Power in Polotsk in the 14th and the First Half of the 15th Century. From the History of Relations between the Center and Regions in the Grand Duchy of Lithuania

Sergey Polekhov
Candidate of Historical Sciences (Ph.D. in History), Senior Research Fellow,
Institute of Russian History Russian Academy of Sciences (Russian Federation, Moskow),
This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

DOI: https://doi.org/10.15407/ul2015.03.044

Download PDF

 

Abstract

From the history of relations between the center and regions in the Grand Duchy of Lithuania The article analyzes the distribution of power between the inhabitants of the Polotsk land and the grand dukes of Lithuania in the light of their relations in the 14th and the first half of the 15th century. From the dawn of the 14th century one can trace various displays of political activity of the Polotsk inhabitants. Due to a mention in an unpublished letter of the German merchants from Polotsk we learn that the form of such political activity was veche – an assembly of the townspeople convened with a ringing bell, like in Novgorod and Pskov. Similar processes in the three cities may also be traced, such as the gradual institutionalization of veche (e.g. the appearance of the seal of «Polotsk and St. Sophia») and the emergence of a group of its most influential participants. It is stressed that the political activity of the Polotsk dwellers and its forms were not borrowed from Latin Europe (Riga, Poland etc.) but may be traced back to the 12th century. The «personnel policy» of the grand dukes of Lithuania is also investigated in the article. It is shown that not only Catholic boyars from the noble Lithuanian families were appointed governors and palatines of the Polotsk land, but also Orthodox boyars and princes from the families connected to the local society. The author argues that it was due to the powerful position of the local society that the grand dukes had to reckon with it.

 

Keywords

Polotsk, Grand Duchy of Lithuania, Vytautas, administrative system, veche, center and regions.

 

