The southwestern principalities of Russia - Vladimir-Volyn and Galicia - uniting the lands of the Dulebs, Tivertsy, Croats, Buzhans, became part of Kievan Rus at the end of the 10th century. under Vladimir Svyatoslavich. However, the policy of the great Kyiv princes regarding Volhynia and Galicia did not find support among the local landed nobility, and already from the end of the 11th century. a struggle began for the isolation of these lands, although the Volyn land traditionally had close ties with Kyiv. Volyn until the middle of the XII century. did not have its own dynasty of princes. She, as a rule, was directly controlled from Kyiv, or at times Kyiv proteges sat at the Vladimir table.
The formation of the Galician principality began in the second half of the 11th century. This process is associated with the activities of the founder of the Galician dynasty, Prince Rostislav Vladimirovich, grandson of Yaroslav the Wise.
The heyday of the Galician principality falls on the reign of Yaroslav Osmomysl (1153-1187), who gave a decisive rebuff to the Hungarians and Poles who pressed on him and waged a fierce struggle against the boyars. With the death of his son Vladimir Yaroslavich, the Rostislavich dynasty ceased to exist, and in 1199 the Vladimir-Volyn prince Roman Mstislavich took possession of the Galician principality and united the Galician and Volynian lands into a single Galician-Volynian principality. Its center was Galich, then - Hill, and since 1272 - Lviv. The victorious campaigns of the squads of Roman in Lithuania, Poland
shu, Hungary and the Polovtsy created a high international prestige for him and the principality.
After the death of Roman (1205), the western lands of Russia again entered a period of unrest and princely-boyar civil strife. The struggle of the feudal groupings of the western lands of Russia reached its greatest acuteness under the young sons of Roman Mstislavich - Daniil and Vasilka.
The Galicia-Volyn principality broke up into destinies - Galicia, Zvenigorod and Vladimir. This made it possible for Hungary, where young Daniel was brought up at the court of King Andrew II, to constantly interfere in Galicia-Volyn affairs, and soon to occupy Western Russian lands. The boyar opposition was not so organized and mature as to turn the Galician land into a boyar republic, but it had enough strength to organize endless conspiracies and riots against the princes.
Shortly before the invasion of the hordes of Batu, Daniil Romanovich managed to overcome the opposition from the powerful Galician and Volyn boyars and in 1238 triumphantly entered Galich. In the struggle against the feudal opposition, the authorities relied on the squad, the city leaders and service feudal lords. The popular masses strongly supported Daniel's unifying policy. In 1239, the Galician-Volyn army captured Kyiv, but the success was short-lived.
Hoping to create an anti-Horde coalition on a European scale with the help of the pope, Daniil Romanovich agreed to accept the royal crown offered to him by Innocent IV. The coronation took place in 1253 during campaigns against the Lithuanian Yotvingians in the small town of Dorogichin near the western border of the principality. The Roman Curia turned their attention to Galicia and Volhynia, hoping to spread Catholicism in these lands. In 1264 Daniel Romanovich died in Kholm. After his death, the decline of the Galicia-Volyn principality began, which broke up into four destinies.
In the XIV century. Galicia was captured by Poland, and Volhynia by Lithuania. After the Union of Lublin in 1569, the Galician and Volyn lands became part of a single multinational Polish-Lithuanian state - the Commonwealth.
Social system. A feature of the social structure of the Galicia-Volyn principality was that a large group of boyars was created there, in whose hands almost all land holdings were concentrated. However, the process of formation of large feudal landownership did not proceed in the same way everywhere. In Galicia, its growth outpaced the formation of a princely domain. In Volhynia, on the contrary, along with the boyar landownership, domain landownership received significant development. This is explained by the fact that it is in Galicia
earlier than in Volhynia, the economic and political prerequisites for a more rapid growth of large-scale feudal landownership matured. The princely domain began to take shape when the predominant part of the communal lands was seized by the boyars and the range of free lands for princely possessions was limited. In addition, the Galician princes, in an effort to enlist the support of local feudal lords, gave them part of their lands and thereby reduced the princely domain.
The most important role among the feudal lords of the Galicia-Volyn principality was played by the Galician boyars - "Galician men". They owned large estates and dependent peasants. In the sources of the XII century. the ancestors of the Galician boyars act as "princely husbands". The strength of this boyars, who expanded the boundaries of their possessions and carried on large-scale trade, constantly increased. Inside the boyars there was a constant struggle for land, for power. Already in the XII century. "Galician men" oppose any attempts to limit their rights in favor of princely power and growing cities.
Another group consisted of service feudal lords, whose sources of land holdings were princely grants, boyar lands confiscated and redistributed by princes, as well as unauthorized seizures of communal lands. In the vast majority of cases, they owned the land conditionally while they served, that is, for service and under the condition of service. Serving feudal lords supplied the prince with an army consisting of feudally dependent peasants. Galician princes relied on them in the fight against the boyars.
