Galicia-Volyn principality during feudal fragmentation. Features of the Galicia-Volyn principality in the specific period (XII-XIII centuries)

Galicia-Volyn principality(lat. Regnum Rusiae - kingdom of Russia; 1199-1392) - southwestern ancient Russian principality dynasty of Rurikovich, created as a result of the unification of the Volyn and Galician principalities by Roman

Mstislavich. After in 1254 Daniil Galitsky accepted the title of "King of Russia" from Pope Innocent IV in Dorogochin, he and his descendants used the royal title.

The Galicia-Volyn principality was one of the largest principalities of the period feudal fragmentation Russia. It included the Galician, Przemysl, Zvenigorod, Terebovlyan, Volyn, Lutsk, Belz, Polissya and Kholmsky lands, as well as the territories of modern Podlasie, Podolia, Transcarpathia and Moldova.

The Principality pursued an active foreign policy in Eastern and Central Europe. Its main neighbors and competitors were the Kingdom of Poland, the Kingdom of Hungary and the Cumans, and from the middle of the 13th century, also the Golden Horde and the Principality of Lithuania. To protect against them, the Galicia-Volyn principality repeatedly signed agreements with Catholic Rome, the Holy Roman Empire and the Teutonic Order.

The Galicia-Volyn principality fell into decay under the influence of a number of factors. Among them were the aggravated relations with the Golden Horde, in vassal relations to which the principality continued to be, during the period of its unification and subsequent strengthening at the beginning of the XIV century. After the simultaneous death of Leo and Andrei Yurievich (1323), the lands of the principality began to be seized by its neighbors - the Kingdom of Poland and the Grand Duchy of Lithuania. The dependence of the rulers on the boyar aristocracy increased, the Romanovich dynasty was cut short. The principality ceased to exist after the complete division of its territories following the war for the Galician-Volyn inheritance (1392).

Territory and demographics

Borders

The Galicia-Volyn principality was created at the end of the XII century, by combining the Galician and Volyn principalities. Its lands stretched in the basins of the San, Upper Dniester and Western Bug rivers. The principality bordered in the east with the Russian Turov-Pinsk and Kyiv principalities, in the south - with Berlady, and eventually with the Golden Horde, in the southwest - with the Kingdom of Hungary, in the west - with the Kingdom of Poland, and in the north - with the Grand Duchy of Lithuania, Teutonic Order and Polotsk Principality.

The Carpathian Mountains in the northwest served as the natural border of the Galicia-Volyn principality, separating it from Hungary. In the 20s of the XIV century, this border was pushed to the south in connection with the connection of a certain part of Transcarpathia by the Galician princes. The western border with Poland passed along the Jaselka, Wislok, San rivers, as well as for 25-30 km west of the river Veps. Despite the temporary captures of Nadsanya by the Poles and the annexation of Lublin by Rus, this part of the border was quite stable. The northern border of the principality ran along the Narew and Yaselda rivers, in the north of the Berestey land, but often changed due to wars with the Lithuanians. The eastern border with the Turov-Pinsk and Kyiv principalities ran along the rivers Pripyat, Styr and along the right bank of the Goryn River. The southern border of the Galicia-Volyn principality began in the upper reaches of the Southern Bug and reached the upper reaches of the Prut and Siret. It is likely that from the 12th to the 13th centuries Bessarabia and the Lower Danube were dependent on the Galician princes.

Administrative division

Since 1199, the border between the Galician and Volyn principalities passed between the Galician cities of Lyubachev, Naked Mountains, Plesensk, and the Volyn Belz, Busk, Kremenets, Zbrazh and Tikhoml. The territory of both principalities was divided into separate lands or principalities.

Volyn was a single Vladimir principality with its capital in Vladimir. Over time, the principality was divided into smaller specific principalities, among them were the principality of Lutsk with a center in Lutsk, the principality of Dorogobuzh with a center in Dorogobuzh, the principality of Peresopnitsa with a center in Peresopnitsa, the principality of Belz with a center in Belz, the principality of Cherven with a center in Cherven, Kholmsky a principality with a center in Kholm and a Beresteisky principality with a center in the city of Brest.

Galicia consisted of four main principalities, which were either liquidated under strong princely power, or reappeared due to its weakening. These principalities were the principality of Galicia with its center in Galich, the principality of Lvov with its center in Lvov, the principality of Zvenigorod with its center in Zvenigorod, the principality of Przemysl with its center in Przemysl, and the principality of Terebovlya with its center in Terebovlya. Later, the principalities were united under the rule of Galicia. An integral part of these lands were also the territories above the middle Dniester, which were then called Ponysia, and now - Podolia.

The division into smaller principalities persisted until the 13th century, later there are references only to the Galician and Volyn principalities as constituents of the Galicia-Volyn principality.

Population

Sources by which it is possible to accurately calculate the population of the Galicia-Volyn principality have not been preserved. In the Galicia-Volyn chronicle, there are references to the fact that the princes conducted censuses and compiled lists of villages and cities under their control, but these documents have not reached us or are incomplete. It is known that the Galician-Volyn princes often resettled inhabitants from the conquered lands to their territories, which gave rise to population growth. It is also known that the inhabitants of the Ukrainian steppes fled to the principality from the Mongol-Tatars, where they settled.

Based on historical documents and topographical names, it can be established that at least a third settlements Volhynia and Galicia arose no later than the appearance of the Galicia-Volyn principality, and their inhabitants were mainly East Slavs. In addition to them, there were a few settlements founded by Poles, Prussians, Yatvingians, Lithuanians, as well as Tatars and representatives of other nomadic peoples. In the cities there were craft-merchant colonies inhabited by Germans, Armenians, Sourozhians, and Jews.

Political history

Western lands of Russia

In the VI-VII centuries, powerful tribal unions existed on the territory of modern Galicia and Volhynia. At the beginning of the 7th century, Dulebs are mentioned, and at the end of the same century, Buzhans, Chervyans, Ulichs and White Croats, whose lands included 200-300 settlements each. Fortified "castles" were the centers of tribal political associations. It is known that the Croats and Dulebs acted as "talkers", that is, allies of the Rusyns in Oleg's campaign against Byzantium in 907.

Historians admit that in the early 60s of the 10th century, the lands of Galicia and Volhynia were annexed to Kievan Rus Svyatoslav Igorevich, but after his death in 972 they were annexed by the neighboring Kingdom of Poland. In 981, his son, Vladimir Svyatoslavich, again occupied these lands, including Przemysl and Cherven. In 992, he conquered the White Croats and finally subjugated Subcarpathia to Russia. In 1018, the Polish king Boleslav the Brave took advantage of the civil strife of the Russian princes and captured the cities of Cherven. They remained under his rule for 12 years, until Yaroslav the Wise returned them in the campaigns of 1030-1031. Further, peace was concluded with Poland, which secured Cherven, Belz and Przemysl for Russia.

