The Form of Government in Russia in the XI – First Third of the XIII Centuries

Abstract

The article discusses the form of government in Russia in the XI – first third of the XIII centuries by way of discussion. It is proposed to characterize the form of government in Russia during this period as a democratic republic, since the authorities in it were: the invited Grand Duke, the Council under him and the People’s Assembly. The competence of the Veche included extensive powers: inviting the prince to the Grand Princely Table and denying him this honor, both at the end of the term of the contract (“row”) established with him, and before the expiration, in case the prince disagreed with the Veche in resolving issues related to public administration, the amount of taxes, the disposal of funds, land ownership, appointment of administrative persons (posadnikov, tiunov, sotnikov, etc.); judicial proceedings (supreme court); declaration of war and conclusion of peace. Such a political, economic and administrative competence of the Veche allows us to conclude about a republican, not a monarchical form of government. The position proposed in the article on these problems is justified by the information contained in the chronicle sources: The Tale of Bygone Years, the Laurentian and Ipatiev Chronicles.