Many believe that a coachman is a person who drives a wagon and transports people. In general, this definition is not far from the truth, although the concept has a broader meaning. Consider who a coachman is, what are the features of this profession? What is Pit Chase?
Meaning
Coachman is a person who manages horse-drawn transport. It is engaged in the transportation of cargo, correspondence and passengers. This name appeared during the Golden Horde. The word "coachman" came from the name "pit", which was worn by postal stations. Before the advent of railways in Russia, coachmen were engaged in most of the land transportation of commercial goods. Therefore, they were of great importance for the country's economy, and at some point formed a separate estate.
Yamskaya chase
Mongol-Tatars called pits stations where they could change horses, replenish provisions and rest. Hence the name went to the postal stations, which were at the same distance from each other. When they stopped the messengers who were engaged in the delivery of mail. The postal service of Russiatime was called "pit chase". Initially, the Tatars used it for quick communication with each other. After the territories were liberated, the service was used to deliver government correspondence. The Yamskaya chase began to transport passengers and private correspondence only at the end of the 17th century.
The value of the coachmen in that time period is difficult to overestimate. In winter, the coachmen used sleds to move, which increased the speed of mail delivery. Therefore, many merchants preferred to send goods in the winter. The speed of transferring goods by pit chasing significantly exceeded the speed of European couriers. At first, coachmen used a whistle or a mail horn to announce their arrival. Bells soon became popular. Even a decree was issued according to which only the postal service, police and officials had the right to hang bells on their carriages.
Duty
Coachmen were in the public service. From the 10th to the 18th centuries, they performed the yamskaya duty, which consisted of the following duties:
- mail delivery;
- moving goods;
- transportation of statesmen and diplomats.
Initially, coachmen were people who kept order in the pits and took care of the horses, while local peasants acted as messengers. Later, hired couriers appeared, who also began to bear the name "coachman". This is due to the fact that, due to their own problems, the peasants rarely agreed to such work. In Siberia, duty wasentrusted to local Cossacks, as couriers were subject to frequent attacks by robbers. The Cossacks received provisions and a considerable salary for their service.
Coachmen were exempted from taxation. They often received arable land for their service. In general, a separate class of coachmen stood out. The need for them was significantly reduced in the 20th century, when steam locomotives and cars began to appear in the country.
Thus, a coachman is a person who manages the crew and transports correspondence, cargo and passengers. Before the advent of railroads, pit racing was of great economic importance. It was one of the fastest and most efficient postal services in the world.