Principalities of Galicia and Volhynia

By the middle of the 11th century, the lands of Galicia and Volyn were finally entrenched in Kievan Rus. Among them, the main place was occupied by Volyn - a populous land with developed cities and a trade route to the west. The capital of all Western Russian lands was the city of Vladimir (Volynsky), where the princely throne was located. Kievan monarchs for a long time held these strategically important territories, saving them from fragmentation into specific principalities.

In 1084, the Rostislavichs, princes Rurik Rostislavich, Volodar Rostislavich and Vasilko Rostislavich came to power in the lands of Galicia. As a result of wars with the Volyn and Kyiv princes at the end of the 11th century, they achieved separate principalities for themselves. In 1141, these principalities were united by Vladimir Volodarevich, the son of Volodar Rostislavich, into a single Galician principality with its capital in Galich. It maintained contact with the Kyiv and Suzdal princes, as well as the Polovtsy to confront the Polish, Volyn and Hungarian rulers. Under Yaroslav Osmomysl, son of Vladimir Volodarevich, the Principality of Galicia gained control over the lands modern Moldova and the Danube. After the death of Osmomysl in 1187, the boyars did not accept the heir declared by him. illegitimate son Oleg, and therefore "there was a great conspiracy in the Galician land", as a result of which it was occupied by the Hungarian troops of Bela III. Only with the help of Emperor Frederick Barbarossa and Poland, Galich was returned to the last prince from the Rostislavic branch, Vladimir Yaroslavich.

Unlike the imminent transformation of Galicia into a separate principality, Volyn, strategically important for Kyiv, remained dependent on it until the 50s of the XII century. Its isolation from Kyiv was started by the Kyiv prince Izyaslav Mstislavich, the grandson of Vladimir Monomakh, during the Kyiv rule of Yuri Dolgoruky. The son of Izyaslav Mstislav managed to leave Volyn to his offspring, and since that time the Volyn land developed as a separate principality.

The formation of a single principality

The unification of Galicia and Volhynia was accomplished by the Volyn prince Roman Mstislavich, the son of Mstislav Izyaslavich. Taking advantage of the unrest in Galicia, he first occupied it in 1188, but could not keep the Hungarians under pressure, who also invaded Galician land at the request of local boyars. For the second time, Roman annexed Galicia to Volhynia in 1199, after the death of the last Galician prince Vladimir Yaroslavich of the Rostislavich family. He severely suppressed the local boyar opposition, which resisted his attempts to centralize government, and this laid the foundation for the creation of a single Galicia-Volyn principality.

At the same time, Roman intervened in the struggle for Kyiv, which he received in 1201, and took the title of Grand Duke of Kyiv. In 1202 and 1204 he made several successful trips on the Polovtsy, which won popularity among the common population. In the lists of annals and letters, he bears the title of "Grand Duke", "Autocrat of All Russia" and is also called "Tsar in the Russian Land". He died at the Battle of Zavikhost in 1205 during his Polish campaign.

Civil strife

Due to the death of Roman during the early childhood of his sons Daniil and Vasilko, a vacuum of power arose in the Galicia-Volyn principality. Galicia and Volhynia were seized by a series of ongoing civil strife and foreign interventions.

In the first year after Roman's death, his widow and children managed to keep Galich with the help of the Hungarian garrison, but in 1206 the boyar group of the Kormilichichs, who returned to Galich from exile, contributed to the invitation to the Galicia-Volyn principality of the sons of the Novgorod-Seversky prince sung in the Tale of Igor's Campaign Igor Svyatoslavich. Vladimir Igorevich and Roman Igorevich reigned in Galicia in total from 1206 to 1211.

After the death of Roman, Volhynia broke up into small specific principalities, and its western lands were captured by Polish troops. Svyatoslav Igorevich failed to establish himself in Volyn, and she returned under the control of the local dynasty. The legal heirs of the Galicia-Volyn principality, the young Daniel and Vasilko Romanovich, retained only minor territories of the principality.

Having deployed repressions against the Galician boyar opposition, the Igorevichs gave Poland and Hungary a pretext for intervention. In 1211, the Romanovichs and their mother returned to Galich, the Igorevichs were defeated, captured and hanged. However, conflict soon arose between widow Romanova and the boyars, and the Romanovichs again had to leave the capital. Princely power in Galich was usurped by the boyar Vladislav Kormilichich, who was expelled in 1214 by the Hungarians and Poles. Andras II, King of Hungary, and Leszek the White, Prince of Krakow, divided Galicia among themselves. Andrew II planted his son Koloman in Galicia. Soon the Hungarians quarreled with the Poles and took possession of the whole of Galicia, as a result of which Leszek called for help the Novgorod prince Mstislav Udatny, who had recently participated in the triumphal capture of Vyshgorod and Kyiv from the Olgovichi and, according to one version, was the grandson of Yaroslav Osmomysl. In 1215, with the Polish help, the Romanoviches regained Vladimir, and in 1219 they conquered the lands along the Western Bug from Poland.

For several years, Mstislav Udatny fought for Galich against the Hungarians with varying success, until in 1221 he finally established himself in the Galician reign, making peace with the king and marrying his daughter to Prince Andrei. To strengthen his power, Mstislav entered into an alliance with the young princes, married his daughter to Daniel. However, soon after the Battle of Kalka (1223), a conflict arose between Leshek and Daniel, on the one hand, and Mstislav and the specific Belz prince Alexander Vsevolodovich, on the other. Causing discontent of the boyars and not having the strength to stay in power, Mstislav, during his lifetime, transferred the Galician reign to Prince Andrei. In 1227, Daniel and his brother defeated the specific Volyn princes and by 1230 united Volyn in their hands. Thus, Daniil and Vasilko regained half of the lands that belonged to their father. For the next eight years they waged war for Galicia, first against the Hungarians, then against Mikhail of Chernigov. In 1238, Daniel finally occupied Galich and recreated the Galicia-Volyn principality.

The reign of Daniel Romanovich

Having united the fragmented possessions of Father Roman, the brothers Daniil and Vasilko peacefully distributed power. The first sat in Galich, and the second in Vladimir. The leadership in this duumvirate belonged to Daniel, since he was the eldest son of Roman Mstislavich.

