During the period of early feudal Kievan Rus, the princes, needing to discuss social and political issues, convened the Council. The prototype of the Duma consisted of the princely entourage and had deliberative rights. Another task of the Council was to limit the power of the prince, to control his decisions.
Duma of the XIV-XV centuries
As the Muscovite state strengthened, from the middle of the XIV century, the Council was filled with rich and high-ranking boyars, it became boyar. It differs from later authorities in the absence of an independent role for both the Duma and the Tsar. Any decision was made jointly. The increase in the role of the Moscow principality contributed to the strengthening of the we alth and power of the boyars. For this reason, the period from the middle of the XIV to the middle of the XV centuries is characterized by unanimity in the actions of the princely and boyar authorities, united by a common interest.
Preconditions for reforms
Before Ivan IV (the Terrible), the rulers of Muscovy were Grand Dukes. The first political decision of the seventeen-year-old ruler in 1547was the decision to marry the kingdom. The change in the status of the ruler contributed to the strengthening of the supreme power. In addition to foreign policy (change in international legal status), Ivan pursued domestic political goals. The crowning of the kingdom allowed him to become the sole ruler and enjoy unlimited rights.
The internecine boyar struggle led to the flowering of lawlessness. In the XV - XVI centuries. The Boyar Duma was a hotbed of abuse and bribery. The fire that destroyed Moscow became a boiling point for the people. In the summer of 1547 uprisings broke out. It became clear that the system of state power needed fundamental changes. A number of reforms, developed jointly with the Chosen Rada (a circle of close associates), marked the beginning of the establishment of autocracy in Muscovy in the 16th century.
Sudebnik 1550 Composition and functions of the Boyar Duma in the 15th - 16th century
The first representative body of power in the Moscow state, consisting of the boyars, clergy and service people, the Zemsky Sobor, was convened in 1549. The set of laws he developed, the Sudebnik, accurately discussed the highest legislative functions of the boyar duma. Laws were subject to review and approval (sentence) by the boyars.
In addition to performing legislative functions, in the 15th - 16th centuries. The Boyar Duma was the highest executive authority.
The Duma's tasks included:
- supervision of tax collection and public spending;
- monitoring the execution of royal decrees;
- supervision of local government activities.
Judicial functions of the organization were to consider land cases and lawsuits of service people. In the XV - XVI centuries. The Boyar Duma was the highest court: it de alt with cases received from local courts. In addition to the functions of legislative, executive and judicial power, the Duma was entrusted with the tasks of a foreign policy department: contacts with other states and diplomatic correspondence were carried out through it.
In the XV - XVI centuries. The boyar duma was heterogeneous, especially under Ivan the Terrible: it included boyars directly and people from middle boyar families, okolnichy. The most important state posts were still occupied by the boyars: they were appointed governors, ambassadors, governors. Roundabouts were assigned to help them.
Fight against boyars
The monarchy of the time of Ivan the Terrible was limited by the custom, which demanded that the opinion of the boyars be taken into account when making state decisions. Throughout his reign, Ivan IV tried to limit the rights of the Duma. Being a strong legislative body by the end of the 15th, in the 16th centuries. the boyar duma was an opposition structure to the tsar.
In 1553 he fell seriously ill. The boyars and members of the Chosen Rada tried to promote his cousin to power, and not his son, who was appointed heir by the tsar. Having recovered, Ivan de alt with the members of the Rada and the Duma. Those who disagreed with the tsarist policy were declared traitors, executed or deported.
According to custom, governors were appointed to know. The basis of the Moscow army was the local army, which received allotments of land (estates) for service. To lead the army himself and changemilitary leadership, the king needed to take possession of the land fund. Blaming the boyars for the defeat in the Livonian War, he cracked down on the feudal elite.
Despite the persecution, the Duma did not decrease, but even increased in composition. The role of the feudal aristocracy has decreased, representatives of the ancient aristocratic families have been replaced by un titled boyars, who unquestioningly obey the tsar.
Unlike the XV, in the XVI century the Boyar Duma was formal, especially in the second half of the reign of Ivan the Terrible: Duma members did not participate in the discussion of bills. The authoritarian autocratic power of Ivan the Terrible was established.
Oprichnina
Through innovations, Ivan seeks to limit the rights of the Duma and strengthen his own. Now he single-handedly determines traitors and chooses their punishment.
In 1565 Ivan the Terrible divided the state into oprichnina and zemshchina. The management of the zemshchina, as before, was carried out jointly with the Duma. In the oprichnina, a personal inheritance, he became the sole ruler. Landowners who did not want to enter the oprichnina had to vacate the land. The possessions were divided and distributed among the king's close associates. The oprichnina, which engulfed a significant part of the Moscow State, ruined the boyars and weakened their power.
Duma of the late 16th - early 18th centuries
After the death of Ivan the Terrible, the influence of the Boyar Duma increased. Frightened by the actions of the tsar, the boyars and the Duma in the period from 1584 (the death of Ivan the Terrible) to 1612 (the formation of the nationalmilitias) tried to consolidate their positions. The 17th century is characterized by calm relations between the Duma and the Tsar, none of them tried to take the first positions.
The Boyar Duma lasted until 1711. The functions of the supreme body of legislative and executive power were adopted by the Senate, approved by Peter I on February 19, 1711
