Local Nobility Research Articles

Scottish Burgh in the Second Half of the 18th Century (Based on the Minutes of the Elgin Burgh Council)

In this article the researcher analyzes the ties of the burgh of Elgin with the political centre of Great Britain and points out the degree to which burgh life changed in the second half of the 18th century. The burgh rarely came to the attention of historians, and the studies dedicated to the burgh of Elgin contain no theoretical interpretation of observed facts. The authors share the opinion that during the hundred years after the conclusion of the Act of Union the burgh was past its days of prosperity, however, despite downturn it was far from its demise. The basis of the research is formed by the minutes of the burgh council. They share business character and mostly contain decisions taken by the local authorities. Historians make only limited use of the minutes rarely analyzing them. This source allows the researcher to conclude that interactions between Elgin’s local authorities and British central authorities were limited. The minutes reflect Elgin’s contacts with local nobles far more often. Moreover, the article underlines that the local legislation had no overhaul in the second half of the 18th century and developed extensively. The changes in the burgh were not radical either. Notably, the limited transformation of the burgh was most likely driven by lack of funds, since the local population was interested in improving the burgh. For instance, local nobles sporadically gave only a part of the funds necessary for construction works, and the rest was covered by voluntary contributions from the citizens of the burgh.

Ornamented bronze phalerae with a thorn: ornament as an emblem

The presented research deals with ornamented bronze phalerae with a thorn from several cultural groups from the territory of the Northern Adriatic and its hinterland. It was motivated by the treating of such a phalera discovered in Osor on the island of Cres in Kvarner. Considered and critically evaluated in a broader cultural context, the phalerae were formally analysed and due to their stylistic features divided in to four basic types with further variants. Type I being the characteristic for the area of Caput Adriae and its Alps hinterland (Figs. 2-5, 13), type II for the territory of the of Italic Piceni (Figs. 5-8), type III for the westernBalkan area of Dinaric Alps (Fig. 5,10) and type IV for the territory of ancient Macedonia (Figs. 10-11). The mutual relationship of individual types has been the backbone of the research history (Fig. 12). However, the concentration of individual types inspecific areas demonstrated, despite their similarities, a degree of individuality in aestheticism and a localspecific fabrication, wearing and depositing habits which separate them as an individual jewelry groups ideologically and semantically present in the attire of the wider cultural area. Contrary to the previous research for this publication the majority of discoveredphalerae were collected and analyzed. Consequently we were able to observe as much as 10 examples of Type I phalerae from the wider area of Caput Adriae. Due to their quantity, they can be considered as being one of the cultural characteristics of the area of Škocjan. The area, the phalera from Osor should be considered as being directly related to. Their spatialdistribution demonstrates specific interrelationship of those cultural areas reflected in the communication of ambiguity, non-verbal in particular. From the demonstrated we can also notice the disproportionality in their use of being part attire in individual cultures. Apart from highly valuable attire of the deceased women in Vergina and the luxurious attire of the Picenianwomen, they will also designate the highly privileged status of the local aristocracies. And their exceptionally intensified equivalents can be seen in the attires of the southern Lucani and Enotri (Fig. 9). From the same perspective one should evaluate the rich, large hoards with a mixed composition from the western Balkan area such as Krehin Gradac and Veliki Mošunj(Fig. 5, 13-20) where the reflection of the female principles is more than evident. Observed through this perspective, the attire from the area of northern Adriatic’s and alpine hinterlands seems rather modest which could be partially attributed to the relatively small number of precise details about the context of their discoveries. While at the same time, in majorityof cases it bears testimony in favor of their semantic and semiotic value, of their sense and essence of the artifact itself. Of an artifact, a part of specific attire, which was most probably worn as an accessory on the clothing of eminent female individuals. Phalerae were, besides some other elements of attire/jewelry the initiators for a tighter synchronized cultural andchronological evaluation of cultural groups from the territory of the Eastern Adriatic coast, through the Western Balkans and the Macedonian-Aegean territory in the period from the second half of the 10th to the beginning of the 8th century BC marking the new Iron Age cultural environment. In this perspective, more precise dating of the variant I phalerae alsocontributed to this issue, should we accept the fact that the fragment of ornamented bronze metal sheet from the grave 156 of Brežec necropolis near Škocjan (Fig. 13) is a fragment of this type of phalerae. Due to the presence of a fragment of fibulae with four spirals joint with rolled up bronze tape of the so called Este type (Fig. 14) dated to the phase Este II, we can noticeassume the use of these phalerae already in the period from 9th to the 8th century BC, according to revised periodization.Formal and comparative analysis in cultures with different aesthetics explained that neither the selection of the object itself, according to its size, form and decoration, nor its discoveries in context of wealthy

