People's Assembly in Russia. The meaning of veche (popular assembly in Russia) in the great Soviet encyclopedia, bse

VECHE (PEOPLE'S ASSEMBLY IN RUSSIA)

(common Slavic; from the Old Slavic vet - council), a popular meeting in ancient and medieval Russia to discuss common affairs. Arose from the tribal assemblies of the Slavs. With the formation of the ancient Russian state (see Kievan Rus), the feudal nobility used Hungary to limit the power of the prince. Veche meetings became widespread in Russia with the weakening of princely power during the period of feudal fragmentation (second half of the 11th-12th centuries). In the annals V. was first mentioned in Belgorod under 997, in Novgorod the Great - under 1016, Kiev - under 1068. V. was in charge of issues of war and peace, the vocation and expulsion of princes, elections and the removal of mayors, tysyatskys, etc., and in Novgorod also archbishop, the conclusion of treaties with other lands and principalities, the adoption of laws (for example, the Novgorod and Pskov letters of judgment). Veche meetings were usually convened by ringing the veche bell on the initiative of representatives of the authorities or the population itself, they did not have a specific frequency. At the beginning of the letter of veche, adopted in V., the names of the archbishop, mayor, tysyatsky were put, then there was a talk about V. , at the end of the day, on Yaroslav's Dvor, commanding ... ". V. had a permanent gathering place (in Novgorod - Yaroslav's courtyard, in Kiev - the courtyard of the Church of Sophia, in Pskov - the courtyard of the Trinity Church). In addition, conferences gathered in separate parts of large cities (for example, the "Konchansk" V. in Novgorod). V. was not a true democracy; in fact, power belonged to the feudal and urban leaders; however, it provided the masses with a certain opportunity to influence political life. The feudal nobility therefore strove to diminish the importance of the war, and the princely power sought the complete abolition of the veche order. In Novgorod, there was a special "council of masters", which included the feudal nobility and to which the actual power in the city belonged. In North-Eastern Russia, where the cities were weakened by the Mongol-Tatar invasion, the Grand Duke's power was consolidating by the end of the 14th century. liquidated veche institutions. However, during the aggravation of the class struggle, popular assemblies in cities repeatedly took the form of rebellion (uprisings in Tver in 1293 and 1327, in Moscow in 1382, 1445 and 1547, and others). The veche system was retained for the longest time in the Novgorod (up to 1478) and Pskov (up to 1510) feudal republics, where it reached its greatest development, as well as in the Vyatka land.

Lit .: Sergeevich V.I., Veche and the Prince, M., 1867; Grekov B. D .. Kievan Rus, M., 1953 (historiographic review and bibl. On pp. 353-58); Tikhomirov M.N., Old Russian cities, 2nd ed., M., 1956; Yanin V.L., Novgorod posadniki, M., 1962; Epifanov P. P. About the Old Russian Veche, "Bulletin of Moscow State University, Series 9, History", 1963, | 3; Pashuto V.T., Features of the political system of Ancient Rus, in the book: Old Russian state and its international significance, M., 1965.

A. V. Artsikhovsky, A. M. Sakharov.

Great Soviet Encyclopedia, TSB. 2012

The history of the emergence of the national veche

Veche was the main state body among the East Slavic tribes, which later united under the rule of Kiev and formed Kievan Rus and an early feudal society. The main function of the veche was to solve important pressing problems of a tribe or other territory, as well as to resolve issues of foreign and domestic policy, territorial issues, cultural and social. Veche is considered one of the earliest forms of direct democracy, since representatives of all strata of the population could join the veche. Free husbands - the heads of a clan, family, principality or a certain area of the territory - could become participants. The rights of husbands in the council were either equal, or, in some territories, depended on social status.

Similar state bodies of self-government existed among the Scandinavians and Anglo-Saxons.

With the gradual development of feudalism, the traditions of military democracy that reigned in the tribes gradually began to fade into the background, giving way to more organized and civilized ways of solving problems and managing the state. Veches became more and more large, they took official state status. One, despite this, the very concept of "veche" at that time was used to denote any gatherings of people, both official and unofficial, without state status - for example, people could spontaneously gather in market squares to solve certain questions.