Before the Mongol invasion of Russia, the Galicia-Volyn principality managed to expand its borders. In 1238, Konrad of Mazovia presented the Russian city of Dorogochin to the Dobzhin Order of the Crusaders, and Daniil Romanovich occupied it and the northwestern lands of Beresteyshchyna. In the spring of 1238, Mindovg, an ally of Daniel, made a raid on Mazovia. In 1239, Daniel annexed the Turov-Pinsk principality to his lands and the following winter took possession of Kyiv.

With the arrival of the Mongols, the positions of the Galician-Volyn princes were shaken. In 1240 the Mongols took Kyiv, and in 1241 they invaded Galicia and Volyn, where they sacked and burned many cities, including Galich and Vladimir. Taking advantage of the departure of the princes to Hungary and Poland, the boyar elite revolted. The weakness of the principality took advantage of its neighbors, who tried to capture Galich. In response, the Galicians captured Polish Lublin in 1244, and in 1245 defeated the Hungarians, Poles and rebel boyars in the battle of Yaroslav. The boyar opposition was finally destroyed, and Daniel was able to centralize the administration of the principality.

The Golden Horde was dissatisfied with the strengthening of the positions of the Galicia-Volyn lands, which delivered an ultimatum to the principality demanding that Galicia be transferred to it. Not having the strength to resist the Mongols, Daniel was forced to recognize the suzerainty of the Golden Horde Khan in 1245, but retained the rights to the Galicia-Volyn principality. Having become dependent on the Golden Horde, the prince directed his foreign policy towards the creation of an anti-Horde coalition of states. To this end, he entered into an alliance with Poland, Hungary, Mazovia and the Teutonic Order, and also captured the Yatvingian lands and Black Russia in 1250-1253, thereby eliminating the threat of Lithuanian attacks on Volhynia.

In 1254, Daniel took the title of King of Russia in Dorogochin from Pope Innocent IV. The Pope promised to organize a crusade against the Mongols, and indeed called for it the Christians of Central Europe, and then the Baltics.

But Daniel did not go for the catholization of the subject lands, therefore he had to not only fight against the Mongols himself, but instead of expelling the Horde Baskaks from Kyiv, repel the attack on Lutsk by the Lithuanians, whom the pope had already allowed in 1255 fight the Russian land. The rupture of allied relations occurred after the independent capture of Vozvyagl by the Galician-Volyn troops in Kyiv land before the approach of the Lithuanians. The first war (1254-1257) against the troops of Kuremsa was victorious, but in 1258 the Mongol troops were led by Burundai, who in the next two years, together with Vasilko Romanovich, conducted military campaigns against Lithuania and Poland, and also forced the fortifications of several Volyn cities to be demolished.

In 1264, Daniel died without having liberated the Galicia-Volyn principality from the Horde yoke.

Galicia-Volyn principality at the end of the XIII-XIV centuries

In the second half of the 13th century, after the death of Daniil Romanovich, seniority in the dynasty passed to Vasilko, but he continued to reign in Vladimir. Leo, the successor of his father, got Galich, Przemysl and Belz, Mstislav - Lutsk, Shvarn, married to the daughter of Mindovg - Kholm with Dorogochin.

In the mid-1260s, a contender for the Lithuanian throne, Voyshelk, the son of Mindovg, turned to Vasilko for help. Vasilko and Schwarn helped Voyshelka establish himself in Lithuania. In 1267 Voyshelk retired to a monastery and handed over his principality to Shvarn, who was his son-in-law. The reign of Shvarn on the Lithuanian table was shaky, because it was based on the order of Voyshelka. And when the Galician prince Lev in 1268 during a feast killed Voyshelka, Shvarn's position in the Lithuanian land became completely unattractive. Soon, Schwarn himself died. Troyden sat on the Lithuanian reign, and Lev Danilovich took the parish of Shvarna in Russia.

Died in 1269 Grand Duke Vladimirsky Vasilko Romanovich. Vasilko's vast possessions were inherited by his son, Vladimir. In the 70s, Vladimir and Lev fought with the Yotvingians; at this time, the Galician-Volyn princes also begin border conflicts with the "Poles". Together with the Tatars, the squads of Leo and Vladimir in 1277 went to the Lithuanian land, in 1285 - "to the Ugry", in 1286 they devastated the Krakow and Sandomierz lands. In 1288-89, Lev Danilovich actively supported the contender for the Krakow table - Prince Boleslav Zemovitovich of Plotsk, his nephew - in his struggle with Henry of Wratslav. In this campaign, Leo managed to capture the Lublin land. In 1288 Volhynia prince Vladimir Vasilkovich died. Vladimir had no children, and he bequeathed all his lands to Mstislav Danilovich. Shortly before his death, Leo made a raid on Poland, from where he returned with big booty and full. The news about the double defeat of Leo by Gediminas, and about the conquest of Volhynia by the latter, taken by the compiler of the Gustynskaya chronicle from the annals of Bykhovets, are recognized as unreliable.

The new Galician prince Yuri I Lvovich, the son of Lev Danilovich, in 1303 obtained from the Patriarch of Constantinople the recognition of a separate Little Russian metropolis. In 1305, wishing to emphasize the power of the Galicia-Volyn state and inheriting his grandfather Daniel of Galicia, he took the title of "King of Little Russia". In foreign policy, Yuri I supported a good relationship and made alliances with the Teutonic Order to contain the Grand Duchy of Lithuania and the Horde, and Mazovia against Poland. After his death in 1308, the Principality of Galicia-Volhynia passed to his sons Andrei Yuryevich and Lev Yuryevich, who began the fight against the Golden Horde, traditionally relying on the Teutonic knights and Mazovian princes. It is believed that the princes died in one of the battles with the Mongols or were poisoned by them (1323). Also, some historians claim that they died defending Podlasie from Gediminas. They were succeeded by Vladimir Lvovich, who became the last representative of the Romanovich dynasty.

After the end of the rule of the Rurik dynasty, Yuriy II Boleslav, the son of Maria Yuryevna, the daughter of Yuri Lvovich, and the Mazovian prince Troyden, became the monarch of Galicia-Volhynia. He settled relations with the Golden Horde khans, recognizing his dependence on them and in 1337 made a joint campaign against Poland with the Mongols. Maintaining peace with Lithuania and the Teutonic Order, Yuri II had bad relations with Hungary and Poland, which were preparing a joint offensive against the Galicia-Volyn principality. In domestic policy, he contributed to the development of cities, granting them the Magdeburg Law, intensified international trade and wished to limit the power of the boyar elite. To implement his plans, Yuri II attracted foreign specialists and helped the Uniate processes between Orthodoxy and Catholicism. These actions of the prince in the end caused dissatisfaction with the boyars, who poisoned him in 1340.