Peasant Question in the Demian Kochubey’s epistolar heritage of 1857–1858

The article analyzes the letters of 1857–1858 by Demian Kochubey (1786–1859), a high-ranking official in St. Petersburg, to his relative Hryhorii Galagan (1819–1888), a public figure, both of whom belonged to the top local nobility of Left-bank Ukraine. The main theme of these important epistolary texts is the preparation for the abolition of serfdom. This example demonstrates the significant information potential of epistolary materials for the study of emancipatory projects. In particular, from this source we learn about the ideological and moral preconditions of Emancipation reform, from French liberal political economy to Christian humanism, and see the breadth of specific problems facing supporters of peasant emancipation, such as the financial possibilities of the state to ensure the redemption of landed estates for peasants, the principles of peasant land tenure in the post-reform period, the establishment of positive interaction between landlords and peasants after their emancipation for the economic prosperity and avoidance of social conflicts. It is argued that relying on epistolary materials will contribute to the cultural and anthropological understanding of the «emancipation projects» of Ukrainian public figures in the mid-nineteenth century. The need to continue the publication of epistolary materials for further in-depth study of the preparation and implementation of the Emancipation reform was emphasized.

Политическая нелояльность и военные преступления Прибалтийских дворян в годы первой мировой войны

In the Soviet historiography of the First World War, a false opinion was formed that representatives of the large local nobility who had “Germanic roots” (as a rule, natives of Germany or persons who had Russian and German citizenship) were a category of persons politically disloyal to the Russian autocracy. They allegedly saw their national-patriotic mission in acts of overt and covert sabotage of Russia's military security in the Baltic states - from hanging the national flags of Germany on the roofs of their estates to creating favorable conditions for the invasion of “Teutonic knights”.Another myth that can be traced in some works of modern Russian historians is that all Baltic barons of German origin, in the conditions of an armed clash between Russian and German military and naval forces, remained loyal to the Tsar and the Fatherland (Russian Empire) to the end.In this article, the author set himself the goal of reconciling the existing historical differences and contradictions, showing an objective picture of front-line political life, the central figures of which in the Baltic provinces (at different times, some districts of Courland and Livonia) were German barons. For this, an attempt was made to trace the evolution of the “enemy image”, which was embodied in the “Eastsee nobles”. It was concluded that their initial stereotypical perception and misinterpretation of the border threat was based only on the speculation of police and military officials.This and other (including those opposite in meaning) conclusions were based on archival documents discovered and introduced by the author into scientific circulation. Initially, the counterintelligence officers of the Northern Front did not have a clear idea of the hostile intentions and, moreover, the illegal activities of the Baltic barons. However, with the beginning of the “Great Retreat” of the Russian armies, some of them were faced with a difficult moral choice: Whom should they be loyal to and serve - their ancestral homeland or their homeland (Russia)? As a result of the preferences given, the overwhelming minority of the nobility, as follows from the correspondence on the counterintelligence line, committed crimes that were qualified by the current Russian criminal legislation as treason. And, at the same time, due to the fact that none of the criminally prosecuted, first of all, Courland barons ended up in the dock, and the judicial authorities never passed a single guilty verdict, we cannot consider them criminals.

The Linguistic Coping Strategies of Three Netherlanders in England

Thousands of migrants left the Low Countries in the second half of the sixteenth century for religious, political, or economic reasons. They faced many difficulties as they attempted to rebuild their lives abroad, including linguistic obstacles. Many of them moved to England, but proficiency in English was rare among the Netherlandish community. Nevertheless, as this article argues, the language differences did not only pose problems, they also offered opportunities, especially to members of the higher echelons of the Dutch diasporic community. The inhabitants of the Low Countries were widely reputed to have excellent knowledge of languages, and for good reason. This article concentrates on the linguistic strategies of three multilingual individuals who moved across the North Sea: the nobleman Jan van der Noot, the painter Lucas d’Heere, and the merchant Johannes Radermacher. It studies the ways in which they used their proficiency in multiple languages as starting capital to build new social and professional lives for themselves. For example, they used their linguistic skills to appeal to the local aristocracy in order to ensure patronage, to expand social and professional networks by frequenting particular religious language communities, and to offer language instruction. This article therefore contributes to our understanding of linguistic encounters in the everyday lives and struggles of migrants in the sixteenth century.

