Novgorod land in the Middle Ages was considered the largest center of trade. From here it was possible to get to Western European countries and to the B altic Sea. Volga Bulgaria, Vladimir principality were located relatively close. The waterway to the eastern Muslim countries ran along the Volga. In addition, there was a road "from the Varangians to the Greeks." To the piers on the river. The Volkhov was moored by ships arriving from various cities and countries. Merchants from Sweden, Germany and other countries came here. In Novgorod itself, Gothic and German trading yards were located. Abroad, local residents brought leather, honey, flax, furs, wax, walrus tusks. Tin, copper, wine, jewelry, cloth, weapons, sweets and dried fruit were brought here from other countries.
Organization of the territory
Novgorod land until the XII century was part of Kievan Rus. In the administrative entity, their own money was used, laws were in force to which the population was subject, not taking into account the rules established in other parts of the country, and its own army was present. Greatthe princes of Kyiv planted their most beloved sons in Novgorod. At the same time, their power was severely limited. Veche in the Novgorod feudal republic was considered the highest governing body. It was a meeting of the entire male population. It was convened by the ringing of a bell.
Novgorod Republic: Veche
The most important issues of public life were decided at the meeting. They covered completely different areas. Sufficiently wide political scope, which the Novgorod veche possessed, could contribute to the folding of its more organized forms. However, as the chronicles testify, the meeting was more arbitrary and noisy than anywhere else. There were many gaps in his organization. Sometimes the meeting was convened by Rurik, Prince of Novgorod. However, most often this was done by one of the dignitaries of the city. During the period of the party struggle, the meeting was also convened by private individuals. The Novgorod veche was not considered permanent. It was convened and held only when necessary.
Composition
The Novgorod Veche was usually convened at Yaroslav's Court. The election of the lord of the city took place on the square near St. Sophia Cathedral. In terms of composition, the Novgorod veche cannot be called a representative body, since no deputies participated in it. Anyone who considered himself a citizen could come to the square and call a meeting. As a rule, people representing one senior city participated in it. However, sometimes there were also residents of the younger settlements - Pskov and Ladoga. As a rule, suburban deputies were sent to resolve issuesin one area or another. Random visitors from among the suburbanites also participated. So, for example, in 1384 the people of Korela and Orekhov arrived in Novgorod. They complained about the feeder Patricius (Prince of Lithuania). Two meetings were called on this issue. One was for the prince, the other for the townspeople. In this case, it was an appeal of offended people to the sovereign capital.
Activities of the Novgorod Veche
The Assembly was in charge of all legislation, issues of domestic and foreign policy. At the Novgorod Veche, a trial was held for various crimes. At the same time, serious punishments were imposed on the perpetrators. For example, the perpetrators were sentenced to deprivation of life or their property was confiscated, and they themselves were expelled from the settlement. The citywide veche decreed laws, invited and expelled the ruler. At the meeting, dignitaries were elected and judged. People solved issues of war and peace.
Features of participation
As for the right to be a member of the veche and the procedure for its convocation, there is no specific data in the sources. All men could be active participants: the poor, the rich, the boyars, and the black people. At that time, no qualifications were established. However, it is not entirely clear whether only the inhabitants of Novgorod had the right to participate in solving the pressing issues of governance, or whether this also applied to the surrounding people. From the popular classes that are mentioned in the letters, it becomes clear that the members of the assembly were merchants, boyars, peasants, artisans and others. Posadniks necessarily participated in the veche. This is due to the fact that they weredignitaries and their presence was taken for granted. The members of the assembly were the boyars-landowners. They were not considered representatives of the city. The boyar could live on his estate somewhere on the Dvina and from there come to Novgorod. Similarly, merchants formed their class not by place of residence, but by occupation. At the same time, they could also be territorially located in the surrounding settlements, but at the same time they were called Novgorodians. Living people took part in the meetings as representatives of the ends. As for the black people, they were also necessarily members of the veche. However, there is no indication of how exactly they took part in it.
Diplomas
In the old days they were written with the name of the prince acting at a particular moment. However, the situation changed after the recognition of the supreme primacy of the great ruler. Since that time, the name of the prince was not put in letters. They were written on behalf of black and living people, dignitaries, thousand, boyars and all residents. The seals were made of lead and attached to the certificates with cords.
Private collections
They were held regardless of the big Novgorod veche. Moreover, each end had to call its meetings. They had their own letters, seals. When misunderstandings arose, the ends negotiated with each other. Veche was also held in Pskov. The bell that called for the meeting hung on the tower near St. Trinity.
