Fortification in the South-Eastern part of European Russia at the end of the XVI - beginning of the XVII centuries

Eduard Leibovich Dubman

doi:10.17816/snv201984209

Abstract

The paper discusses the features of the Volga city fortresses (Samara, Saratov and Tsaritsyn) development at its initial stage in the second half of the 1580s by knyaz G.O.Zasekin. The task is to consider the process of their urban planning appearance and defensive structures development as well as the composition of the inhabitants at the end of the XVI beginning of the XVII centuries. The source base of the study is archival and published narrative, acts and other sources. A wide range of studies have been used, mainly in recent decades. It is concluded that until the end of the Time of Troubles, the population of the Volga fortress cities consisted of service people and members of their families. The settlements performed both military and commercial functions on the Volga route, but in fact, all of them were fortresses. Their garrisons were mainly supplied by the sovereign bread and money salary and were not able to provide themselves through fishing and other activities. The events of the Time of Troubles contributed to a deep crisis in the life of the Volga cities, the death of Saratov and Tsaritsyn. It was only after the end of the Time of Troubles when their restoration took place and a new system of fortifications was created.

Highlights

This paper is a logical continuation of our paper «The daily life of Franks according to written sources at the time of Gregory of Tours, I: diseases, medicine, hygiene and food»
The sources used are the writings of Gregory of Tours, Venantius Fortunatus, Apollinaris Sidonius, The Chronicle of Fredegar, «The History Book of the Franks» and others
The collected material allows us to state that: a) the sources of the early Merovingian period, in contrast to the Carolingian era, are distinguished by the extreme scarcity of data in the field of genesis; b) despite a rather primitive look of clothing, it possessed considerable material value, as well as it had a significant essence, c) Roman cities continued to exist on the territory of Gallia, but largely lost their urban character, turning into fortified centers, and c) Christianization had very little influence on the moral character of the Franks; society remained largely barbaric, some features indicate the beginning of the formation of a new civilization

Summary

Introduction

This paper is a logical continuation of our paper «The daily life of Franks according to written sources at the time of Gregory of Tours, I: diseases, medicine, hygiene and food». КРЕПОСТНОЕ СТРОИТЕЛЬСТВО НА ЮГО-ВОСТОКЕ ЕВРОПЕЙСКОЙ РОССИИ В КОНЦЕ XVI – НАЧАЛЕ XVII ВЕКА Что вплоть до завершения Смутного времени население волжских городов-крепостей состояло из служилых людей и членов их семей. Ключевые слова: Юго-Восток Европейской России; Волга; Самара; Царицын; Саратов; города-крепости; остроги; Смутное время; воеводы; военные гарнизоны; служилые люди; стрельцы; продовольственное обеспечение; посадское население; кремль-детинец; слободы; монахи-кармелиты; Федот Котов; голштинское посольство; Адам Олеарий.

Results

Conclusion