References

  1. Adamus, J. (1930). O tytule panuiaczego i panstwa litewskiego pare spostrzezhen. Kwartalnik Historyczny, (1, 3). [in Polish].
  2. Archiwum ksiazhat Lubartowiczow Sanguszkow w Sławucie, (1). (1887). [in Polish].
  3. Chartularium Lithuaniae res gestas magni ducis Gedeminne illustrans. Gedimino laiškai. (2003). [in Lithuanian].
  4. Choroschkewitsch, L. (1970). Die Polozker Urkunden aus dem ehemaligen Stadtarchiv Riga als Quelle zur Geschichte der russisch-hansischen Beziehungen am Ende des 15. Jahrhunderts. Neue Hansische Studien (Forschungen zur mittelalterlichen Geschichte. Bd. 17.). Berlin. [in Germany].
  5. Danylevych, E. (1896). Ocherk ystoryy Polotskoi zemly do kontsa XIV stoletyia. Kyev. [in Russian].
  6. Die Recesse und andere Akten der Hansetage von 1256–1430, (8). (1897). Leipzig. [in Germany].
  7. Duk, D. (2012). Sotsyalno-topohrafycheskoe y planyrovochnoe razvytye zamkovykh chastei Polotska v XIV–XVIII vv. Polotsk. Mynsk, 270–275. [in Russian].
  8. Filipovych, A. (2014). Polotska zemlia v litopysnykh ta aktovykh dzherelakh XI–XVI stolit. Kyiv. [in Ukrainain].
  9. Floria, B. (1995). Ystorycheskaia tradytsyia ob obshchestvennom stroe srednevekovoho Polotska. Otechestvennaia ystoryia, 5, 110–116. [in Russian]. https://doi.org/10.1086/117575
  10. Iakubovskyi, Y. (1903). Zemskye pryvyley Velykoho kniazhestva Lytovskoho. Ch. 2. Zhurnal Mynysterstva narodnoho prosveshchenyia, 6, 245–303. [in Russian].
  11. Halecki, O. (1916). Litwa, Rus i Zhmudz jako czesci składowe Wielkiego Księstwa Litewskiego. RAU, (59), 14–17. [in Polish].
  12. Hrusha, A. (2014). Ulada neparushnastsi i pamiatsi: «staryna» i yae transfarmatsyia y XV – pershai tretsi XVI st. Sotsium, 10, 216–245. [in Belarusian].
  13. Hyldebrand, H. (1879). Nemetskaia kontora v Polotske. Sbornyk materyalov y statei po ystoryy Prybaltyiskoho kraia, (2). Ryha, 44–80. [in Russian].
  14. Kashtanov, S. (2010). Rasprostranenye bumahy na Rusy v XIV–XVI vv. Knyha v Drevnei Rusy (XI–XVI vv.). Moskva, 95–100. [in Russian].
  15. Khoroshkevych, A. (1963). Dohovory Polotska 1405–1406 hh. kak ystochnyk po ystoryy eho vneshnei torhovly y torhovoi polytyky. Arkheohrafycheskyi ezhehodnyk za 1962 hod. Moskva. [in Russian].
  16. Khoroshkevych, A. (1977). Henealohyia meshchan y meshchanskoe zemlevladenye v Polotskoi zemle kontsa XIV – nachala XVI v. Ystoryia y henealohyia. Moskva. [in Russian].
  17. Khoroshkevych, A. (1963). Torhovlia Velykoho Novhoroda s Prybaltykoi y Zapadnoi Evropoi v XIV–XV vekakh. Moskva. [in Russian].
  18. Lietuvos istorija, (4). (2009). Vilnius. [in Lithuanian].
  19. Lietuvos Metrika. Knyga Nr. 4 (1479–1491). Užrašymų knyga 4. (2004). [in Lithuanian].
  20. Liubavskyi, M. (1895). O raspredelenyy vladenyi y ob otnoshenyiakh mezhdu velykymy y druhymy kniaziamy Hedymynova roda v XIV y XV vv. Moskva. [in Russian].
  21. Liubavskyi, M. (1892). Oblastnoe delenye y mestnoe upravlenye Lytovsko-Russkoho hosudarstva ko vremeny yzdanyia Pervoho Lytovskoho Statuta. Moskva. [in Russian].
  22. Liv-, esth- und curländisches Urkundenbuch nebst Regesten. Bd. 3. Nachträge zu den zwei ersten Bänden, Fortsetzung von 1368–1393. (1857). Reval. [in Lithuanian].
  23. Liv-, esth- und curländisches Urkundenbuch nebst Regesten. Bd. Nachträge zu den fünf ersten Bänden. (1873). Riga. [in Lithuanian].