The first mentions of the Slavic veche in Russia date back to the beginning of the 10th century, but there is reason to believe that the practice of such gatherings existed in the tribes as early as the end of the 8th and the beginning of the 9th century, just later they formed into something more definite and clearly structured. In one form or another, the veche existed in Russia until the 16th century. The national veche met in Kiev, as it was the capital of the state.

Brief characteristics and functions of the veche

Historians today disagree about the real power that the veche would have. There are two opposing points of view. According to one, it was believed that, despite the fact that the veche themselves chose the prince, they actually did not have real power, all important issues were decided by the prince himself or his warriors. The second point of view says that the veche, on the contrary, took upon itself the solution of all important issues, including issues related to the princes themselves. The princes, who were also part of the veche, did not have sufficient strength to challenge the decision of the council. In general, in Russia there was a dual power - the power of the veche and the power of the prince.

Veche dealt with a wide range of issues - the conclusion of peace or the declaration of war, trade issues, the disposal of financial, land and economic assets of the entrusted territory and the prince himself. The princes could only collect taxes and make a number of decisions, but they had to coordinate them with their advisers in the veche. It is important to say that it was the Veche at the early stage of the development of Russia that was engaged in the "calling of princes" to the throne, in other words, elections.

In all lands, with the exception of Novgorod, so-called free men (not dependent on anyone) could enter the veche. It was the criterion of freedom that ultimately led to the fact that later in the veche could only be entered by rather rich, well-to-do people who were free, in contrast to the peasants. As a result, in fact, the veche was an aristocracy, the top of society, and not a full-fledged national assembly.

Unfortunately, to date, information about the veche and their activities is rather fragmentary, so it is impossible to compose a full-fledged reliable picture. It is known that the veche did not have a chairman or any clear protocol; they could meet as needed, often spontaneously. The power and powers of the people's assembly, as well as its composition, very often depended on the region in which the veche sat. Such a people's organ reached its highest peak in Novgorod, and then in the seceded Pskov Republic. In these territories, the veche not only took root, but also existed for the longest time.

Veche in Novgorod

The Novgorod veche is a kind of example of what such gatherings should have been like in Russia. In Novgorod, the veche was the main body of power and was involved in solving all the most important state issues. The main principle of the Novgorod veche was unanimity, which meant that a decision could not be made until all the participants in the meeting agreed with it. This created certain difficulties - meetings could be held for a very long time - but it also yielded results, with the decision of the veche, in the end, all segments of the population were satisfied.

Veche in Novgorod summoned and expelled princes, resolved issues of military policy, dealt with pressing issues, performed judgment. The Novgorod veche had a pyramidal structure, in addition to the main city council, there were also local veche, for example, street ones.

End of the veche

In different regions, the veche existed for a different amount of time and in a different status - somewhere it took root, but somewhere it did not. Where popular assemblies had real political power, as in Novgorod, the veche existed until the 16th century and was abolished only by Ivan the Terrible. In most other regions, in Galicia-Volynsk, Vladimir-Suzdal and many other principalities, these meetings disintegrated by themselves.