The ruling class of the Galicia-Volyn principality also included a large church nobility in the person of archbishops, bishops, abbots of monasteries and others, who also owned vast lands and peasants. Churches and monasteries acquired land holdings through grants and donations from princes. Often they, like princes and boyars, seized communal lands, and turned the peasants into monastic or church feudal-dependent people.
The bulk of the rural population in the Galicia-Volyn principality were peasants. Both free and dependent peasants were called smerds. The prevailing form of peasant land ownership was communal, later called "dvorishche". Gradually, the community broke up into individual yards.
The process of formation of large land holdings and the formation of a class of feudal lords was accompanied by an increase in the feudal dependence of the peasants and the emergence of feudal rent. Labor rent in the XI - XII centuries. gradually replaced by rent products. The size of feudal duties was established by the feudal lords at their own discretion.
The brutal exploitation of the peasants intensified the class struggle, which often took the form of popular uprisings against the feudal lords. Such a mass action of the peasants was, for example, an uprising in 1159 under Yaroslav Osmomysl.
Kholopstvo in the Galicia-Volyn principality survived, but the number of serfs decreased, many of them were planted on the ground and merged with the peasants.
There were more than 80 cities in the Galicia-Volyn principality, including the largest ones - Berestye (later Brest), Vladimir, Galich, Lvov, Lutsk, Przemysl, Kholm, and others. The largest group of the urban population were artisans.
The cities housed jewelry, pottery, blacksmithing and glass-making workshops. They worked both for the customer and for the market, internal or external. Salt trade brought large incomes. Being a major commercial and industrial center. Galich quickly also acquired the importance of a cultural center. The well-known Galicia-Volyn chronicle and other written monuments of the 12th - 13th centuries were created in it.
Political system. A feature of the Galicia-Volyn principality was that for a long time it was not divided into destinies. After the death of Daniil Romanovich, it broke up into the Gaditskaya and Volyn lands, and then each of these lands began to split up in turn. Another peculiarity was that power was essentially in the hands of the big boyars.
Since the Galician-Volyn princes did not have a broad economic and social base, their power was fragile. She was inherited. The place of the deceased father was occupied by the eldest of the sons, whom the rest of his brothers were supposed to "honor in their father's place." A widow-mother enjoyed significant political influence with her sons. Despite the system of vassalage on which relations between members of the princely house were built, each princely possession was politically largely independent.
Although the princes expressed the interests of the feudal lords as a whole, nevertheless they could not concentrate the fullness of state power in their hands. The Galician boyars played a major role in the political life of the country. It even disposed of the princely table - it invited and dismissed the princes. The history of the Galicia-Volyn principality is full of examples when the princes, who lost the support of the boyars, were forced to leave their principalities. Characteristic are also the forms of struggle between the boyars and objectionable princes. Against them, they invited the Hungarians and Poles, put to death objectionable princes (this is how the Igorevich princes were hanged in 1208), removed them from Galicia
(in 1226). There is such a case when the boyar Volodislav Kormilchich, who did not belong to the dynasty, proclaimed himself a prince in 1231. Often, representatives of the spiritual nobility were also at the head of the boyar rebellions directed against the prince. In such a situation, the main support of the princes was the middle and small feudal lords, as well as the city leaders.
Galicia-Volyn princes had certain administrative, military, judicial and legislative powers. In particular, they appointed officials in cities and volosts, endowing them with land holdings under the condition of service, formally they were commanders-in-chief of all armed forces. But each boyar had his own military militia, and since the regiments of the Galician boyars often outnumbered the prince's, in case of disagreement, the boyars could argue with the prince, using military force. The supreme judicial power of the princes, in case of disagreement with the boyars, passed to the boyar elite. Finally, the princes issued charters concerning various issues of government, but they were often not recognized by the boyars.
The boyars exercised their power with the help of the council of the boyars. It consisted of the largest landowners, bishops and persons holding the highest government positions. The structure, the rights, the competence of council have not been defined. The boyar council was convened, as a rule, at the initiative of the boyars themselves. The prince did not have the right to convene a council at will, could not issue a single state act without his consent. He zealously guarded the interests of the boyars, intervening even in the family affairs of the prince. This body, not being formally the highest authority, actually controlled the principality. Since the council included the boyars, who held the largest administrative positions, the entire state apparatus of government was actually subordinate to it.
The Galician-Volyn princes from time to time, under emergency circumstances, convened a veche in order to strengthen their power, but it did not have much influence. It could be attended by small merchants and artisans, but the top of the feudal class played a decisive role.
