In Novgorod, the boyar republic existed from 1136 to 1478. Its population consisted of Eastern Slavs, Korels and other nationalities. A feature of this state was the form of government, which implied a democratic republic with elements of an oligarchy. What is known about the political system, economy, history of the republic? Who put an end to the democratic state?
Location
The territory, which included the boyar republic, was not limited only to the Novgorod lands. The borders of the republic at the time of their greatest prosperity reached the following borders:
- in the west to the B altic Sea;
- in the east - to the Ural Mountains;
- in the north - to the upper reaches of the Volga River;
- in the south - to the river Zapadnaya Dvina.
Novgorod itself is located on the banks of the Volkhov River.
History of the creation of the Republic
Novgorod land has been inhabited since ancient times. It is known that in the VI century the Krivichi arrived here, later the Ilmen Slovenes came. The territory was one of the centers of Russia. It was here that the Rurikovichs began to reign.
Novgorod has always sought to gain independence from Russia. For the first time, attempts began to be made in the XI century. The boyars received support from the urban population in order to get rid of the need to pay taxes to Kyiv. They wanted to create their own army.
This opportunity presented itself in 1132. Mstislav the Great dies and the period begins, which historians define by the term "Specific Russia". It signifies a period of fragmentation. Each principality wanted to manage its own affairs independently. The Grand Duke retained only a nominal dominant position.
In 1136 the son of the late Mstislav Vsevolod runs away from the battlefield. For this, the Novgorodians expelled their prince. Republican rule was established.
Times of the Mongol invasion
During the invasion of the Mongols, as well as their campaigns against Russia, the Novgorod Boyar Republic (Novgorod for short) was able to avoid ruin. It was located at a distance from other lands of Russia. However, the following Novgorod possessions were looted and devastated:
- Torzhok;
- Vologda;
- Bezhetsk.
Alexander Nevsky reigned in the lands for about fifteen years. Another famous prince was Ivan Kalita. In 1259, the boyar republic was obliged to pay tribute to the Horde.
Until the 15th century, Novgorod expanded its possessions to the east, northeast.
Political structure
The political system of the Novgorod boyar republic had its own characteristics. They were manifested in the fact that the boyars had significant landowning and social weight. It so happened historically that the boyars actively participated in fishing activities and trade. Capital, not land, was the main economic factor in the republic.
Public administration was carried out with the help of veche. It was a collection of a separate part of the male population of Novgorod.
Veche had broad powers:
- summoned the prince;
- released the prince from authority;
- chosen the mayor, lord;
- decided to start the war and end it;
- de alt with laws;
- determined the amount of duties and taxes.
Veche had the right not only to elect representatives of the authorities, but also to judge them. Its traditions go back to the roots of popular meetings, which originate from tribal councils.
The princes did not have such influence in political life as the veche. Their functions included civil court, defense. In wartime, the prince acted as the chief military leader. Some cities of the boyar republic had their own princes. The veche reserved the right to remove a tsar who failed to fulfill his duties or threatened the political order.
Executive power formally belonged to the posadnik, that is, the head of the city. He supervised the work of officials. The posadnik and the prince worked together on court matters andcontrols.
There was also a council of gentlemen in Novgorod. It consisted of an archbishop, a mayor, a thousand, elders. The archbishop was not just one of the leaders of the republic, he kept the state treasury, controlled the standards of weights and measures.
Agriculture
Specific Russia, like all medieval society, was agrarian. Novgorod was no exception. Most of the population lived off agriculture. The city depended on the rural district.
Boyars and individual monasteries owned a significant part of the land, which included villages with dependent peasants. The settlements were small, consisting of only a few households.
Agriculture began to develop after the XIII century. Prior to that, he was hampered by epidemics, pestilence and other negative factors. In the 13th century, a three-field system was introduced, which quickly proved its effectiveness. Peasants no longer needed to wander in search of forests to enrich the soil.