The death of Yuri II put an end to the independence of the Galicia-Volyn principality. A period of struggle for these lands began, which ended with the division of the principality between its neighbors. In Volyn, Lubart-Dmitry Gediminovich, the son of the Lithuanian prince Gedimin, was recognized as a prince, and in Galicia, the noble boyar Dmitry Detko was the governor of the Volyn prince. In 1349, the Polish king Casimir III the Great organized a large campaign against the Galicia-Volyn principality, seized the Galician lands and started a war with the Lithuanians for Volhynia. The war for the Galician-Volyn inheritance between Poland and Lithuania ended in 1392 with the loss of Volyn prince Fyodor Lubartovich of lands in Volhynia. Galicia with the Belz principality and Kholmshchyna became part of the Kingdom of Poland, and Volhynia was ceded to the Grand Duchy of Lithuania. The Galicia-Volyn principality finally ceased to exist.

Socio-economic history

Society

The society of the Galicia-Volyn principality consisted of three layers, belonging to which was determined both by pedigree and by type of occupation. The social elite was formed by princes, boyars, and the clergy. They controlled the lands of the state and its population.

The prince was considered a sacred person, "the ruler given by God", the owner of all the land and cities of the principality, and the head of the army. He had the right to give subordinates allotments for service, as well as to deprive them of lands and privileges for insubordination. In public affairs, the prince relied on the boyars, the local aristocracy. They were divided into "old" and "young", who were also called "the best", "great" or "deliberate". The great senior boyars made up the administrative elite and the “senior squad” of the prince. They owned "Batkovshchinas" or "Fatherhoods", ancient family lands, and new land allotments and cities granted by the prince. Their sons, "lads", or junior boyars, made up the "junior squad" of the prince and served at his court as close "yard servants". The administration of the clergy was represented by six dioceses in Vladimir (Volynsky), Przemysl, Galich and Ugrovsk (later in Kholm), Lutsk and Turovsk. These bishoprics owned vast lands near these cities. In addition to them, there were a number of monasteries that controlled large territories and the population living on them. After the creation in 1303 of the Galician Metropolis, dependent on the Patriarchate of Constantinople, the Galician Metropolitan became the head of the church in the Galician-Volyn lands.

Separately from the princes and boyars, there was a group of city administrators called "bad men" who controlled the life of the city, following the orders of the princes, boyars or clergy to whom this city belonged. From them the urban patriciate was gradually formed. Next to them in the city lived "ordinary people", the so-called "townspeople" or "mestichi". All of them were obliged to pay taxes in favor of princes and boyars.

The most numerous group of the population in the principality were the so-called "simple" villagers - "smerds". Most of them were free, lived in communities and paid taxes in kind to the authorities. Sometimes, due to excessive extortions, smerds left their homes and moved to the virtually uncontrolled lands of Podolia and the Danube region.

Economy

The economy of the Galicia-Volyn principality was mostly natural. It was based on agriculture, which was based on self-sufficient lands - courtyards. These economic units had their own arable lands, hayfields, meadows, forests, places for fishing and hunting. The main agricultural crops were mainly oats and rye, to a lesser extent wheat and barley. In addition, animal husbandry was developed, especially horse breeding, as well as sheep and pig breeding. The important components of the economy were crafts - beekeeping, hunting and fishing.

Among the crafts were blacksmithing, leather, pottery, weapons and jewelry. Since the principality was located in the forest and forest-steppe zones, which were densely covered with forest, woodworking and construction reached a special development. Salt making was one of the leading industries. The Galicia-Volyn principality, together with the Crimea, supplied salt for all of Kievan Rus, as well as for Western Europe. The favorable location of the principality - on the black earth - especially near the rivers Sana, Dniester, Vistula, etc., made it possible for the active development of agriculture. Therefore, Galich was also one of the leaders in the export of bread.

Trade in the Galicia-Volyn lands was not developed properly. Most of the manufactured products went to domestic use. The lack of access to the sea and large rivers prevented the conduct of extensive international trade, and, of course, the replenishment of the treasury. The main trade routes were overland. In the east, they connected Galich and Vladimir with the principalities of Kyiv and Polotsk and the Golden Horde, in the south and west with Byzantium, Bulgaria, Hungary, the Czech Republic, Poland and the Holy Roman Empire, and in the north with Lithuania and the Teutonic Order. The Galicia-Volyn principality exported mainly salt, furs, wax and weapons to these countries. Imported goods were Kyiv art and jewelry, Lithuanian furs, Western European sheep wool, cloth, weapons, glass, marble, gold and silver, as well as Byzantine and Oriental wines, silks and spices.

Trade took place in the cities of the Galicia-Volyn principality, of which there were more than eighty by the end of the 13th century. The largest of them were Galich, Kholm, Lvov, Vladimir (Volynsky), Zvenigorod, Dorogochin, Terebovlya, Belz, Przemysl, Lutsk and Berestye. The princes encouraged international trade by reducing taxes on merchants along trade routes and city squares.

The state treasury was replenished at the expense of tribute, taxes, extortions from the population, wars and confiscation of possessions from objectionable boyars. Russian hryvnias, Czech pennies and Hungarian dinars circulated on the territory of the principality.

Control

The head and highest representative of power in the principality was the prince. He united in his hands the legislative, executive, judicial branches of power, and also had a monopoly on the right to conduct diplomatic relations. Trying to become an absolute "autocrat", the prince was constantly in conflict with the boyar entourage, who sought to maintain their independence and turn the monarch into their own. political tool. The strengthening of princely power was also hampered by the duumvirates of princes, the fragmentation of principalities and the intervention of neighboring states. Although the monarch had the right to make decisions on his own, he sometimes convened boyar "thoughts" to resolve the most important issues and problems. These meetings became permanent from the 14th century, finally blocking the "autocracy" of the prince, which became one of the reasons for the decline of the Galicia-Volyn principality.

The princely central administration consisted of the boyars appointed by the prince and was quite differentiated; had a number of special titles, such as "court", "printer", "scribe", "steward" and others. But these were rather titles than positions, since the persons holding them often performed orders from the prince, not related to their official duties. That is, in the Galicia-Volyn principality there was no effective bureaucracy, and specialization in management had not yet been consistently carried out, which was feature for all European states Middle Ages.

Until the end of the 13th century, the regional administration was concentrated in the hands of the specific princes, and from the beginning of the 14th century, in connection with the transformation of the specific principalities of the Galicia-Volyn state into volosts, in the hands of princely volost governors. The prince chose most of the governors from the boyars, and sometimes from the clergy. In addition to volosts, princely governors were sent to cities and large urban areas.