Galicia-Volyn princes took part in all-Russian feudal congresses. Occasionally, congresses of feudal lords were convened, concerning only the Galicia-Volyn principality. So, in the first half of the XII century. a congress of feudal lords was held in the city of Sharts to resolve the issue of civil strife over volosts between the sons of the Przemysl prince Volodar, Rostislav and Vladimirk.
In the Galicia-Volyn principality, earlier than in other Russian lands, a palace and patrimonial administration arose. In the system of this
management played a significant role court, or butler. He was in charge of basically all matters relating to the court of the prince, he was entrusted with the command of individual regiments, during military operations he guarded the life of the prince.
Among the palace ranks are mentioned a printer, a stolnik, a bowler, a falconer, a hunter, a stableman, etc. The printer was in charge of the prince's office, was the keeper of the prince's treasury, which at the same time was also the prince's archive. In his hands was the prince's seal. The stolnik was in charge of the prince's table, served him during meals, and was responsible for the quality of the table. Chashnich was in charge of side forests, cellars and everything related to supplying the prince's table with drinks. The falconer was in charge of bird hunting. The hunter was in charge of hunting the beast. The main function of the equerry was to serve the prince's cavalry. Numerous princely keykeepers acted under the control of these officials. The positions of butler, printer, steward, groom and others gradually turned into palace ranks.
The territory of the Galicia-Volyn principality was originally divided into thousands and hundreds. As the thousand and sotsky with their administrative apparatus gradually became part of the palace and patrimonial apparatus of the prince, the positions of voivodes and volostels arose instead of them. Accordingly, the territory of the principality was divided into voivodeships and volosts. Elders were elected in the communities, who were in charge of administrative and petty court cases.
Posadniks were appointed and sent directly to the cities by the prince. They possessed not only administrative and military power, but also performed judicial functions and collected tributes and duties from the population.
Right. The legal system of the Galicia-Volyn principality differed little from the legal systems that existed in other Russian lands during the period of feudal fragmentation. The norms of Russian Truth, only slightly modified, continued to operate here as well.
The Galician-Volyn princes issued, of course, their own acts. Among them, a valuable source characterizing the economic relations of the Galician principality with Czech, Hungarian and other merchants is the charter of Prince Ivan Rostislavich Berladnik of 1134. It established a number of benefits for foreign merchants. Around 1287, the Manuscript of Prince Vladimir Vasilkovich was published, concerning the norms of inheritance law in the Vladimir-Volyn principality. It refers to the transfer by Prince Vladimir of the right to exploit the feudally dependent population to the heirs. At the same time, it provides materials for studying the management of villages and cities.
Around 1289, the Statutory Charter of the Volyu prince Mstislav Daniilovich was issued, characterizing the duties that fell on the shoulders of the feudally dependent population of South-Western Russia.
During the period of fragmentation in Russia, the development of the early feudal state continued. Relatively centralized Ancient Russia breaks up into a mass of large, medium, small and smallest states. In terms of their political forms, even small feudal estates are trying to copy the Kievan state.
During this period, a fundamentally new form of government appears - the republic. The Novgorod and Pskov feudal republics are widely known. Less well known is Vyatka, which was originally a colony of Novgorod, and then, like Pskov, became an independent state.
All the considered feudal powers are united in principle by a single legal system, which is based on an epoch-making legal act - Russkaya Pravda. Not a single principality creates a new law capable of at least to some extent replacing the Russian Truth. Only its new editions are being formed. Only in the feudal republics (and this is no coincidence) new major legislative acts are being created.
Feudal fragmentation in Russia, as in other regions of the country, was an inevitable stage in the development of the state. But this inevitability has cost our people dearly. In the XIII century. Mongol-Tatar hordes attacked Russia.
"See: N. Kostomarov. Northern Russian People's Rules in the Times of the Specific Veche Way (History of Novgorod, Pskov and Vyatka). T. 1. SPb., 1886.
Chapter 6. Mongol-Tatar states on the territory of our country (XIII-XV centuries)
History of the state and law of Russia. Cribs Knyazeva Svetlana Alexandrovna
17. Features of the socio-economic and political life of the Galicia-Volyn principality
Galicia-Volyn Rus was named after two large territories that were part of it: Galicia and Volyn, or Cherven cities, i.e. cities Red (Red) Russia.
The heyday of the principality falls on the second half of the 12th century. The peculiarity of Galicia was early and intensive development of feudal relations, leading to the creation of a strong boyar elite, managed to seize the main land and peasants. In addition to the lands, the boyars had their trade and craft centers and castles. Galich stubbornly resisted princely rule and behaved towards the princes in the same way as Novgorod.
Volyn prince belonged Vladimir Volynsky. The prince was a large landowner and rallied the boyars with land grants. In 1199, he managed to unite both principalities. Political unity was neither long-lasting nor lasting. boyars opposed the princely power of their interests, waged an open struggle, relying on neighboring states - Hungary, Poland.