) the feudal nobility used to limit the power of the prince. Veche meetings became widespread in Russia with the weakening of princely power during the period of feudal fragmentation (second half of the 11th-12th centuries). In the annals Veche (national assembly in Russia) first mentioned in Belgorod under 997, in Novgorod the Great - under 1016, Kiev - under 1068. Veche (national assembly in Russia) was in charge of issues of war and peace, the vocation and expulsion of princes, elections and the removal of mayors, tysyatskys, etc., and in Novgorod also the archbishop, the conclusion of treaties with other lands and principalities, the adoption of laws (for example, the Novgorod and Pskov court letters). Veche meetings were usually convened by ringing the veche bell on the initiative of representatives of the authorities or the population itself, they did not have a specific frequency. At the beginning of the veche letter, taken on Veche (national assembly in Russia), the names of the archbishop, mayor, tysyatsky were put, then it was about Veche (national assembly in Russia): "And the boyars, and live in the people, and the merchant, and the black people, and the whole lord the great Novgorod, all five ends, forever, on Yaroslav's Dvor, commanding ...". Veche (national assembly in Russia) had a permanent meeting place (in Novgorod - Yaroslav's courtyard, in Kiev - the courtyard of the Temple of Sophia, in Pskov - the courtyard of the Trinity Church). In addition, they were going Veche (national assembly in Russia) separate parts of large cities (for example, "Konchansk" Veche (national assembly in Russia) in Novgorod). Veche (national assembly in Russia) it was not a true democracy, in fact, power belonged to the feudal and city leaders; however, it provided the masses with a certain opportunity to influence political life. The feudal nobility therefore sought to reduce the importance of Veche (national assembly in Russia), and the princely power sought the complete abolition of the veche order. In Novgorod, there was a special "council of masters", which included the feudal nobility and to which the actual power in the city belonged. In North-Eastern Russia, where the cities were weakened by the Mongol-Tatar invasion, the Grand Duke's power was consolidating by the end of the 14th century. liquidated veche institutions. However, during the aggravation of the class struggle, popular assemblies in cities repeatedly took the form Veche (national assembly in Russia)(uprisings in Tver in 1293 and 1327, in Moscow in 1382, 1445 and 1547, etc.). The veche system was retained for the longest time in the Novgorod (up to 1478) and Pskov (up to 1510) feudal republics, where it reached its greatest development, as well as in the Vyatka land.

Lit .: Sergeevich Veche (national assembly in Russia) I., Veche and the Prince, M., 1867; Grekov B. D .. Kievan Rus, M., 1953 (historiographic review and bibl. On pp. 353-58); Tikhomirov M.N., Old Russian cities, 2nd ed., M., 1956; Yanin Veche (national assembly in Russia) L., Novgorod posadniki, M., 1962; Epifanov P. P. About the Old Russian Veche, "Bulletin of Moscow State University, Series 9, History", 1963, No. 3; Pashuto Veche (national assembly in Russia) T., Features of the political system of Ancient Russia, in the book: Old Russian state and its international significance, M., 1965.

A. Veche (national assembly in Russia) Artsikhovsky, A. M.

national assembly in Russia

Alternative descriptions

General meeting of townspeople in Russia

In Ancient Russia, a meeting of townspeople to solve public affairs

National Assembly in Russia in the 10-15th centuries.

... "Not every ... clever speeches"

... "Tusovka" in Old Russian

Old Russian agora

Old Russian Duma in Novgorod

Old Russian meeting

Old Russian collection

Duma of Novgorod

Or veche, cf. old. (broadcast? covenant?) popular meeting, conference, worldly gathering. At one veche, but not one speech. A large veche, general, legal, decent, with a mayor, a thousand, etc .; small or veche, private gatherings and conferences, often unauthorized, obscene, seditious; or convened in the hallway of the prince, the lord, a public, open court. To obey, to stand, to be at the veche, to confer. Vechevan, action. by verb. Prefabricated area, meeting place; bell ringing for convening a gathering and the tower itself, the bell tower, vezha or veche. Become an evening, come together for a meeting. Vechye Vologodsk. clear meanings alarm, alarm, flash; not so long ago in the Urals. kaz. This custom lived on in the army, but there they called the ringing of the veche a flare, and the gathering was called a military circle. Veche, eternal, referring to the veche. Eternal clerk, veche secretary; clerk. Eternal letter, the conclusion of the veche. Vecher M. member of the veche, layman with a voice at a gathering; deputy, representative, elected. The supper? f. arch. speech, lamentation? gathering

Worldly gathering

Rally in Veliky Novgorod

Meeting in Russia

Novgorod House of Commons

Novgorod Forum

Novgorod People's Assembly

Novgorod assembly

Pskov at Vasnetsov's

Russian Duma in the distant past

Gathering of townspeople in Russia

Slavic Forum

Meeting of the townspeople

Meeting of citizens in Russia

Meeting of the inhabitants of the city (history)