The device of cities in XII - XIII centuries it was the same as in other Russian lands - with the advantage of the boyar-patrician elite, with a division into taxation units - hundreds and streets, with a city council - veche. During this period, the cities belonged directly to the princes or boyars. In the XIV century, with the penetration of Magdeburg law into the Galicia-Volyn principality, a number of cities, including Vladimir (Volynsky) and Sanok, adopted a new semi-self-governing system.

The judiciary was combined with the administrative. The supreme court was conducted by the prince, and below - by the tivuns. The provisions of Russkaya Pravda remained the basic law. The city court was often based on German law.

Army

The army of the Galicia-Volyn principality was organized following the example of the traditional Russian. It consisted of two main parts - "teams" and "wars".

The squad served as the basis of the prince's army and was formed from the divisions of the boyars. The "great" boyars were obliged to go on a campaign personally with a certain number of cavalry and their subjects, the number of which could reach a thousand people. Ordinary boyars were required to arrive at the positions only accompanied by two soldiers - a heavily armed gunsmith and an archer-archer. The young boyars "youths" made up a kind of guard of the prince, constantly staying with him. In turn, the warriors were militia and were formed from "ordinary people" - philistines and villagers; they were used only in emergencies. However, due to the constant internal struggle, the prince could not always count on the help of the boyars.

Epochal for the Galicia-Volyn state were the military reforms of Daniil Romanovich, who was the first in the space of the former Kievan Rus to create a princely army independent of the boyar squad, recruited from ordinary people and landless boyars. It was divided into heavily armed gunsmiths and lightly armed archers. The former performed shock functions, both cavalry and infantry, and the latter - the role of the instigator of the battle and cover units. This army did not have unified weapons, but used a modernized Western European arsenal - lightweight iron armor, spears, sulits, horns, swords, lightweight Rozhan bows, slings, crossbows, as well as medieval artillery with "martial and hail vessels". This army was personally commanded by the prince or the voivode loyal to him or the thousandth.

In the 13th century, fortification construction underwent changes. The old Russian fortifications of earth ramparts and wooden walls began to be replaced by castles made of stone and brick. The first newest fortresses were erected in Kholm, Kamenets, Berestye, Chertorysk.

culture

On the territory of the Galicia-Volyn principality, an original culture was formed, which not only inherited the traditions of Kievan Rus, but also absorbed many innovations from neighboring countries. Majority up-to-date information about this culture have come down to us in the form of written evidence and archaeological artifacts.

The main cultural centers of the principality were large cities and Orthodox monasteries, which at the same time played the role of the main educational centers of the country. Leading role in cultural life the country was occupied by Volhynia. The city of Vladimir itself, the main city of the Volyn principality, was an ancient stronghold of the Rurikovich. The city became famous thanks to Prince Vasily, whom the chronicler recalled as "a great scribe and philosopher, which was not on the whole earth and will not be after him." This prince developed the cities of Berestya and Kamenets, created his own library, built many churches throughout Volyn, to which he gave icons and books. Another significant cultural center was Galich, famous for its Metropolitan Cathedral and the Church of St. Panteleimon. In Galicia, the Galician-Volyn Chronicle was also written and the Galician Gospel was created. Poloninsky, Bogorodichny and Spassky were ranked among the largest and most famous monasteries of the principality.

Little is known about the architecture of the principality. Written sources describe mainly churches, without mentioning the secular houses of princes or boyars. There are also few data from archaeological excavations, and they are not enough for an accurate reconstruction of the then structures. The remains of the temples of the principality and records in the annals make it possible to assert that the traditions of the architecture of Kievan Rus remained strong in these lands, but new trends of Western European architectural styles were felt.

The fine arts of the principality were strongly influenced by the Byzantine. Galicia-Volyn icons were especially valued in Western Europe, many of them ended up in Polish churches after the conquest of the principality. The art of icon painting of the Galicia-Volyn lands had common features with the Moscow icon-painting school of the XIV-XV centuries. Although Orthodox traditions did not encourage the development of sculpture in connection with the fight against idolatry, the pages of the Galicia-Volyn Chronicle mention sculptural masterpieces in Galicia, Przemysl and other cities, which indicates the Catholic influence on the masters of the principality. fashion in decorative arts, especially in the processing of weapons and military devices, dictated Asian countries, in particular the Golden Horde.

The development of culture in the Galicia-Volyn principality contributed to the consolidation of the historical traditions of Kievan Rus; for many centuries they were preserved in architecture, fine arts, literature, chronicles and historical works. But at the same time, the principality fell under the influence of Western Europe, where the Galician-Volyn princes and the nobility sought protection from aggression from the east.

Russian princely families originating from the Galicia-Volyn principality

The following princes are considered descendants of the Galician-Volyn princes:

• Drutsk
• Drutsky-Sokolinsky
• Drutsky-Sokolinsky-Gurko-Romeiko
• Drutsky-Lyubezhsetsky
• Babichevs
• Putyatins

Sources and historiography

Sources

The main sources for studying the history of the Galicia-Volyn Principality are local and foreign chronicles, descriptions of travels, various letters, data from archaeological excavations.

The initial period of the history of Galicia and Volyn during the period of the first Rostislavichs is described by the Tale of Bygone Years, and the Kyiv Chronicle narrates about the events of 1117-1199. The years 1205-1292 are covered by the Galicia-Volyn chronicle, which is conditionally divided into two parts - the reign of Daniil Romanovich and the reign of Vladimir Vasilyevich.

The main sources describing the history of Galicia and Volhynia include the Polish chronicles of Gall Anonymus, the chronicles of Wincenty Kadlubek and the chronicle of Jan Dlugosz, the Czech Chronicle of Kozma of Prague, the German chronicle of Thietmar of Marzeburg and the Hungarian chronicles of Janos Turoczi and the Chronicon Pictum. O recent years The existence of the Galicia-Volyn principality is narrated by the Polish chronicles of Janko from Czarnkov, Traska, the Lesser Poland chronicle, as well as the Czech chronicles of Frantisek from Prague and the Hungarian Dubgitskaya chronicle.

Valuable are the letters of Vladimir Vasilyevich of 1287 and Mstislav Daniilovich of 1289, inscribed in the Galicia-Volyn chronicle, and the original letters of Andrei and Lev Yuryevich of 1316-1325 and Yuri II of 1325-1339.

Historiography

The first studies on the history of Galicia and Volhynia appeared at the end of the 18th century. These were the works of the Austrian historians L. A. Gebgard, R. A. Goppe and J. H. Engel. AT early XIX century, the Polish historian F. Syarchinsky published works on the history of the principalities of Przemysl and Belz, Z. M. Garasevich compiled materials on the history of the church in Galicia.