In the thirteenth century Western Russia fell under the rule of the Mongol-Tatar conquerors. Daniel of Galicia managed to temporarily unite all of Kievan Rus, he was the first and only Russian king crowned by the Pope. He pursued a policy active resistance to the invaders. His children were less fortunate. As a result, the lands of Galicia and Volhynia were divided between Hungary, Poland and Lithuania.
social order Galicia-Volyn Rus is characterized by the strong influence of large feudal lords - boyars, former descendants local tribal leaders. They had little to do with the princes and tried to build boyar feudal rule in many cities around the world.
They were opposed by other feudal lords - servants, who received land for service and for the duration of service. They depended on the prince and defended the prince's side. There were few of them in Galicia and many in Volhynia, which explains the difference between the attitude towards the prince in Galich and Vladimir.
They had land holdings and hierarchs of the Church and monasteries.
Peasants living on the lands of secular and spiritual feudal lords, were in various forms of dependence.
For the political system of the Galicia-Volyn principality characteristically strong influence of the boyars and boyar council. Only a strong and authoritative prince could retain power.
From the book Tax Code of the Russian Federation. Parts one and two. Text with amendments and additions as of October 1, 2009 author author unknownArticle 288.1. Features of the calculation and payment of corporate income tax by residents of the Special Economic Zone in the Kaliningrad Region 1. Residents of the Special Economic Zone in the Kaliningrad Region (hereinafter also referred to as residents) pay income tax
From the book New in the Tax Code: a commentary on the changes that entered into force in 2008 author Zrelov Alexander PavlovichArticle 385.1. Features of the calculation and payment of corporate property tax by residents of the Special Economic Zone in the Kaliningrad Region 1. Residents of the Special Economic Zone in the Kaliningrad Region
From the book Foreign Constitutional Law (Edited by Prof. V.V. Maklakov) author Maklakov Vyacheslav ViktorovichArticle 288.1. Features of the calculation and payment of corporate income tax by residents of the Special Economic Zone in the Kaliningrad Region
From the book Code of Offenses of the Republic of Moldova in force from 05/31/2009 author author unknownArticle 385.1. Features of the calculation and payment of corporate property tax by residents of the Special Economic Zone in the Kaliningrad Region
From the book Encyclopedia of a Lawyer author author unknownFeatures of the political system The main elements of the political system of modern Indonesia finally took shape by the mid-80s. By this period, the features of the political system of the country, predetermined by a long-term purposeful
From the book Administrative Law author Petrov Ilya SergeevichArticle 58
From the book History of political and legal doctrines. cheat sheets author Knyazeva Svetlana Alexandrovna From the book The Author's Lawyer ExamState administration and administrative-legal regulation of relations in the socio-cultural and administrative-political sphere Management in the socio-cultural sphere covers the branches of social development and social policy, cultural
From the book Theory of State and Law: Lecture Notes author Shevchuk Denis Alexandrovich115. The Theory of the Political Elite Currently, there are a large number of different concepts that justify the legitimacy of dividing society into a ruling minority and a controlled majority. The concepts assume that real political power is always
From the book History of State and Law of Ukraine: Textbook, manual author Muzychenko Petr PavlovichQuestion 111 Harm caused to the life or health of a citizen in the performance of contractual obligations, as well as in the performance of duties of military service, service in
From the book Postclassical Theory of Law. Monograph. author Chestnov Ilya Lvovich§ 1. Historical and socio-cultural origins of the Russian legal system. Its features and connection with the legal systems of the world The formation and development of the Russian legal system took place according to the general laws inherent in the formation and development of any legal system, although
From the book History of Public Administration in Russia author Shchepetev Vasily Ivanovich From the book Problems of the Theory of State and Law: Textbook. author Dmitriev Yuri Albertovich From the author's book From the author's book§ 10.2. Functions of the political system The essence of the political system is also manifested in its functions. In general terms, they are as follows. The political system reflects the state of society, including the economic conditions of its existence, social and
From the author's book§ 10.6. Features of the political system in Russia Since the October Revolution of 1917, a Soviet-type political system has been established in Russia, characterized by a number of distinctive features: 1) Closeness from the outside world and, above all, strictly hostile
Political system. The Galicia-Volyn principality, longer than many other Russian lands, maintained its unity, although the power in it belonged to the big boyars. The power of the princes was fragile. Suffice it to say that the Galician boyars disposed of even the princely table - they invited and removed the princes. The history of the Galicia-Volyn principality is full of examples when the princes, who lost the support of the top of the boyars, were forced to go into exile. To fight the princes, the boyars invited Poles and Hungarians. Several Galician-Volyn princes were hanged by the boyars.
