Salt riot of 1648

One of the biggest uprisings in Russia in the mid-17th century was a mass demonstration of middle-and lower-class citizens, craftsmen, townspeople, yard people and archers, which was called the "Salt Riot."

This was the population's response to the government's policy of boyar Morozov, who was the educator, and later the brother-in-law of the Tsar Romanov A. Boris Morozov was the de facto ruler of the Russian state together with Prince I. Miloslavsky.

Following social and economic policies, the rule of Morozov was widespread and the development of arbitrariness and corruption, significantly increased taxes. Many segments of society demanded a revision and changes in state policy. In order to ease the tension in society, the Morozov government came to a decision to partially replace the direct taxes indirectly. This led to a reduction and even the cancellation of some of them, while the additional duty was imposed on widely-used goods, which were used in everyday life.

The salt revolt of 1648 has its own chronology, which can be traced. It began with the fact that in 1646 the tax fell on salt. A large jump in prices led to a reduction in its consumption and the appearance of a sharp outrage on the part of the population, because salt at that time was the main preservative. Many products began to deteriorate more quickly, and this caused general discontent among merchants and peasants. Thus, a salt riot was provoked, the reasons of which were covered in exorbitant taxes.

The tension increased and in 1647 the tax was abolished, but it was necessary at the expense of something to cover the arrears. It began to be recovered again from direct taxes, which were not canceled for a long time.

The immediate reason for the uprising under the name "salt revolt" was an unsuccessful delegation to the tsar of Moscow residents, which took place on 01/06/1648. The petition was directed against the dignitaries. The people demanded to convene the convocation of the Zemsky Sobor and approve new legislative acts. Having ordered the musketeers to disperse the crowd, Morozov thus provoked the citizens the next day to break into the Kremlin, where they also failed to hand the pet to the tsar.

So began a salt riot, the reasons for which were unwillingness to listen to the people's requests. The city was in the epicenter of great turmoil, which infuriated the townspeople. The next day a large number of streltsy joined the protesting citizens. The people again broke into the Kremlin, where they demanded that the head of the Zemsky order be given to him , who was in charge of the police service and administration of Moscow. There was also a demand for extradition of the Duma clerk, who was the initiator of the salt tax, as a result of which the salt revolt of 1648 and boyar Morozov together with his brother-in-law was formed.

The rebels set fire to China, the city and the White City, the courts of hated merchants, boyars, okolnichihs and deacons fell under the rout. They killed and tore Pure and Pleshcheeva with which the king sacrificed. The people also considered the fee for salt to be the culprit, which resulted in a salt riot, Okolnichy Trahanitiov, who fled from Moscow. He was caught, returned and executed.

The tsar removed the boyar Morozov from power on 11/06/1648, who was sent into exile to the monastery, and the uprisings continued in other cities until February, 1649.

Alexey Romanov made concessions to the insurgent population. The Zemsky Sobor was assembled, the purpose of which was the adoption of the new Code and the abolition of collection of arrears. Thus, some calm was introduced in society. In addition, the salt riot had other consequences. The head of state for the first time in such a long time could independently make state and political decisions. Sagittarians were given double bread and money salaries, there was a split in the ranks of opponents of the government, as a result of which repression took place, and the most active participants and leaders were executed. Morozov returned to Moscow, but no longer participated in the administration of the state.