Zemsky Sobor is an important stage in the development of Russia. Veche orders have always existed in our country, but there were such periods when any independence was punished. And Ivan the Terrible revived the possibility of collecting most of the estates.
Zemsky Sobor included representatives of the following estates: the boyar Duma, whose members participated in the Zemsky Sobor in full force; a consecrated cathedral, from them there were only the highest church hierarchs; elected people from the servicemen, the Moscow and city nobility, archers, Cossacks and gunners; elected from the townspeople (chernososhnye and sloboda) and from the cloth hundred and living room. The Council of the first convocation was called the “Cathedral of Reconciliation.”
The first Zemsky Sobor was convened in order to acquaint the participants of the meeting with the reforms of the new body of Ivan the Terrible - the Chosen Rada. As you know, the reforms of the Rada included the creation of the Streltsy army, the introduction of a new judicial code, as well as the development of the order system and the strengthening of the central government.
Over time, the functions of the class-representative body also developed. So, by the end of the 16th century, the participants in this meeting received the right to approve the accession to the throne of a new monarch. In those years, it was customary for new rulers to receivethe approval of the people, which was expressed by Zemsky Sobors.
The history of the development of this body is multifaceted: there were periods when its role was completely lost, and there were also those when the fate of the state hung on its decision. The Time of Troubles is the prime example of the last period.
The most important Zemsky Sobors
The first council was convened on Red Square, after which the meetings moved to the Kremlin's chambers. From the middle of the 16th to the end of the 17th century, about 50 meetings were held, among which there are those that changed the course of the history of our country.
The Council of 1589 approved the controversial candidacy of Boris Godunov on the throne. There were many rumors about his involvement in the Uglich drama, but, oddly enough, he received the approval of elected officials. The most famous and large-scale is the Zemsky Sobor of 1613, which was held in the Assumption Cathedral.
As you know, the cathedral approved a new dynasty on the Russian throne and brought the young Mikhail Romanov to power. It is worth noting that during his reign, the young king constantly convened these meetings to solve various problems. The meeting in 1632/1634 was convened to resolve the issue of the war with Poland. At this time, a new "military" tax is established - a fifth of the money. The meeting of 1648/1649 was convened after the S alt Riot suddenly broke out in Moscow. It discussed the problems of outdated legislation.
It was then that the decision was made to put into effect the Cathedral Code - a new code of laws of Russia. The last Zemsky Sobor was convened in 1653. At this meeting, it was decided to join the Cossack army and Little Russia to Russia.
Meaning in history
Zemsky Sobor marked the beginning of the formation of a class-representative monarchy in Russia. But the growth of absolutist tendencies among subsequent monarchs significantly weakened the role of the body.