The boyars exercised their power with the help of a council, which included the largest landowners, bishops and persons holding the highest government positions. The prince did not have the right to convene a council at will, could not issue a single act without his consent. Since the council included boyars who occupied major administrative positions, the entire state administration apparatus was actually subordinate to it.
The Galician-Volyn princes from time to time, under emergency circumstances, convened a veche, but it did not have much influence. They took part in all-Russian feudal congresses. Occasionally, congresses of feudal lords and the Galicia-Volyn principality were convened. In this principality, there was a palace-patrimonial system of government,
The territory of the state was divided into thousands and hundreds. As the thousand and sotsky with their administrative apparatus gradually became part of the palace and patrimonial apparatus of the prince, the positions of voivodes and volostels arose instead of them. Accordingly, the territory was divided into voivodeships and volosts. Elders were elected in the communities, who were in charge of administrative and petty court cases. Posadniks were appointed to cities. They possessed not only administrative and military power, but also performed judicial functions, collected tributes and duties from the population.
Galicia-Volyn Rus - an important political center of the western Russian lands, which united the lands of such tribes as the Dulens, Tivertsy, Croats, Buzhans, and became part of Kievan Rus at the end of the 10th century. It flourished in the second half of the 19th century. A feature of Galicia was the early and intensive development of feudal relations, which led to the creation of a strong boyar elite, which managed to seize the main lands and peasants. A large princely domain was not formed there. The boyars had, in addition to lands, their trade and craft centers, castles.
A different position was occupied by the Volyn prince - the owner of a large domain, who rallied the boyars around him with land grants. In 1199, relying mainly on the feudal lords of Volyn, the princely power managed to unite both principalities. Its center was Galich, then Hill, and at the end of the 13th century. - Lviv. But this political unity was neither long-lasting nor strong enough. The boyars, which had great political rights, opposed their interests to the princely power, and often waged an open struggle against the prince, relying on neighboring states - Hungary, Poland. In 1214, the Hungarian king and the Polish prince signed an agreement on the division of Galicia-Volyn Rus. In the XIII century. Western Russia fell under the rule of the Mongol-Tatar conquerors. Later, her lands were divided between Hungary, Poland and Lithuania.
The social system of Galicia-Volyn Rus is characterized by the strong influence of large feudal lords - the boyars ("Galician men"), local landowners who grew up in the bowels of decaying communities. They had little connection with the princes, which led to the weakness of princely power in the Galician land.
Another group of feudal lords were service feudal lords, who most often received land for service and for the duration of service. Church nobility and monasteries also had land holdings. The peasants, who lived on the lands of the secular and spiritual feudal lords, were in various forms of dependence.
The political system of the Galicia-Volyn principality is characterized by the strong influence of the boyars, and in connection with this, the influence of the boyar council.
The Galypka-Volyn principality is characterized by the preservation of the system of the palace and patrimonial organization of management and the feeding system. The princes sent posadniks to the cities, and governors and volostels, who performed administrative and judicial functions, to the places.
16.Court and trial in the Russian feudal republics.
Process wore accusatory nature, The legal proceedings of Novgorod and Pskov were regulated; more detailed and clear than in Russkaya Pravda.
In accordance with the letters of judgment, the role of the court and judicial officials increased. The defendant was summoned to court by subpoena. In case of resistance, a drive was applied to it.! Witnesses were called to court with the help of judicial agents. The evidence system has changed. To the judicial evidence mentioned in Russkaya Pravda (witness testimony, material evidence, ordeals, oaths)! new ones were added: a court duel and written evidence (“boards” - private receipts and “records” - officially certified documents). There is an institution of judicial representation to protect the interests of women, monks, the elderly and children. Judicial paperwork was assigned to the clerks. The decision of the court was formalized by a judicial charter. The party that won the case received a "right" letter. Cases decided by the court were not subject to review. In Novgorod and Pskov, along with the adversarial process, there was also a search process. The institute of pre-trial preparation of the case was called the vault. Representation of the parties was allowed at the trial. Women, children, old people, monks, the deaf had accomplices who were supposed to represent their interests in court. Officials could not act as a representative of the party, so as not to put pressure on the court. In the event of a dispute over church land, the interests of the church were represented by the headman, i.e. elected representative of the faithful. The process usually began with the filing of a statement of claim, a complaint. The ladle and his master began the resolution of their disputes about the land with a call - a public announcement at the auction about their claims. This announcement was to bring witnesses from among the members of the communities to the case. An important step was to summon the defendant to court; in the event of a 5-day failure to appear, he could be brought to court forcibly. A lot of space in the law is devoted to evidence. Among written evidence first was record. - liners, boards. The proof was also his own confession. Witnesses could give third-party people, neighbors and rumors. Rumor, according to PSG, was supposed to defend his testimony against the defendant in a duel. His failure to appear in court led to the loss of the case by the party that relied on his testimony to prove its case. In cases of theft, “excessive” acted as evidence, i.e. a stolen item found on a person suspected of committing a theft. The property was found red-handed during a search conducted by an official bailiff (the plaintiff was also present here). A duel ("field"), as well as an oath, were used when there was no other, more compelling evidence. The process was oral, but the decision was made in writing. Upon its issuance, court fees were levied. The decision on the case was executed by special servants of the prince or officials of the city.