The first historian who wrote the scientific "History of the ancient Galician-Russian principality" in three parts (1852-1855) was D. Zubritsky. His case was followed by A. Petrushevich, who in 1854 in the article “Review of the most important political and church events in the Galician principality from the half of the 12th to the end of the 13th century” gave a general assessment of the history of Galicia. In 1863, professor of Lviv University I. Sharanevich for the first time on the basis of historical, archaeological and toponymic sources published in Lviv "History of Galicia-Volyn Rus from ancient times to the summer of 1453". His work was continued by historians S. Smirnov, A. Belevsky and A. Levitsky.

In the first half of the 19th century, the history of Volhynia and Kholmshchyna was studied by S. Russov, M. Maksimovich, V. Komashko, L. Perlstein and M. Verbitsky, Yu. T. Stetsky, A. Krushinsky and others. Their works were review-popular in nature. In 1885, a specialized work by A. V. Longinov “Cherven Cities, a historical essay in connection with the ethnography and topography of Chervona Rus”, dedicated to the history of the Kholm region, was published in Warsaw. Ancient history Volyn was covered in 1887 in the work of O. Andreyashev and in 1895 in the monograph of P. Ivanov.

Most of the works of the 19th century covered mainly the political topics of the Galicia-Volyn principality, without affecting the socio-economic. Also, the history of Galicia and Volhynia was viewed through the prism of the political existence of Austria-Hungary and the Russian Empire, legalizing the rights and claims of these states to the aforementioned lands.

After the annexation of Western Ukraine to the USSR in 1939, the topic of the Galicia-Volyn principality was raised by Soviet historiography. Researchers of the 20th century paid attention mainly to the socio-economic situation in the principality. New approaches to the coverage of the history of the principality were presented in the works of B. D. Grekov, V. I. Picheta, V. T. Pashuto. In 1984, the first fundamental monograph on the history of the Galicia-Volyn principality was published under the authorship of I. Kripyakevich.

The Galicia-Volyn principality fell into decay due to a number of reasons. The main internal factor in the beginning of the decline of the principality was that with the death of Andrei and Lev Yuryevich, as well as Vladimir Lvovich in 1323, the ruling dynasty of Rurikovich (Romanovich) was interrupted in the principality; this led to the fact that the power of the boyars in the state increased significantly, and Yuri II Boleslav, who sat on the Galician-Volyn throne in 1325, was already much more dependent on the boyar aristocracy than his predecessors Rurikovich. Also, a large role in the fall of the Galicia-Volyn state was played by the foreign policy situation that developed in the middle of the XIV century: at a time when the neighboring Kingdom of Poland and the Grand Duchy of Lithuania were on the rise, Volhynia and Galicia still remained in vassal dependence on the Golden Horde. In 1349, the Polish king Casimir III captured Galicia, after which the Galicia-Volyn principality lost its territorial unity. In 1392, Galicia and Volyn were divided between Poland and Lithuania, which put an end to the existence of the Galicia-Volyn principality as a single political entity.

Evangelist Mark (Vladimir, XIII century, Volyn Gospel).

On the territory of the Galicia-Volyn principality, an original culture was formed, which not only inherited the traditions of Kievan Rus, but also absorbed many innovations from neighboring countries. Most of the modern information about this culture has come down to us in the form of written evidence and archaeological artifacts.

The main cultural centers of the principality were large cities and Orthodox monasteries, which at the same time played the role of the main educational centers of the country. Volyn played a leading role in the cultural life of the country. The city of Vladimir itself, the main city of the Volyn principality, was an ancient stronghold of the Rurikovich. The city became famous thanks to Prince Vasily, whom the chronicler recalled as "a great scribe and philosopher, which was not on the whole earth and will not be after him." This prince developed the cities of Berestya and Kamenets, created his own library, built many churches throughout Volyn, to which he gave icons and books. Another significant cultural center was Galich, famous for its Metropolitan Cathedral and the Church of St. Panteleimon. In Galicia, the Galician-Volyn Chronicle was also written and the Galician Gospel was created. Poloninsky, Bogorodichny and Spassky were ranked among the largest and most famous monasteries of the principality.

Little is known about the architecture of the principality. Written sources describe mainly churches, without mentioning the secular houses of princes or boyars. There are also few data from archaeological excavations, and they are not enough for an accurate reconstruction of the then structures. The remains of the temples of the principality and records in the annals make it possible to assert that the traditions of the architecture of Kievan Rus remained strong in these lands, but new trends of Western European architectural styles were felt ..

The fine arts of the principality were strongly influenced by the Byzantine. Galicia-Volyn icons were especially valued in Western Europe, many of them ended up in Polish churches after the conquest of the principality. The art of icon painting of the Galicia-Volyn lands had common features with the Moscow icon-painting school of the XIV-XV centuries. Although Orthodox traditions did not encourage the development of sculpture in connection with the fight against idolatry, the pages of the Galicia-Volyn Chronicle mention sculptural masterpieces in Galicia, Przemysl and other cities, which testifies to the Catholic influence on the masters of the principality. Fashion in decorative arts, especially in the processing of weapons and military devices, was dictated by Asian countries, in particular the Golden Horde.

The development of culture in the Galicia-Volyn principality contributed to the consolidation of the historical traditions of Kievan Rus; for many centuries they were preserved in architecture, fine arts, literature, chronicles and historical works. But at the same time, the principality fell under the influence of Western Europe, where the Galician-Volyn princes and the nobility sought protection from aggression from the east.

The collapse of Kievan Rus was a natural result of its economic and political development. Its causes were rooted in the production and social relations of that time, which developed on the basis of the rise of productive forces in agriculture and crafts. The closed nature of the subsistence economy led to the strengthening of the independence of individual principalities, and hence to a change in their political orientation towards secession. Local economic interests gave rise to a desire to get out of the power of the Grand Duke. The role of the political center is transferred from Kyiv to the localities: the main city of this or that specific principality begins to play such a role. The rise of these centers gave rise to a certain aggressiveness towards the neighbors. The loss of state unity objectively led to princely civil strife. Each local prince sought to expand his possessions and obtain the title of Grand Duke.

In the middle of the XII century, Kievan Rus broke up into principalities: Kiev, Galicia, Volyn, Smolensk, Pereyaslav, Vladimir-Suzdal, and others. These principalities-lands, in turn, consisted of smaller principalities or volosts. The system of suzerainty-vassalage was transferred to specific principalities.

Each principality (land) had its own peculiarities of political development. Feudal republics were formed in Novgorod and Pskov, strong princely power won in the Vladimir-Suzdal land, and the boyar aristocracy traditionally had a significant influence on power in the Galicia-Volyn land.

