Procure is an addicted person in Russia

The history of Kievan Rus is interesting and unique. In particular, the layers of the population in it were not similar to the European ones. In the article we will answer the question: "Who is the purchaser?" So, the entire population of Ancient Rus was divided into two broad categories: free and dependent people. The first category included the aristocratic elite of society (princes, boyars), servitors (warriors) and merchants (merchants). The second category was more complex in structure, and it can identify two main social groups: personal or slave. These included servants who, unlike antiquity, were not classical, but patriarchal slaves, and people economically dependent - these are purchases and randovichi, as well as smerds.

Code of Laws "Russian Pravda"

About these two categories of economically dependent population narrates one, but very important historical source - "Russian Truth". It is a complex of ancient rules of written law, which took shape over several centuries, beginning with the XI century. In it there is an answer to the question: "The purchase is who?" The first to record these laws was Yaroslav the Wise when he was a Novgorod prince. Then he added after taking the Grand Duke's table in Kiev. Then his children, princes Yaroslavichi, and grandson, Vladimir Monomakh, contributed to the "Russian Truth".

The most detailed set of laws regulates the state of procurement, to a much lesser extent - the rank-and-file. He also determines that procurement is an dependent category of the population. In the social status of both, there are commonalities and differences.

General in the position of ryadovichi and purchases

The general thing is that the dependence of purchases and ryadovichi had an economic basis. A free man, or a lyudin (in the terminology of that time), could become a rank-and-file if he entered into a contract-a series, and a purchase-if he took a coupe, that is, a debt. This instantly depreciated the lives of dependent people. If for the murder of a man in Ancient Russia a fine of 40 hryvnas was used, then the life of the purchaser and the rank-and-file was equated with the life of a slave and a smerd and amounted to only 5 hryvnia. It is this amount of fine that best emphasizes the dependence and incompleteness of these categories of the population. Of course, the bureaucracy suffered more. The definition of them as dependent people presupposed the possibility of selling into slavery and so on.

Differences between purchases and ryadovichi

Between procurement and rank-and-file, there is a significant difference. Ryadovich concluded a contract, a series, for a certain period of time, and, as the "Russian Pravda" says, under no circumstances could it be sold into slavery, that is, made personally dependent.

With the purchase, the situation was more complicated. Taking the compartment, this man had to work it out on the farm of his master. Usually, purchases were used in agricultural work or in the care of livestock. The gentleman allowed them to use his property and inventory, but if the purchase spoiled him, he carried a proper responsibility. If he spoiled or stolen other people's property, then the responsibility was laid on the master. This is another feature of the social status of purchases, emphasizing the incompleteness of this category of population.

But, unlike the rank-and-file soldier, it was possible to get a boot, that is, to turn into slavery. This was allowed only in two cases:

• If the purchase of something stolen on the side;
• If he escapes from his master, and thus virtually refuses to return the debt-coupon.

If, however, the gentleman tried to lull the purchase without sufficient legal grounds, he could get protection in the princely court.

Legal protection of procurement, in contrast to the ryadovich, is described in detail in Russkaya Pravda. In particular:

• The purchase could not be sold as a slave;
• It was impossible for him to take away the property in his possession;
• He could not take away the coupe he had given him;
• It was forbidden to transfer the purchase to someone for rent;
• He could not be tortured for no reason.

That is, the purchase is, albeit a dependent person, but has a clearly defined legal position in the society.

Protection of procurement rights

If any of the rights were violated, he could run to the prince's court and declare the non-observance of the law. This privilege of protection in the princely court emphasized that the purchase is a former free man who, having worked on a coupe, had the opportunity to regain his former social status. He was also given the right to testify in court on the so-called small lawsuit, that is, not very serious cases. No other category of the dependent population could do this.