The Peasant Guard in Belorussian and Lithuanian Provinces as a Form of Pro-government Activity of Villagers in 1863–1864

Abstract

There uprising of 1863–1864 in Belorussia and Lithuania had the following effects on the population: part of the peasants took the side of the rebels, but most of the peasantry supported the government. The peasant guard became an active form of pro-government views expression. At the initial stage the guard appeared spontaneously, but already in spring of 1863 it was well-organized. In the course of struggle against rebels the peasant guard functioned as support military forces, carried guard duties, conducted searches and arrests of suspicious persons. The guard was mostly formed on a voluntary basis. The peasantry regiment proved quite effective at strengthening the Russian power and made an important contribution to the suppression of the uprising.