Let's go back to the times when both Volhynia and Galician land were not dependent on Kyiv. It should be noted that the Volhynian statehood was older than the Kievan one; the unification of the Ukrainian tribes began with it. It was a rich land located on trade routes to Western Europe. It was annexed to the Kievan state by Vladimir in the campaigns of 981 and 993. Around the same time, the Galician land was annexed to Kyiv.

Volyn and Galician lands were of great importance for the development of the economy of Kievan Rus. After the nomadic tribes blocked the way to the Crimea, the Carpathians became the only source of salt supply. In addition, the main trade routes to the west passed through the Volyn and Galician lands, which made them one of the main links in European trade of that time.

In the era of the collapse of Kievan Rus in XII-- In the 19th century, the processes of allocation of individual lands are being completed. Kyiv has turned from the capital of Russia to the "capital" city of Kyiv land.

In addition to the principality of Kyiv, independent Chernigov, Novgorod-Seversk, Pereyaslav, Volyn and Galician principalities appeared on the territory of Southwestern Russia in the 12th century, between which the internecine struggle did not subside.

Galician land separated from Kyiv in 1097 year. Here the dynasty of the great-grandchildren of Yaroslav the Wise, the princes of Rostislavich, was formed. The unification of the Galician lands was carried out by an outstanding statesman Vladimirko (1124-1152). Galich became the capital of the principality in 1141. But the Galician principality reached its highest power during the reign of Vladimir's son, Prince Yaroslav Osmomysl (1152-1187). The author of The Tale of Igor's Campaign described the Galician prince as follows: "He sits high on his gold-forged throne, propping up the Hungarian mountains with his iron regiments - blocking the way for the king, closing the gates of the Danube." Yaroslav had allied treaties with Hungary, Poland and Germany. In order to strengthen the alliance with Yuri Dolgoruky, he married his daughter Olga.

His deputy - Vladimirko II - did not get along with the boyars and turned to the Hungarian king Bela III for help. In 1188, Bela proclaimed himself king of Galicia, and imprisoned Vladimir II. This was the first foreign occupation of Galicia, which set a precedent for many years. Over time, Vladimir II, with the help of the Germans and Poles, managed to regain the lost power. But after his death in 1199, the Principality of Galicia was annexed to Volhynia and lost its independence.

The Volyn principality was formed during the reign of Vladimir Monomakh's great-grandson, Mstislav Izyaslavich.

Good-neighborly relations have always existed between the Galician and Volyn lands, which was manifested, first of all, in economic ties. These factors, as well as the need to jointly resist aggression from Hungary and Poland, created the prerequisites for the unification of neighboring lands into a single principality.

As a result of these processes, a strong political organization-- The Galicia-Volyn principality, which continued the traditions of Russian-Ukrainian statehood for almost a hundred years.

The Galicia-Volyn principality reached its greatest power during the reign of Roman Mstislavich (1170-1205). He made the middle and small boyars and the urban population his support. Thanks to the new policy, he managed to pacify the boyar elite, to carry out a number of events that raise the international authority of the state. Roman carried out several successful campaigns against Lithuania, in 1196 he annexed the land of the Lithuanian Yatvingian tribe to his principality. In 1202, he took possession of Kyiv, but, unlike his father and grandfather, he did not move there, but remained in Volhynia. Roman also became famous in the wars against the Polovtsy, who at that time constantly attacked Russia. He twice - in 1202 and 1203 - led the joint campaigns of the Ukrainian princes against the Polovtsians. The materials of one of the Polish chronicles testify that Roman "in a short time so ascended that he ruled almost all the lands and princes of Russia." Roman Metislavovich died during a campaign against Poland on June 19, 1205.

After the death of Roman, the boyars of the Galicia-Volyn land, taking advantage of the infancy of his sons Daniel and Vasilko, are trying to strengthen their power. However, the environment of the boyars was not homogeneous, and this led to the confrontation of the boyars - large landowners, on the one hand, and the boyars - moderately prosperous and small - on the other. The boyar elite, which concentrated vast land wealth in their hands, tried to establish the unlimited power of the aristocracy. Moderately prosperous and small boyars and the urban population were supporters of the unification of lands under the authority of the Grand Duke, advocated the strengthening of this power. Civil strife began, in which the Chernihiv-Seversky princes took part. Poland and Hungary intervened in these civil strife.

Particularly strong was the opposition to princely power in Galicia. However, the boyar opposition here was not united. Part of the boyars supported the princes Igorevich (sons of Igor, the hero of the Tale of Igor's Campaign), and part was favorable to Hungary. First, the Igorevichs seized power, then Galicia was occupied by Hungary. In 1211, the brothers, taking advantage of the dissatisfaction of the population with the Hungarian occupation, returned to Galicia, while executing more than 500 boyars “for treason”. This action, in turn, pushed the Galician boyars away from the Igoreviches. With the help of the Hungarian troops and the Volyn boyars, the young Daniel was placed on the princely throne. However, his reign did not last long. After a series of shuffles, the boyar Vladislav Kormilchich took the princely throne - the only fact in the history of Ukraine when a representative of a non-princely family came to power.

In 1214, Hungary and Poland agreed on the dismemberment of the Galicia-Volyn principality: Hungary captured Galicia, and Przemysl was transferred to the Krakow prince Leshko. The latter supported the sons of Roman, and in 1215, with the consent of Leshka, Daniel and Vasilko received their father's fiefdom - Vladimir.

The period of 1205-1245 is extremely interesting and important for understanding the general conditions for the flourishing of Russo-Ukrainian statehood. It is necessary to name those who, in a difficult time for Ukraine, were faithful to the princely throne and saved Roman's inheritance for his sons.

First of all, this is Roman's wife, Princess Anna, who for 14 years took care of filial rights, waged a tense struggle with the Galician boyars. She became the second woman after Princess Olga who "left a deep mark in the history of Ukraine.

Another very important feature this period is the devotion to the princely power of the Volyn boyars, thanks to which it was possible to save for the sons of Roman

Volyn. For 40 years, the Volyn land remained a reliable support of the Romanoviches: Vasilko was under the supervision of the boyars there, Daniil was saved after failures in Galich. Volyn warriors more than once gave their lives, freeing Galich from the Hungarians.

In 1219, the Galicians themselves opposed the Hungarian occupation. The boyars invited Mstislav Udatny, Prince of Novgorod, who reigned in Galicia in 1228, to the Galician throne.

Meanwhile, Daniil and Vasilko united all the lands of the Volyn principality. From 1230, Daniel's struggle for Galicia begins.