Treatment has improved with the advent of the two-pronged plow with the police. Rye was mainly planted on the lands. Flax, buckwheat, millet and other grains were also grown. Onions, cabbages, and turnips were planted in the vegetable gardens. Hoppers worked separately. They produced raw materials for the creation of beer - the most consumed drink in medieval Novgorod. The Moscow principality began to take an interest in the lands.
Fishing, beekeeping, and hunting are widespread. Honey was obtained from wild bees. It was enough not only for internal needs, but alsofor export.
Handicraft
Besides agriculture, Novgorodians were engaged in various trades. Iron smelting can be distinguished among them. The resulting metal was processed by blacksmiths.
A description of the Novgorod Boyar Republic would be incomplete without mentioning s alt production and pearl fishing. S alt was produced by the peasants of Pomorye, Derevskaya Pyatina, Shelonskaya Pyatina.
Novgorod produced its own knives, axes, agricultural tools and weapons. In the 15th century, the Novgorod industry was able to establish the production of firearms. In some cases, it was decorated with precious metals and stones.
There were especially narrow speci alties in the cities. The profession of a lockkeeper belonged to them. It was distinguished by its complexity due to the fact that some locks consisted of several dozen parts.
Pottery, weaving, leather and shoe craft were widely used. Musical instruments were also made in Novgorod, such as ps altery, pipes.
Trading
Mr Veliky Novgorod established a connection with Europe. This was of great importance for the whole of Russia. The path "from the Varangians to the Greeks" went through the city. In other words, the goods went from the Scandinavian countries to Byzantium.
There was a bargain in Novgorod. It consisted of 1800 shops, which were divided into rows. Each row sold a separate product.
The city started trading with Western Europe in the 10th century. Mentions of this have been preserved in the Scandinavian sagas.
In the 12th century, trade relations withan island in the B altic Sea called Gotland. Over time, the Gotlanders were driven out by the Germans.
Goods were sold and purchased in bulk - bags, barrels, hundreds and thousands of pieces. Under a strict ban was trade on credit. Goods could be confiscated for non-compliance with the rules.
Furs and wax were mainly exported from Novgorod. The latter material was needed to illuminate the great Gothic cathedrals. Wax was bought in circles, each of which weighed one hundred and sixty kilograms.
Expensive cloth, non-ferrous metals, spices, herring, s alt were imported into the city. In lean years, Novgorodians bought foreign bread.
Division into estates
The main landowning group in Novgorod (boyar republic) were the townspeople. The upper class consisted of boyars. They owned capital and lands, provided money to merchants. The boyars came from the local tribal nobility, they were the most influential people in the republic, occupying all important positions. The boyars were the element of the oligarchy that determined the form of government.
Below the boyars were living people. They owned less capital and not as significant lands as the boyars. People did not occupy the highest positions of life. It happened that representatives of this class could engage in trade.
Merchants were one step below. It was divided into guilds. Artisans, small traders and workers were classified as black people.
The rural population was also heterogeneous. Those who owned the land were called boyars and natives. Peasantswho lived on state land were called smerds. Those who had to cultivate other people's private lands were called isorniks and nomads. Purchases were considered peasants who took payment for their work in advance. There were shaggy serfs at the lowest level.
Decay of the Republic
Starting from the XIV century, Mr. Veliky Novgorod became interested in the Grand Duchy of Lithuania, as well as Tver and Moscow. The ruling circles of the republic did not want to pay tribute to the Moscow principality, they were looking for support from Lithuania.
In 1470, Novgorod asked for a bishop from Kyiv, which at that time was under the rule of Lithuania. This was the reason for Ivan the Third to go to war against Novgorod. The troops met with the militias near the Shelon River. Novgorodians were defeated. The city was taken, and in 1478 annexed to the Moscow principality.
Ivan the Third liquidated the veche, and moved their bell to Moscow. He also abolished the post of mayor, and executed many boyars. Part of the upper class was taken to other lands. Their place was taken by service people from the central regions of the Moscow State. So the boyar republic ceased to exist.