Sharing power
In addition to the people, the prince also participated in legislative activities. However, in this case, it is difficult for the authorities to carry outa clear line between factual and lawful relations. According to the current treaties, the prince could not make war without the consent of the assembly. Although the protection of external borders belonged to his jurisdiction. Without a posadnik, he was not allowed to distribute lucrative positions, feeding and volosts. In practice, this was carried out by the assembly without the consent of the ruler. It was also not allowed to take away "no fault" positions. The prince had to declare the guilt of a person at a meeting. It, in turn, conducted a disciplinary trial. In some cases, the veche and the ruler changed roles. For example, the assembly could bring to trial an objectionable regional feeder. The prince had no right to issue letters without the consent of dignitaries.
Disagreements between people
The Novgorod veche itself could not imply either a correct discussion of any problem or a corresponding vote. The decision of this or that question was carried out "by ear", according to the strength of the cries. Veche was often divided into parties. In this case, the solution of the issue was carried out with the use of violence, through a fight. The side that won was considered the majority. The meetings acted as a kind of divine judgment, just as the throwing of the condemned from the bridge was a surviving form of testing by water. In some cases, the entire city was divided between opposing parties. There were two meetings going on at the same time. One was convened on the Trade side (the usual place), and the other - on Sophia Square. But such meetings were ratherinternecine rebellious gatherings, and not normal meetings. More than once it happened that two congregations moved towards each other. Converging on the Volkhov bridge, people began a real massacre. Sometimes the clergy managed to separate the people, and sometimes not. The significance of the large bridge as a witness to urban confrontations was later expressed in poetic form. In some ancient chronicles and in a note by a foreigner, Baron Herberstein, who visited at the beginning of the 16th century. In Russia, there is a legend about such clashes. In particular, according to the story of a foreign guest, when, under St. Vladimir, the Novgorodians threw the idol of Perun into the Volkhov, the angry god, having reached the shore, threw a stick at him, saying: "Here is a memory for you from me, Novgorodians." From that moment on, people converge on the bridge at the appointed time and begin to fight.
Martha the Posadnitsa
This woman has notoriety in history. She was the wife of Isaac Boretsky, a Novgorod posadnik. Little is known about her early life. Sources testify that Martha came from the boyar family of Loshinsky and was married twice. Isaac Boretsky was the second husband, and the first died. Marfa formally could not be a posadnitsa. She received this nickname from Muscovites. So they mocked the original system of the Novgorod Republic.
Activity of Boretskaya
Marfa the Posadnitsa was the widow of a large landowner, whose allotments passed to her. In addition, she herself had vast territories along the shores of the Icy Sea and the river. Dvina. For the first time in political life, she began to participate in the 1470s. Then, at the Novgorod veche, the election of a new archbishop was held. A year later, she and her son campaigned for independence from Moscow. Martha acted as the informal leader of the boyar opposition. She was supported by two more noble widows: Euphemia and Anastasia. Martha had significant monetary savings. She was in secret negotiations with Casimir IV, King of Poland. Its goal was the entry of Novgorod into the Grand Duchy of Lithuania on autonomous rights while maintaining political independence.
The power of Ivan III
The Grand Duke of Moscow found out about the negotiations with Casimir. In 1471, the Battle of Shelon took place. In it, the army of Ivan III defeats the army of Novgorod. Boretskaya's son Dmitry was executed. Despite the victory in the battle, Ivan retained the right to self-government in Novgorod. Boretskaya, in turn, after the death of her son, continued negotiations with Kazimir. As a result, a conflict broke out between Lithuania and Moscow. In 1478, Ivan III undertook a new campaign against Novgorod. The latter loses the right to arbitrariness. The destruction of the Novgorod veche was accompanied by the removal of the bell, the confiscation of the lands of Boretskaya, and the sentencing of representatives of influential classes.
Conclusion
The Novgorod Veche had a special political significance in the life of the population. It was a key governing body, which de alt with all topical issues of life. The assembly ruled the court and issued laws, invited the rulers, expelled them. Remarkably,that all men participated in the veche, regardless of belonging to one class or another. It is believed that meetings were one of the first forms of manifestation of democracy, despite all the specifics of decision-making. Veche was an expression of the will of the people not only of Novgorod itself, but also of the surrounding area. His power was higher than the ruler. Moreover, the latter in certain matters depended on the decision of the meeting. This form of self-government distinguished the Novgorod land from other regions of Russia. However, with the spread of the autocratic power of Ivan III, it was abolished. Novgorod land itself became subordinate to Moscow.
