BREAKING THE LAW: FROM THE HISTORY OF RUSSIAN COLONIZATION OF THE STEPPE IN THE XVII CENTURY

Abstract

The Russian colonization of the Steppe was connected with a variety of specific points that became apparent in special psychology of the local population. The article studies an incident that happened in a small fortress at the southern frontier of Russia on June 12, 1648. The local residents seized power and executed collectively a man who was engaged in usury and speculation. They were sure that execution, though illegal, was in the public interest. This case shows some features of Russian social organization where the collective interests were put above the law and legal rights. So we see an interesting incident in history. It reflected the specificity of local community consciousness which put the interests of the collective above laws and regulations. For the residents of the ostrog the decision of people's court had greater legitimacy than the current legislation. It is interesting, that Chubulov was not just murdered by his debtors. This improvised «execution» was preceded by many things: the gathering, the prosecution, the trial. All events were accompanied by drumbeats. Even the execution of Chubulov was collective: all elected representatives of the people («mir») took part in it. This case shows that for the population of the southern Russian frontier collective public interests were above private ones. Surely, this factor contributed to the success of military colonization of the steppe spaces by Russian population. To violate the law for the benefit of social justice was a valid action for the residents of Russian frontier.

Keywords

• colonization of the south of russia
• the fortress
• russian frontier
• russian service people