the meeting to the ringing of the veche bell. Sometimes the chronicler reports that the prince convened the veche, but most often it is simply said about the Novgorodians who “created” the veche at Yaroslav’s or the ruler’s court. However, this did not mean that any city dweller could ring the veche bell and call the people to the veche. Since affairs of a national scale were decided at the meeting, it must be assumed that it was convened mainly on the initiative of the political group of boyars in power. In those cases when the veche was not convened by the prince or representatives republican authorities, it was apparently convened by opposition boyar groups who sought to seize power into their own hands.

Apparently, there was some kind of procedure for conducting the veche meeting. Important issues had to be discussed before a decision was made. The chronicler repeatedly points out: “... the Novgorodians, having guessed a lot, sent Yaroslav to Vsevoloditsa” (1215), “... there was a veche for the whole week... and the brothers sat together with one soul, and kissed the cross” (1218), etc. . P.

In pre-revolutionary literature, the prevailing opinion was that there was no voting at the veche; approval or disapproval was supposedly expressed by shouts. A.V. Artsikhovsky noted that such statements “are the clearest example of scientific prejudice.” It is unlikely that despite the widespread spread of literacy in Novgorod, important veche decisions were made in such a primitive way. This certainly had to happen in an organized manner, perhaps through voting. Some grounds for such an assumption are provided by archaeological materials (albeit from a later time). In the 15th century layer near the pavement of Great Street, birch bark letter No. 298 was found, written on a carefully cut quadrangular piece of birch bark. The document names four people, officially, by name and patronymic (in the accusative case). A.V. Artsikhovsky suggested that the letter represented a ballot paper. By submitting such ballots (and not shouting), elections could be carried out not only for senior government officials, but also for Konchansky and Ulichansky government bodies (in this document, persons were named who were never mentioned by the chronicler among the posadniks or thousand. Apparently, this document can be be considered as evidence of the elections of some collegium at the Nerevsky end).

To make a decision, it was necessary that it be approved by a majority of votes. Sometimes force was used to force the veche to make the decision dictated by the strongest boyar group. In 1218, for example, the mayor Tverdislav, initially relying on a minority - residents of Prusskaya Street and Lyudin Kostan - managed to force the majority to recognize his power with the help of weapons.

One of the most important issues decided at the meeting was the question of inviting or expelling the prince. From the chronicle it is known that the Novgorod princes began to be elected at the veche in 1125: “... having seated the Novgorodians on Vsevolod’s table.” Undesirable princes were driven out of Novgorod before. (In 1096, for example, David Svyatoslavich was expelled). In the XII - first half of the XIII century. the election or expulsion of a prince by decision of the veche is a common occurrence in Novgorod. The veche concluded agreements with the princes, who in the 20s of the 13th century. they kissed the cross of Novgorod “on all the will of Novgorod and on all the charters of Yaroslavl.” Often the veche “showed the way” to a prince he didn’t like. Outwardly, it looked very democratic: the people invited or expelled the prince at their own discretion. In fact, the prince received the Novgorod table depending on which boyar groups supported him or opposed him.

The veche was often convened on the initiative of opposition boyar circles who sought to overthrow the prince or mayor. The mayor was the highest elected official and was elected from among the largest Novgorod boyars, between whom there was a fierce struggle. The election of the mayor took place at the assembly.

Since 1156, another position became elective - that of bishop. Under 1165, the chronicle contains a message about the grant of an archbishopric to Bishop Elijah, who is often considered the first archbishop. The ruler was elected from among the clergy. From the turn of the XII-XIII centuries. At the meeting they began to elect the head of the black clergy - the Novgorod archimandrite.

At the end of the 12th century. a new republican institution appeared, also associated with the veche system of Novgorod - the thousand. Mironeg, or Miloneg, mentioned in the chronicle in 1191, was elected as the first Novgorod thousand. During the period under review, the thousand was elected from among the feudal lords of non-boyar origin and represented in the republican government non-aristocratic classes - feudal lords who did not belong to the boyars, merchants and black people. The election of the thousand also took place at the assembly. Consequently, participants in the citywide meeting in the XII-XIII centuries. there should have been representatives from different classes, for it is difficult to assume that the thousand, representing the unprivileged classes, was elected only by the boyars, although it undoubtedly depended on them which candidate would be elected.

In addition to the election of senior officials, the veche also dealt with other important state issues, such as war and peace. The declaration of war was the exclusive right of the veche. The prince could not go on a military campaign without permission without receiving permission from the veche. In 1212, preparing for a campaign against Kyiv, against Vsevolod Chermny, Prince Mstislav Udaloy “convened a meeting in the Yaroslali courtyard.” In 1228, Yaroslav Vsevolodovich conceived a campaign against Riga, believing that Pskov and Novgorod residents would participate in it. Shortly before this, the Pskovites made peace with Riga and therefore refused to participate in the campaign. They were supported by Novgorodians. None of the prince’s efforts helped, the campaign did not take place. Peace was also concluded by decision of the meeting. The chronicler repeatedly reports about the conclusion of peace by the Novgorodians: “And in the fall the Varyas came like a mountain to peace, and gave them peace with all their will” (1201). Sometimes it is said about the conclusion of peace by the prince who led the campaign: “And bowing to the Nemtsi prince, Yaroslav made peace with them in all his truth” (1234). The very wording “in all its truth” indicates that the prince made peace with the consent of the veche.