. In Novgorod and Pskov, along with the adversarial process, there was also a search process. The institute of pre-trial preparation of the case was called the vault. Representation of the parties was allowed at the trial. Women, children, old people, monks, the deaf had accomplices who were supposed to represent their interests in court. Officials could not act as a representative of the party, so as not to put pressure on the court. In the event of a dispute over church land, the interests of the church were represented by the headman, i.e. elected representative of the faithful.
The process usually began with the filing of a statement of claim, a complaint. The ladle and his master began the resolution of their disputes about the land with a call - a public announcement at the auction about their claims. This announcement was to bring witnesses from among the members of the communities to the case. An important step was to summon the defendant to court; in the event of a 5-day failure to appear, he could be brought to court forcibly.
A lot of space in the law is devoted to evidence. Among written evidence first was record. Simple receipts also had probative value. - liners, boards. The proof was also his own confession. Witnesses could give third-party people, neighbors and rumors. Rumor, according to PSG, was supposed to defend his testimony against the defendant in a duel. His failure to appear in court led to the loss of the case by the party that relied on his testimony to prove its case.
In cases of theft, “excessive” acted as evidence, i.e. a stolen item found on a person suspected of committing a theft. The property was found red-handed during a search conducted by an official bailiff (the plaintiff was also present here). A duel ("field"), as well as an oath, were used when there was no other, more compelling evidence. The process was oral, but the decision was made in writing. Upon its issuance, court fees were levied. The decision on the case was executed by special servants of the prince or officials of the city.
Preventive war - suicide for fear of death
Otto von Bismarck
The Galicia-Volyn principality was located in the southwestern part of Russia. With the beginning of feudal fragmentation, the principality separated from the Kyiv authorities and really claimed the leading role in Russia. This principality was distinguished by the presence of fertile soils, forests, trade routes and a specific management system.
princes
Princes of Galicia-Volyn principality:
- Yaroslav Osmomysl (1153-1187). Ruled in Galicia.
- Roman Mstislavich. From 1170 he ruled in Volhynia, and in 1199 he subjugated Galich, forming a single principality. Ruled until 1205.
- Daniel Romanovich. 1205-1219 - rule under the guardianship of the mother. Next is self-management.
In times of fragmentation, the boyars enjoyed great influence. suffice it to say that both Roman Mstislavich and Daniil Romanovich waged the main struggle not with neighboring principalities and kingdoms, but with their own boyars. The results were not the best. In 1205, after the death of Roman, his young children were expelled from the principality. Leapfrog began with the invitation of the rulers. It came to the point that for some time the boyar Volodyslav Kormilichich became the prince of the Galicia-Volyn principality. It was a unique case of a local interruption of the Rurik dynasty in a separate principality.
In 1254, Daniel proclaimed himself king, and the principality became a kingdom. After the death of the prince-king in 1264, the principality broke up into a number of small regions that existed until 1352, when Galicia passed to Poland, Volhynia to Lithuania.
Development
The Galicia-Volyn principality, the development of which was carried out in the 12th-13th centuries, can be reduced to the following main dates:
- 1199 - unification into a single principality. Before that, there were 2 centers - Volyn and Galich.
- 1214 - Treaty of Seles between Hungary and Poland. The Hungarians planned to take Eastern Galicia for themselves, and the Poles Western.
- 1234 - Mikhail Vsevolodovich Chernigov occupied Galich.
- 1236 - Daniil Romanovich captures Galich.
- 1240 - he also captures Kyiv.
- 1264 - the principality was divided into many smaller ones.
- 1352 - Poland captured Galicia, and Lithuania captured Volhynia.
The favorable geographical position of the principality led to constant attempts by neighbors to seize this territory. It is not only about the fight against other specific principalities, but also the confrontation with Lithuania, Hungary and Poland. All these countries have repeatedly equipped military campaigns against the principality.
Geographic location and land
The Galicia-Volyn principality was located in the southwestern part of Russia between the Dniester and the Prut, as well as with access to the Carpathians. the main characteristic of the geographical position of the principality is the presence of a mild climate and fertile lands. There were chernozem lands, extensive forests and deposits of rock salt, thanks to which the principality managed to grow rich. The chronicles indicate that salt was traded with Byzantium, Poland, the Czech Republic and other countries.
