The Zemskii Sobor of 1575: A Mistake in Translation

Abstract

THE RECENT ARTICLE by Professor Jack M. Culpepper, Kremlin Executions of and Enthronement of Simeon Bekbulatovich [Slavic Review, September 1965] mentions sobor summoned by Ivan at end of September 1575 and cites a 1959 article by Soviet scholar V. I. Koretskii on subject of that zemskii sobor.' This has moved me to think that perhaps readers of Slavic Review should be apprised of fact that Koretskii's claim to have discovered a zemskii sobor in rests mainly on an error in 9gog Russian translation of Sir Jerome Horsey's Travels. Before documenting this statement, let me point out that above-mentioned reference to sobor of was just a passing reference, and Koretskii's error in no way detracts from value of Professor Culpepper's article. Koretskii's argument rests essentially on two points. The first is his discovery, and publication, of a document dated September 30, 1575, in which Tsar Ivan ordered Prince I. Iu. Bulgakov-Golitsyn and other voevody and dvoriane from southern frontier garrisons to gather in Moscow for a sobor (dlia soboru).2 The remainder of document is then devoted to listing those voevody who were to remain at various posts in region. The other essential point of Koretskii's case is that September document now enables us to understand that certain passages of Travels of Horsey refer to a zemskii sobor held in 1575. The skeleton of Koretskii's argument here is as follows: At one point in his narrative HIorsey says, There was convened a assembly from all in Consistory of Holy Ghost, and further on he speaks of the long-lasting debates, representations, and arguments of assembly, which were precisely set out and described in an act which was submitted to Tsar for his examination. I The date of this great assembly from all provinces is based on two considerations. First, Koretskii says, Horsey's information about assembly comes in his narrative right after mention of execution of Tulupov, and this occurred in 1575. Further, in same passage Horsey makes a brief reference to some sort of a conspiracy against Ivan IV, and Koretskii points out that other information is available concerning a conspiracy in 1575.' Hence, Horsey's assembly must have been same one mentioned in