The history of Kievan Rus is interesting and unique. In particular, the strata of the population in it were not similar to European ones. In the article we will answer the question: "Purchase - who is it?" So, the entire population of Ancient Russia was divided into two large categories: free and dependent people. The first category included the aristocratic elite of society (princes, boyars), servicemen (combatants) and merchants (merchants). The second category was more complex in its structure, and two main social groups can be distinguished in it: personally dependent or slaves. These included serfs, who, unlike in antiquity, were not classical, but patriarchal slaves, and people who were economically dependent were zakupy and ryadovichi, as well as smerds.
Code of laws "Russian Truth"
These two categories of economically dependent population are described by one, but very important historical source - Russkaya Pravda. It is a complex of ancient norms of written law, which took shape over several centuries, starting from the 11th century. It also contains the answer to the question: "Purchase - who is this?" Yaroslav the Wise was the first to write down these laws when he was a prince of Novgorod. Then he supplemented after the occupation of the Grand Duke's table in Kyiv. Then his children, princesYaroslavichi, and grandson, Vladimir Monomakh, contributed to Russkaya Pravda.
Most detailed set of laws regulates the position of purchases, to a much lesser extent - ryadovichi. He also determines that the purchase is a dependent category of the population. In the social status of both, there are both common features and differences.
Common in the position of rank and file and purchases
The common thing is that the dependence of purchases and rank and file had an economic basis. A free man, or a lyudin (in the terminology of that time), could become a ryadovich if he entered into an agreement - a row, and a purchase - if he took a kupa, that is, a debt. This instantly devalued the lives of dependent people. If a fine of 40 hryvnia was relied on for killing a person in Ancient Russia, then the life of a purchaser and a ryadovich was equated to the life of a serf and a serf and amounted to only 5 hryvnia. It is this size of the fine that best emphasizes the dependence and lack of rights of these categories of the population. Of course, purchases suffered more. Defining them as dependent people suggested the possibility of being sold into slavery and so on.
Differences between purchases and Ryadovichi
There is a significant difference between purchases and Ryadovichi. Ryadovich concluded a contract, a series, for a certain period, and, as Russkaya Pravda says, under no circumstances could he be sold into slavery, that is, made personally dependent.
The situation was more complicated with the purchase. Having taken a kupa, this person had to work it out in the household of his master. Usually purchasesused in agricultural work or in caring for livestock. The master allowed them to use his property and inventory, but if the purchase spoiled it, then he bore the due responsibility. If he spoiled or stole someone else's property, then the responsibility was already assigned to the master. This is another feature of the social status of procurement, emphasizing the lack of rights of this category of the population.
But, unlike Ryadovich, the purchase could be enslaved, that is, enslaved. This was only allowed in two cases:
- if the purchase steals something on the side;
- if he runs away from his master, and thereby actually refuses to return the debt-kupa.
If the master tried to slander the purchase without sufficient legal grounds, he could receive protection in the princely court.
The legal protection of the purchase, unlike Ryadovich, is spelled out in some detail in Russkaya Pravda. Specifically:
- zakupa could not be sold as a slave;
- it was impossible to take away the property he owns;
- it was impossible to take away the kupa given to him;
- purchase was forbidden to rent to anyone;
- he shouldn't have been tormented for no reason.
That is, a purchase is, although a dependent person, but having a clearly defined legal position in society.
Protection of purchasing rights
If any of the rights were violated, he could run to the princely court and declare non-compliance with the law. This security privilege isThe princely court emphasized that a zakup is a former free person who, having worked out a kupa, had the opportunity to regain his former social status. He was also given the right to testify in court on the so-called small claim, that is, not very serious cases. No other category of dependent population could do this.