Neighbors of the Galicia-Volyn principality:
- Kingdom of Hungary
- Polish kingdom
- Lithuanian principality
- Polotsk principality
- Turov-Pinsk Principality
- Kiev principality
- Polovtsian steppes
To the south were undeveloped lands, views of which were not only the Galician-Volyn princes, but also the Polovtsy with the Hungarians.
Large cities: Galich, Vladimir-Volynsky, Berestye, Lutsk, Lvov, Dorogobuzh, Terebovl.
Map
Map of the Galicia-Volyn principality with a geographical position within the Specific Rus.
Economic development
Features of the economic development of the Galicia-Volyn principality should be sought in the geographical position. Fertile lands had an impact on the wealth of the region, but much more important was the presence of salt mining, the trade of which brought a lot of money to the treasury. Another important economic feature of the region is that international trade routes passed through the principality.
culture
In the Galicia-Volyn principality, chronicle writing flourished. The peak of this process fell on the period of the reign of Daniel Romanovich. This prince in the annals is called an ideal ruler, as well as a magnificent warrior: daring, fearless and wise. If we consider the annals of these lands, they are more like a colorful story. If in other chronicles there is an enumeration of facts and events, then in this case the situation is different - the whole narrative goes in the form of a story.
The architecture of Galich and Volhynia is unique. European culture left an imprint on it, as well as the proximity of Kyiv with its traditions. As a result, an amazing color was achieved, and the cities began to amaze with their beauty and grace. Architects in construction used colorful glasses that let light through, decoration of buildings inside and out, relief images, gilding and much more. These were rich cities, which was reflected in the culture.
Peculiarities
The political features of the Galicia-Volyn principality relate to the management system. schematically, it can be depicted as a horizontal straight line.
Power was distributed almost equally between the prince, the veche and the boyars. Therefore, the positions of the boyars were so strong, and therefore there was a struggle for power between rich people and the prince. after all, in other large principalities, triangles of control were traced, where someone was at the top and received a dominant role. This was not the case in this kingdom.
General features of the development of the principality during the period of feudal fragmentation (11-13 centuries):
- Struggle with Kyiv for supremacy in Russia
- Active development of rock salt mining.
- A large number of arable land and forests.
- Active foreign trade and urban growth at this expense.
At the end of the 12th century, a significant historical event took place: the territories of Galicia and Volyn separate principalities were united into a single Galicia-Volyn principality. As a result of such a reunification, the largest ancient Russian state of the Rurik dynasty arose. A wise ruler, Prince Roman Mstislavovich, was able to unite together two independent principalities.
First, he, taking advantage of civil strife, occupied Galich, and after the death of Vladimir Yaroslavich, he deftly connected these territories. Common cultural traditions, as well as common enemies (in the person of the Poles, the Golden Horde and the Hungarians) also contributed to the reunification of these lands. The principality existed for more than 200 years, and its wise ruler was subsequently called the "autocrat of all Russia."
The peculiarity of the geographical location of the principality was in a favorable territorial location. The state was located on the fertile chernozems of Southwestern Russia. The principality was adjacent to Lithuania - on the north side; with the Golden Horde - on the south side; with Kyiv, as well as the Turov-Pinsk principalities - from the eastern side; with the Kingdom of Poland - along the western borders. And the majestic Carpathians served as a natural border with Hungary.
The natural conditions in the state were magnificent: luxurious and picturesque nature, a huge number of clean reservoirs. In the south, the principality was washed by the majestic Danube, and in the east by the full-flowing rivers Styr and Pripyat.
There is no exact information about the population. Unfortunately, reliable lists have not reached us. It is only known that the princely subjects regularly conducted a census of the population in the territories under their control. Regular population growth was ensured by the resettlement of the inhabitants of the conquered lands to the territory of the principality.
The inhabitants of the Ukrainian steppes also regularly moved to the territory of the state in search of protection from the constant raids on the steppe by the Mongol-Tatars. The main part of the population were Eastern Slavs. But there were also small settlements of Poles, Yotvingians, Lithuanians, Prussians and Tatars.
Important! In large cities, merchant and craft settlements of Germans and Jews also existed separately.
State characteristics
Favorable geographical location contributed to the rapid development of the state. The characterization of the Volyn principality would be incomplete without a description of its largest cities.
According to ancient chronicles, there were about 80 of them in the principality. The largest cities:
- Lviv - this ancient beautiful city, even at the present stage, is the cultural capital of Ukraine. The city was named in honor of the son of Danil Galitsky - Leo.
- Vladimir-Volynsky is a large and beautiful city, the advantageous geographical location of which contributed to the fact that a large Jewish community was formed there back in the 13th-14th centuries. A tragic fate befell the city during World War II, when the Germans massacred 25,000 people in this city.
