THEY TOLLED THE BELLS FOR RIOT": (UNREST IN THE THE BELGOROD ARCHBISHOP’S PATRIMONY IN 1682)

Abstract

The article deals with the history of popular unrest in the Belgorod district in the possessions of Archbishop Misail in 1682. The study is based on the analysis of sources published in 1936 in the journal "Red Archive". With the help of new methodological approaches, the possibility of revising the assessments of previous historiography is shown. As a result of the application of modern cognitive strategies, it was possible to obtain new information on the nature and features of popular protest in the patrimony of the Belgorod archbishop. A causal link was detected between the speech of Belgorod residents and the Streltsy uprising of 1682 in Moscow. The stories about the actions of the streltsy were interpreted as the beginning of the struggle against the noblemans-"traitors". Dissatisfied with the social situation of the patrimonial peasants, the population of Belgorod Region decided to continue this struggle for social Truth. Archbishop Misail himself was recognized as the main culprit of the people's troubles. The rebels believed that he wanted to enslave the former sovereign's servants. Thus, the archbishop violates the will of the sovereign and stands on a par with other "traitors". The Belgorod rioters evaluated all their actions in terms of their traditional culture. Within the framework of traditional ideas, they sought to eradicate "treason", counting on the support of the supreme power. Based on the analysis of interrogatory and torture speeches, it was possible to establish the ideological motives of the rebels. The real reasons for their defeat were also revealed. In general, the unrest of the patrimonial people of the Belgorod metropolitan is shown in the article as a typical example of local popular movements in pre-industrial Russia.

Keywords

• belgorod region
• archbishop
• popular unrest
• peasants
• service people
• social truth
• popular monarchism