Vira in ancient Russia is a fine forkilled or crippled person provided by the princely authority in order to replace the blood feud with a contribution to the treasury. For the first time, a new decree was officially and legally enshrined in the 11th century, during the years of the reign of Prince Yaroslav the Wise of Kiev. Some historians consider this innovation to be an important stage in the transition from social-political to social-political relations.
General characteristics of the era
Vira in ancient Russia is a new step in strengtheningprincely power in the early history of our country. At the considered time, this institute only began to form in society. An important role was still played by tribal relations, which had to be reckoned with. The rule of blood feud was maintained, which did not comply with the principles of the emerging young state. There was a need to streamline social relations in order to subordinate them to the supreme power. Therefore, vira in ancient Russia is an important measure in strengthening the status of the prince.
Value
The first mention of this concept in ancient RussianSources refers to the 9th century, it is found in the treaties of Russians with the Greeks. In the famous "Tale of Bygone Years", in the story about the time of the reign of St. Vladimir, there is mention of how this prince began to restore order in his domain, and for this he began to fight with the robbers. The chronicler reports that after the adoption of Orthodoxy, he replaced the penalty with a virus. It should be borne in mind that the first concept did not always mean a death sentence, but also implied any type of punishment of moderate severity. This word meant bodily blows, confiscation of property, arrest and others. Finally, the son of Vladimir Yaroslav, nicknamed the Wise, secured this decree in one of the oldest legal monuments. According to Russkaya Pravda, vira in ancient Russia is a contribution in favor of the prince for the killed or maimed.
Application
Некоторые историки отмечают, что введение новой norms provided primarily for the protection of the princely people. The price for their murder at that time was quite high - 40 hryvnia. For the money you could buy a herd of sheep or a few cows. So, the amount was large enough for an ordinary person and contributed to the replenishment of the princely treasury. In this regard, vira has become an important means of regulating social relations. In ancient Russia, this is the age of approval of the supreme grand-ducal power, so the new rule was designed to strengthen its environment.
В рассматриваемом источнике также упомянуты other social strata who were under the protection of the prince. These are Rusins and Slavs. In historiography there are different points of view regarding the content of these concepts, which will be discussed below. Here it is necessary to add that the supreme power, expanding the circle of persons, for the murder or mutilation of whom it was supposed to pay the virus, strengthened its position in society.
Categories of persons
So, historians disagree aboutof what “Russkaya Pravda” meant by the terms “Rusin” and “Slav”. By the first term, some mean the princely warrior, warrior, while referring to more ancient sources, in which the “Rus” indicated the closest circle of the ruler. However, some authors in relation to the 11th century expand the content of the concept, arguing that it is not only about princely soldiers, but also about categories of the urban population in general, and note that in this way the authorities sought to subjugate the city to its influence. Proponents of this point of view, in this case, oppose Rusina to the Slav, seeing in the latter a villager. They emphasize that in this way the supreme power tried to subjugate not only the urban population, but also the village.
Concept extension
One of the controversial issues in the study of earlystories - what is vira in ancient Russia. The definition of this term is rather difficult due to the fact that it is not explained or explained in any way in the source under study. However, already in the next major legal monument - “Pravda Yaroslavichi” - it is noted that the payment for the murder or mutilation of a princely man - a stable brigade is increased. This is a written fixation of the process of strengthening the princely power. Indicative of the fact that these sources provided for the payment of a fine only for free people. Murder or injury of a slave, for example, was not payable. In addition, there was still wild vira in ancient Russia. This concept was understood as the order of collecting a fine from the whole community in the event that the killer was not found, or if he himself could not pay for himself. Thus, the community members were bound by mutual responsibility.
Role
The penalty payment system was an established mechanism.He was assembled by a special princely servant, the virnik, and the prince gave one tenth to the bishop. Therefore, great importance in strengthening the supreme power played vira in ancient Russia. The significance of this norm was very important for eliminating the rule of blood feud, replacing it with a system of public punishment, as well as strengthening the supreme power.