- Galich is also a luxurious ancient city, which became the first capital of the Galician state.
Political system
Administration in the Volyn principality deserves special attention. The policy of the state is still of particular interest and subject of discussion among historians. Official historical science is inclined to the version that real power was concentrated in the hands of noble boyars. It was this nobility that made the most responsible decisions in the state. At general councils, they decided which of all the applicants to put on the princely throne, and from whom to take power. And even if the prince independently made a decision, the boyars still had to approve it, they could also appeal against it.
The body of power, which included noble boyars, was called the council. Bishops and large landowners also made up the council. The social system was feudal. Society was divided into five strata, between which there were striking differences.
The table will clearly show the social strata.
| Name | Own |
| men | Votchinniki, large landowners |
| feudal lords | Owned the land as long as they were in the service of the prince |
| church nobility | At their disposal were large lands, as well as peasants. The prince gave them the land. In this category of the population were exclusively educated people |
| artisans | They owned pottery, jewelry, etc. workshops. They lived exclusively in big cities. The products they produced were supplied to the domestic and foreign markets. |
| smerdy (peasants) | The largest category of the population. They didn't own anything. They cultivated the lands of the feudal lords, and paid a constant tribute (tax in kind to the state), lived in separate communities |
The main law in the state was the Russian Truth of Yaroslav the Wise.
Useful video: history of Galicia-Volyn principality
Economic Features
The economy in the Galicia-Volyn lands was quite developed. It was based mainly on subsistence agriculture. Courtyards had their own self-sufficient lands, owned their own arable land, meadows, forests and hayfields, as well as places for hunting and fishing.
The most popular cereal crops were rye and oats, wheat and barley were not very popular. From livestock breeding, horse breeding was the most popular, as well as sheep breeding and pig breeding. Salt making was the most popular industry. Many forests contributed to the development of woodworking and construction.
Pottery, jewelry, blacksmithing and weaponry were also developed. Trading did not develop much, the lack of access to the sea and river ports contributed to the unpopularity of trade. Internal trade was conducted mainly in large cities.
Army
Military affairs played a key role in the existence of the state system. Constant wars and civil strife contributed to the development of the army.
The army was divided into two parts:
- squads,
- warriors.
The warriors made up the princely army, the squad was formed exclusively from the boyar estates. The duty of all noble boyars was unconditional participation in military campaigns. Moreover, each boyar had to go on a campaign with cavalry and subjects. Their number could reach 1000. Simple boyars had to go on a campaign with two escorts: a gunsmith and an archer.
A separate princely guard was made up of very young boyars. They were constantly near the prince.
Simple howls were a kind of people's militia. Unlike combatants, their participation in military campaigns was not so in demand.
cultural traditions
A rather distinctive culture was formed on the territory of the principality, the origins of which relied both on ancient Russian cultural traditions and those borrowed from neighboring states.
Cultural centers were large monasteries in cities. They were also the main centers of education. Cultural life was mainly concentrated in Volhynia, in Vladimir, and also in Galich. It was in these cities that libraries were concentrated, and writing was developed in them.
Orthodox churches and monasteries were famous for their exquisite architecture. On the Volyn lands, the Dnieper architectural traditions were honored. In the Galician land, mainly Romanesque architectural styles and trends were used, borrowed mainly from Hungary, the Czech Republic and Poland.
Important! It was Galician architecture that was particularly diverse. Exquisite white stone was used to finish the buildings. The walls were faced with ceramic relief tiles, which depicted the plant world, geographical ornaments, and military themes were also widely used.
The 12th century was marked by a special flourishing of the region's architecture. It was at this time that the majestic Assumption Cathedral was built in the city of Galich. This mighty cathedral was only slightly inferior in size to St. Sophia of Kyiv. It was built during the reign of Yaroslav Osmomysl and symbolized the power of the principality. During the excavation of the foundation of the cathedral, a sarcophagus with the remains of the prince himself was discovered.
Of the other architectural monuments, we note the most significant:
- The grandiose church of St. Panteleimon has survived to this day. It is located in the village of Krylos in the Ivano-Frankivsk region.
- The city of Holm became a fairly large architectural center already in the 13th century. Unfortunately, not a single architectural structure in the Hill has survived to this day.
- The majestic Assumption Cathedral in the city of Vladimir has survived to this day. The cathedral was built by order of Mstislav Izyaslavich in 1160.
- A completely new type of structures, which were of a defensive nature, appeared in Volhynia in the 13th century. These were huge donjon towers, which were built of brick or stone.
Useful video: Galicia-Volyn principality
Conclusion
The Galicia-Volyn principality was a powerful and economically developed state with majestic architecture and well-established cultural traditions. Power in this principality was concentrated in the hands of the prince and noble boyars.