  24. Liv-, est- und curländisches Urkundenbuch. Bd. 1429 Mai – 1435. (1884). Riga; Moskau. [in Lithuanian].
  25. Liv-, est- und curländisches Urkundenbuch. Bd. 1436–1443. (1889). Riga; Moskau. [in Lithuanian].
  26. Liv-, est- und curländisches Urkundenbuch. Abt. Bd. 12. 1460–1472. (1910). Riga; Moskau. [in Lithuanian].
  27. Lukyn, P. (2014). K ystoryy vechevykh kolokolov. Novhorodskyi ystorycheskyi sbornyk, 14 (24), 135–167. [in Russian].
  28. Lukyn, P. (2012). Novhorodskoe veche v XIII–XV vv. Ystoryohrafycheskye postroenyia y dannye hanzeiskykh dokumentov. Spory o novhorodskom veche: mezhdystsyplynarnyi dyaloh, (6). Sankt-Peterburg, 10–60. [in Russian].
  29. Lytskevych, O. (2010). Dokumentы po ystoryy Menskoi zemly za 1386–1393 hh. Minsk i minchane: dzesiats stahoddziay historyi (da 510-hoddzia atrymannia Menskam mahdeburskaha prava). Minsk, 8–15. [in Russian].
  30. Maciejewska, W. (1933). Dzieje ziemi Polockiej za Witolda (1385–1430). Ateneum Wilenskie, (VIII), 1–56. [in Polish].
  31. Makarau, M. (2008). Ad pasada da mahdэburhii: pravovae stanovishcha naselnitstva mestau Belaruskaha Padzvinnia u XIV – pershai palove XVIIst. Minsk. [in Russian].
  32. Matveev, Y. (1953). Neyzvestnaia polotskaia hramota vtoroi polovyny XV v. Doklady y soobshchenyia Ynstytuta yazykoznanyia AN SSSR, (4), 71–84. [in Russian].
  33. Monumenta mediiaevi historica res gestas Poloniae illustrantia, (15). (1896). [in Latin].
  34. Nikodem, J. (1998). Rola Skirgiełły na Litwie do 1394 roku. Scripta minora, (2), 83–129. [in Polish].
  35. Nikodem, J. (2013). Witold, wielki książę litewski (1354 lub 1355 – 27 pazdziernika 1430). Krakow. [in Polish].
  36. Novhorodskaia pervaia letopys starsheho y mladsheho yzvodov. (1950). Moskva; Leningrad. [in Russian].
  37. Petrauskas, R. (2003). Lietuvos diduomenė XIVa. pabaigoje – XV a.: Sudėtis – struktūra – valdžia. Vilnius. [in Lithuanian].
  38. Petrauskas, R. (2002). Ponas savo žemėje: Lietuvos pareigūnai XIV a. pabaigoje – XV amžiuje. Lietuvos istorijos metraštis – 2001, (1). [in Lithuanian].
  39. Polekhov, S. (2012). Novye dokumenty o Kyevskoi zemle XV veka. Sfrahistychnyi shchorichnyk, (2). [in Russian].
  40. Polekhov, S. (2014). Smolenskoe vosstanye 1440 h. Ystorycheskyi vestnyk, (7 (154)), 160–197. [in Russian].
  41. Polnoe sobranye russkykh letopysei, (4, 1). (2000). Moskva. [in Russian].
  42. Polnoe sobranye russkykh letopysei, (6, 1). (2000). Moskva. [in Russian].
  43. Polotskaia revyzyia 1552 (1905). Moskva. [in Russian].
  44. Polotskye hramoty XIII – nachala XVI, (1) (1977). Moskva. [in Russian].
  45. Pskovskye letopysy, (2). (1955). Moskva; Leningrad. [in Russian].
  46. Pudalov, B. (2000). Zahadka komyssyonnykh hramot. XVI vek. Ystorycheskyi arkhyv, 5, 202–205. [in Russian].
  47. Purc, J. (1971). Itinerarium Witolda wielkiego księcia Litwy (17 lutego 1370 roku – 27 pazdziernika 1430 roku). Studia z dziejów Wielkiego Księstwa Litewskiego XIV–XVIII wieku. (Zeszyty Naukowe Uniwersytetu im. A. Mickiewicza. Ser. Historia. Zesz. 11.). Poznan. [in Polish].
  48. Pycheta, V. (1961). Polotskaia zemlia v nachale XVI v. Belorussyia y Lytva XV–XVI vv. Yssledovanyia po ystoryy sotsyalno-эkonomycheskoho, polytycheskoho y kulturnoho razvytyia. Moskva, 213–262. [in Russian].