Meeting of the inhabitants of the city (historical)

Meeting in Russia

Collection in Old Russian

Collection of Russians

Meeting with the Slavs

Council of the Slavs

The old name of the human gathering

Gathering in Ancient Novgorod

Gathering of townspeople in Russia

Gathering of ancient Novgorodians

Gathering of Novgorodians

The gathering of the Russians

Indiscriminate scream, argument

In Ancient Russia - a people's meeting of free citizens, at which all important public and state affairs were decided

In Ancient Russia, a meeting of townspeople to solve public affairs

Old Russian parliament

The prototype of the State Duma in ancient Novgorod

Gathering of townspeople (historical)

Lower House of Parliament of Yugoslavia

National Assembly in Russia in the X-XIV centuries.

Collection of Vyatichi

Collection of Slavs

Public gathering

Gathering of Vyatichi

Slavic assembly

Novgorod gathering

... "Get-together" in Old Russian

Meeting

Collection podrevnerusski

... "Tusovka" in an old Russian way

Slovenian advice

... "Not every ... clever speeches"

... "Novgorodskoe ..." at Andrey Ryabushkin

Novgorod agora

Veche (national assembly in Russia)

Veche(common Slavic; from the Old Slavic vet ≈ council), a national assembly in ancient and medieval Russia to discuss common affairs. Arose from the tribal assemblies of the Slavs. With the formation of the ancient Russian state (see Kievan Rus), the feudal nobility used Hungary to limit the power of the prince. Veche meetings became widespread in Russia with the weakening of princely power during the period of feudal fragmentation (second half of the 11th to 12th centuries). In the annals V. was first mentioned in Belgorod under 997, in Novgorod the Great ≈ under 1016, Kiev ≈ under 1068. V. was in charge of questions of war and peace, the calling and expulsion of princes, elections and the removal of mayors, tysyatskys, etc., and in Novgorod also archbishop, the conclusion of treaties with other lands and principalities, the adoption of laws (for example, the Novgorod and Pskov letters of judgment). Veche meetings were usually convened by ringing the veche bell on the initiative of representatives of the authorities or the population itself, they did not have a specific frequency. At the beginning of the letter of veche, adopted in V., the names of the archbishop, mayor, tysyatsky were put, then there was talk about V. , at the end of the day, on Yaroslav's Dvor, commanding ... ". V. had a permanent gathering place (in Novgorod - Yaroslav's courtyard, in Kiev - the courtyard of the Temple of Sophia, in Pskov - the courtyard of the Trinity Church). In addition, conferences gathered in separate parts of large cities (for example, the "Konchansk" V. in Novgorod). V. was not a true democracy; in fact, power belonged to the feudal and urban leaders; however, it provided the masses with a certain opportunity to influence political life. The feudal nobility therefore strove to diminish the importance of the war, and the princely power sought the complete abolition of the veche order. In Novgorod, there was a special "council of masters", which included the feudal nobility and to which the actual power in the city belonged. In North-Eastern Russia, where the cities were weakened by the Mongol-Tatar invasion, the Grand Duke's power was consolidating by the end of the 14th century. liquidated veche institutions. However, during the aggravation of the class struggle, popular assemblies in cities repeatedly took the form of rebellion (uprisings in Tver in 1293 and 1327, in Moscow in 1382, 1445 and 1547, and others). The veche system was retained for the longest time in the Novgorod (up to 1478) and Pskov (up to 1510) feudal republics, where it reached its greatest development, as well as in the Vyatka land.

Lit .: Sergeevich V.I., Veche and the Prince, M., 1867; Grekov B. D. Kievan Rus', Moscow, 1953 (historiographic review and biblical review on pp. 353-58); Tikhomirov M.N., Old Russian cities, 2nd ed., M., 1956; Yanin V.L., Novgorod posadniki, M., 1962; Epifanov P. P. About the Old Russian Veche, "Bulletin of Moscow State University, Series 9, History", 1963, ╧ 3; Pashuto V.T., Features of the political system of Ancient Rus, in the book: Old Russian state and its international significance, M., 1965.