The veche also decided internal affairs. According to his verdict, people were executed by throwing them from the bridge into Volkhov. There were cases when armed clashes between warring boyar factions and their supporters who were present at the meeting took place at the meeting. The winning side often demanded the execution of some of its opponents. In 1230, Volos Blutkinich was killed at the assembly, and Ivanko Timoshkinich was thrown into the Volkhov. When the rival boyar factions were not able to force the veche to take the side of any one of them, the meetings raged for several days, sometimes turning into real battles. Popular uprisings often began with veche meetings, at which the removal of senior officials, and sometimes reprisals against them, took place. Thanks to this, the leaders of the boyar groups were able to direct the discontent of the people against their opponents, and not against the entire class of feudal lords.

The veche disposed of the property seized from those boyars whom it condemned. In 1207, the property of the Miroshkinichs was sold, and the funds received were divided “in 3 hryvnias throughout the city, and for a shield.” After the uprising of 1228-1229. A lot of money was taken from supporters of Yaroslav Vsevolodovich and invested in the construction of a new bridge across the Volkhov. The Novgorodians distributed the property of the former mayor Semyon Borisovich, who was killed in 1230, and those who fled from Novgorod Vnezda Vodovik, Boris Negochevich and other boyars among hundreds.

There were no specific dates for convening the meeting; it met as needed. However, during periods of aggravation of intra-feudal and class struggle, meetings were convened frequently.

Veche (council) - people's assembly in ancient and medieval Rus' and others Slavic tribes, which played the role of the main government body.

The history of the emergence of the national council

The Veche was the main state body among the East Slavic tribes, which later united under the rule of Kyiv and formed Kievan Rus and early feudal society. The main function of the veche was to resolve important pressing problems of a tribe or other territory, as well as to resolve issues of external and domestic policy, territorial issues, cultural and social. The veche is considered one of the earliest forms of direct democracy, since representatives of all segments of the population could join the veche. Participants could be free men - heads of a clan, family, principality or a certain section of territory. The rights of husbands on the council were either equal or, in some territories, dependent on social status.

Similar government bodies Self-government existed among the Scandinavians and Anglo-Saxons.

With the gradual development of feudalism, the traditions of military democracy that reigned among the tribes gradually began to fade into the background, giving way to more organized and civilized ways of solving problems and governing the state. The veche became larger and larger and assumed official state status. One, despite this, the very concept of “veche” in that period was used to designate any gatherings of people, both official and unofficial, that did not have state status - for example, people could spontaneously gather in market squares to resolve certain issues. questions.

The first mentions of the Slavic veche in Rus' date back to the beginning of the 10th century, but there is reason to believe that the practice of such meetings existed in the tribes back in the late 8th and early 9th centuries, they just later formed into something more defined and clearly structured. In one form or another, the veche existed in Rus' until the 16th century. The national council met in Kyiv, since it was the capital of the state

Brief characteristics and functions of the veche

Today, historians do not have a consensus about the real power that the veche would have. There are two opposing points of view. According to one, it was believed that, despite the fact that the veche themselves elected the prince, they actually did not have real power; all important issues were decided by the prince himself or his warriors. The second point of view says that the veche, on the contrary, took upon itself the decision of all important issues, including issues related to the princes themselves. The princes, who were also part of the veche, did not have sufficient power to challenge the council's decision. In general, there was dual power in Rus' - the power of the veche and the power of the prince.

The veche dealt with a wide range of issues - concluding peace or declaring war, trade issues, disposing of financial, land and economic assets of the entrusted territory and the prince himself. The princes could only levy taxes and make a number of decisions, but had to coordinate them with advisers in the veche. It is important to say that it was the veche at the early stage of the development of Rus' that was engaged in “calling princes” to the throne, in other words, elections.

In all lands, with the exception of Novgorod, so-called free men (not dependent on anyone) could enter the veche. It was precisely the criterion of freedom that ultimately led to the fact that later only fairly rich, prosperous people who were free, unlike the peasants, could enter the veche. As a result, in fact, the veche represented the aristocracy, the top of society, and not a full-fledged people's assembly.

Unfortunately, today information about the veche and their activities is quite fragmentary, so it is impossible to create a complete, reliable picture. It is known that the veche did not have a chairman or any clear protocol; they could meet as needed, often this happened spontaneously. The power and authority of the people's assembly, as well as its composition, very often depended on the region in which the veche sat. Such a people's organ reached its greatest flourishing in Novgorod, and then in the separated Pskov Republic. In these territories, the veche not only took root, but also existed the longest.

Veche in Novgorod

The Novgorod veche is a unique example of what similar meetings should have been like in Rus'. In Novgorod, the veche was the main authority and dealt with all the most important state issues. The main principle of the work of the Novgorod veche was unanimity, which meant that a decision could not be made until all participants in the meeting agreed with it. This created certain difficulties - meetings could take a very long time - but it also gave results; in the end, all segments of the population were satisfied with the decision of the veche.

The Veche in Novgorod summoned and expelled princes, resolved issues military policy, dealt with pressing issues, held court. The Novgorod veche had a pyramidal structure; in addition to the main city council, there were also local veche, for example, street ones.

End of the evening

IN different regions the meeting lasted different quantities time and in different status - somewhere it took root, but somewhere it didn’t. Where popular assemblies had real political power, as in Novgorod, the veche lasted until the 16th century and was abolished only by Ivan the Terrible. In most other regions, in Galicia-Volyn, Vladimir-Suzdal and many other principalities, these assemblies disintegrated on their own.