  49. Rimsza, E. (2007). Pieczęcie miast Wielkiego Księstwa Litewskiego. Warszawa. [in Polish].
  50. Rodevald, Sh. (2001). Ot veche k horodskomu sovetu: o razvytyy orhanov vlasty polotskykh horozhan do nachala XVI Belaruski horad u chase i prastory: 500 hadou Polatskai mahdeburhii. Navapolatsk; Minsk, 15–25. [in Russian].
  51. Rohdewald, S. (2005). «Vom Polozker Venedig». Kollektives Handeln sozialer Gruppen einer Stadt zwischen Ost- und Mitteleuropa (Mittelalter, frühe Neuzeit, 19. Jh. bis 1914). (Quellen und Studien zur Geschichte des östlichen Europa, Bd. 70.). Stuttgart. [in Germany].
  52. Rozov, V. (1928). Ukrainski hramoty. T.1: XIV v. i persha polovyna XV v. Kyiv. [in Ukrainian].
  53. Rusyna, O. (2005). Studii z istorii Kyieva ta Kyivskoi zemli. Kyiv. [in Ukrainian].
  54. Rutkowska, G. (1989). Itinerarium krulowej Jadwigi z lat 1384–1399. Dzielo Jadwigi i Jagielly. W szescsetlecie chrztu Litwy i jej związkow z Polska. [in Polish].
  55. Smolenskye hramoty XIII–XIV vekov. (1963). [in Russian].
  56. Tarasau, S. (1998). Polatsk IX–XVII st.: Historyia i tapahrafiia. Minsk. [in Belarusian].
  57. Varonin, V. A. (2010). Arhanizatsyia haradskoi ulady u Polatsku ad kantsa XIV da siaredziny XVI st. Studia Historica Europae Orientalis. Yssledovanyia po ystoryy Vostochnoi Evropy, (3) Mynsk, 124–134. [in Belarusian].
  58. Varonin, V. (2007). Voit-vaiavoda i miashchane u kanfliktse 1558 hoda u Polatsku. Sotsium. Almanakh sotsialnoi istorii, 7, 59–65. [in Belarusian].
  59. Varonin, V. (1996). Vialikiia kniazi polatskiia (kanets XIV st.) Polatsk: karani nashaha radavoda. Polatsk, 44–50. [in Belarusian].
  60. Varonin, V. (2012). Mahdeburhskoe pravo v Polotske v 1498–1563 hh. Polotsk. Mynsk, 237–245. [in Belarusian].
  61. Varonin, V. (2009). Padzei 1307 hoda y Polatsku: sproba krytychnaha razboru. Historyia i arkhealohiia Polatska i Polatskai ziamli. Polatsk, 30–40. [in Belarusian].
  62. Varonin, V. (1998). Palitychny lad Polatskaha vaiavodstva y pershai palove XVI st. Belaruski histarychny ahliad, 1 (8), 27–64. [in Belarusian].
  63. Varonin, V. (2012). Polatski i tsviarski episkap XIII stahoddzia Simiaon: vekhi biiahrafii i dzeinastsi. Belaruski histarychny chasopis, 10, 14–18. [in Belarusian].
  64. Varonin, V. (2009). Staronka biiahrafii kniazia Andreia Polatskaha. Histarychny almanakh, 15, 2–6. [in Belarusian].
  65. Varonin, V. (2013). Charstsviady: ad dvara kniaskaha da dvara haspadarskaha. Historyia i arkhealohiia Polatska i Polatskai ziamli, (1) Polatsk, 68–74. [in Belarusian].
  66. Yvanov, A. (2004). «Moscowitica–Ruthenica» v Latvyiskom hosudarstvennom ystorycheskom arkhyve: Ystoryia formyrovanyia kompleksa, sostav y vvedenye v nauchnyi oborot. Drevniaia Rus: Voprosy medyevystyky, 3 (17), 47–54. [in Russian].
  67. Yvanov, A. (2004). «Moscowitica–Ruthenica» v Latvyiskom hosudarstvennom ystorycheskom arkhyve: Ystoryia formyrovanyia kompleksa, sostav y vvedenye v nauchnyi oborot. Vazhneishye publykatsyy dokumentov kompleksa «Moscowitica–Ruthenica». Drevniaia Rus: Voprosy medyevystyky, 4 (18), 94–106. [in Russian].
  68. Zhemaitys, S. (1997). Pryvylei Novohrudskoi zemle 1440 h. Rukopysnye pamiatnyky. Publykatsyy y yssledovanyia, (4). Sankt-Peterburg, 215–225. [in Russian].