Lithuania, Poland, Austria, the Prussian Order of the Crusaders also took part in these wars. The result of the struggle depended on the position of the Galicians themselves and, above all, the urban population. Finally, in 1238, the "men of the city", against the will of the boyars, opened the gate of Galich in front of Daniel. But his claims did not end there. In 1239, Daniel took possession of Kyiv. Then another five years passed in Daniel's struggle with Hungary for Galicia. And only the decisive victory of Daniil in the summer of 1245 near Yaroslav, where the troops of the Hungarians and the Galician boyars favorable to them were defeated, put an end to the 40-year war for the liberation of Volhynia and Galicia from foreign occupation. The unity of the Galicia-Volyn principality was restored.

Introduction

2. Cities, crafts: development and significance

3. Domestic and foreign trade: features and significance

Bibliography

Introduction

The emergence of the Galicia-Volyn state was facilitated by a favorable geographical position (remoteness from Kyiv weakened the influence of the central government, natural conditions made these lands inaccessible for the steppe nomads, in addition, the principality was located at the crossroads of strategically important trade routes). The need for a common struggle between the two principalities against aggression from Poland and Hungary, and subsequently against the Mongol invasion and the yoke, also contributed to the energetic unification policy of princes Roman Mstislavich (1199-1205) and Daniel Romanovich of Galicia (1238-1264). Importance had the existence of rich salt deposits on the territory of the principality, which contributed to economic growth and intensification of trade.

The relevance of the topic "Galicia-Volyn state: features of economic development" is that during this period there were significant changes in the development of land ownership, cities, crafts, domestic and foreign trade

The object of the study is the Galicia-Volyn state, the subject is the features of economic development

The purpose of the study is to consider the Galicia-Volyn state: features of economic development.

Research objectives to consider:

Land tenure system: forms and character.

Cities, crafts: development and significance.

Domestic and foreign trade: features and significance.

1. The system of land tenure: forms and nature

The formation of mature forms of feudal property is associated with the growth and strengthening of the landownership of princes, boyars, and the church. A significant part of the landowners were the so-called free servants - vassals of princes and boyars. Feudal legislation granted the feudal lords the exclusive right to own land, alienate and inherit, and protect their property.

A hierarchical structure of land ownership was established, which was based on inter-princely and princely-boyar vassal relations. A real feudal ladder arose: the Grand Duke, local princes, boyars, boyar servants. The legal side of the seignioral-vassal relations was not clearly worked out. They were established not on land relations, but on the collection of taxes from lands for living.

Some historians defend the idea that in Ukraine systems of the Western European type arose in the XII-XIII centuries, in particular in the Galicia-Volyn principality. Its economic development was characterized by the predominance of boyar land ownership. The princely domain began to form only from the XII century. The process of feudalization took place without the influence of the princely organizing power. Galicia-Volyn princes began to associate land ownership, their servants and boyars with service and vassalage. The lands that were granted for lifetime possession were called the "state". Prince Daniel of Galicia, having liberated the lands from the Hungarians, distributed the cities to the boyars and governors. As a rule, when a prince lost his principality, the boyars loyal to him lost their villages.

With the formation of large landownership and feudal dependent peasantry in the XI-XIII Art. immunity developed as a legal form of feudal domination. Landowners acquired the right to judge, collect tribute and manage all categories of the peasantry.

The princely estates developed most intensively. For them there was a characteristic dispersion in different volosts. The structure of the economy was dominated by crop farming, horse breeding, crafts, labor and in-kind rents.

Private estates in the XII - the first half of the XIII century. grew as a result of the granting of princely lands to the feudal lord and as a result of his private ownership initiative (acquisition and entrainment of land, development of untouched territories). Three forms of rent were combined. In-kind rent prevailed in two forms - fixed rent and zdolshchina. Cash payments were associated with judicial-administrative fines and fees. In the domain economy, regular and periodic developments were used (hayfields, construction works, horse-drawn coercion, field work).

Votchina was a diversified economy. Agriculture, animal husbandry, crafts belonged to it, the most important of which were hunting, fishing, beekeeping, processing of raw materials, and milling. The feudal courtyard-castle was fortified as its economic, administrative and military center. In the center of the territory there were houses and utility buildings (barns, stables, stables, pigs, workshops). There was a system of patrimonial administration: a steward, village and role elders, a groom (groom), a key keeper. The economy of the patrimony had a natural character, a pronounced focus on meeting the needs of consumption. Only an insignificant part of the output went to the market for the sale and purchase of goods that were not produced on the farm.

economic basis peasant economy was a peasant yard-smoke. The size of individual peasant land use was equal on average to one "plough", which was a unit of taxation and amounted to about 15 hectares of land. 10-15 smoked, mostly relatives, united in the courtyard. Over time, strangers joined the yards, who, depending on their property status, either became equal members - "pullers", or became dependent on the owners of the yards, they were called "halves", "dolniks". The grounds of the courtyard consisted of "plots" - smoked that were scattered in different places. There were also small farms and a smaller unit of taxation, the "ralo". Yards were part of the society, headed by the headman (ataman).

In the general use of society were indivisible lands. They distributed government coercion and taxes.

Peasant farms were the basis of economic life, they occupied most of the land of the patrimony, produced most agricultural products, they themselves converted it for direct consumption. The share of the dominal economy of the patrimony in the total production was much smaller, but it determined the progress in agriculture, had more opportunity to improve tools of labor, to apply advanced agricultural technology at that time, to grow new crops, and the like.

The seizure of Ukrainian lands by foreign states led to changes in land relations. Landed property of Lithuanian, Polish, Hungarian, Moldavian feudal lords arose and gradually increased.

During the period of feudal fragmentation, the bulk of the peasants - smerds from free farmers-communities turned into holders of lands appropriated by the prince, boyars and the church. Smerdy lost economic independence and personal freedom. There were also changes in the forms of exploitation of the peasants. In the conditions of the low level of agricultural technology, the estates were deprived of the opportunity to widely organize their own economy, therefore the main part of the estates were peasant farms, which paid the feudal lords a rent in kind - dues. “In all European countries,” K. Marx noted in Capital, “feudal production is characterized by the division of land between as many vassal dependent people as possible. The power of the feudal lords, as well as of all sovereigns in general, was determined not by the size of their rent, but by the number of their subjects, and this latter depends on the number of peasants who run an independent economy.

The rent in kind guaranteed a certain economic independence of the ancient Russian peasant. He was interested in the results of his work, and this increased its productivity, ultimately ensuring the subsequent economic development of Old Russia.

Geographical position of the Galicia-Volyn principality

Relations with Poland, Hungary and Lithuania

Political features of the Galicia-Volyn principality