Mental Map of Hryhoriy Galagan: Territorial and Ethnonational Structuring in Ukrainian Nobleman’s World View (mid-1830s — mid-1860s)

The article examines the spatial structures and related images of ethno-national communities in the world view of Hryhoriy Pavlovych Galagan (1819–1888), a representative of the Ukrainian local nobility and a prominent public figure. The research methodology includes the achievements of modern humanitarian geography, first of all the method of mental mapping, which allows to study the spatial structures in the world view of the individual, taking into account his socio-cultural environment. The research is based on ego-documents — diaries and correspondence from the Galagan family archive. Special attention is paid to toponymes and ethnonymes in these texts. It is shown that the spatial representations of Hryhoriy Galagan were a complex system that developed under the influence of the socio-cultural sphere in which he lived. Thus, humanitarian geography is represented as a discursive practice due to social and political interests. The article deals, in particular, with such spatial constructs as “Little Russia”, “Ukraine”, “Russia”, “Rus”, “Europe”, as well as related communities — “Little Russia people”, “Russian people”, “Europeans”. Galagan’s spatial and ethno-national ideas are shown as a very dynamic system that was constantly changing under the influence of socio-political and ideological movements, such as the Polish uprisings of 1830–1831 and 1863–1864, the rise of Slavophilia and Ukrainophilia. Attention is paid to the importance of travel for the development of the system of spatial and ethno-national structures. In addition, the conditionality of this system with ideas about history is proved. The issues raised in this article will contribute to further in-depth research in cultural anthropology, as well as be useful to historians working in the biographical genre.

Deputies of the General Sejmik Ruthenian Voivodeship at the Coronation Sejm of 1669

Studies of Sejmiks or local parliaments and their influence on the political, military and socio-economic life of the early modern Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth are widely represented in modern European historiography. Pre-Sejm sejmiks were convened by the king who sent a writ to each sejmik, outlining the reasons the next Sejm would be held.In August 1669, the General Sejmik of the Ruthenian Voivodeship took place in Vyshnia, at which elect six representatives (traditionally two deputies, each from the Lands of Lwow, Przemysl, and Sanok) to the Coronation Sejm of Michael I. The main idea of the article is to show biographies of the six deputies of the Ruthenian Voivodeship. The paper is based on the source materials of the General Sejmik the second half of the 17th century demonstrates the place of their representation in their public and political activities. Sejmiks gave the opportunity for the career development of local nobility for politician’s beginners and experienced public figures. The role of the deputies was honourable and responsible, as the elected represented the interests of the whole voivodeship. Participation in the work of the Sejm provided an opportunity to join the discussion of important issues of the domestic and foreign policy of the Polish–Lithuanian Commonwealth. However, authority in the local noble society was not the only criterion for election to the embassy, no less important factor was the client-patron relationship. Lot of nobility belonged to family and political groups led by senators and magnates and defended their interests at the Sejmik and Sejm. Among the six ambassadors elected at the General Sejmik, there were representatives of magnate families and experienced parliamentarians who regularly participated in the Sejm.

Acque e colture irrigue in Terra di Lavoro tra XVII e XVIII secolo. Una riflessione sul paesaggio dell’acqua tra economia e tutela

In the archive of the Abbey of Montecassino there is a judicial affair between the monks of the Abbey and the Duke of Mignano stored. The quaestio of the dispute is for the sowing of rice by the Duke who, despite several orders of prohibitions (1661, 1665), persists in cultivating it, causing, according to the Benedictine monks, “great damage to the universities of St. Vittore, St. Pietro Infine, Mignano” because “it affects the wholesomeness of these lands”. An unpublished large-scaled cartography is attached to this judicial dispute, whose graphic signs clarify and define the places of the diatribe also providing further information: we are in the Terra di Lavoro bathed by the river Peccia which is used and partly diverted to irrigate the Duke’s rice. The case study offers a lot of food for thought starting from the problematic relationship between the values of the environment and water resources, defended by the Benedictine monks, and the economic and productive needs of a local aristocracy with an entrepreneurial vocation. This contrast connects, recalling and confirming it, to the wider one that developed during the eighteenth and nineteenth centuries linked to the spread of rice where doctors, agronomists, politicians have widely debated the problems raised by the spread of rice fields in the Peninsula.

BASIC MODELS OF THE NOBILITY COMMERCIAL AND INDUSTRIAL ENTREPRENEURSHIP IN THE SECOND HALF OF THE XIX CENTURY (ACCORDING TO THE MIDDLE VOLGA REGION DATA)

In the second half of the 19th – early 20th century the development of industry in the nobility-owned farms of the Middle Volga region took place in the context of an active reform of the agricultural sector of the country's economy. This caused significant difficulties for the local nobility, which had received significant advantages in the implementation of commercial and industrial entrepreneurship in the pre-reform period. The methodological basis of the study is the modernization paradigm, which ensured the consideration of various options for the correlation of traditional and innovative models of the nobility industry development using case study, chronological, comparative, historical and systematic methods. The result of the study provided the analysis of the nobility-owned industry of each province of the studied region, as well as the reasons for the development of a particular branch of production among the local nobility. The survey also shows the volumes of production, based on the data of official statistics; identifies the factors that caused the crisis state of the nobility commercial and industrial entrepreneurship after the abolition of serfdom; provides multiple examples of the nobility-owned enterprises, indicating their owners, equipment, the number of workers and the volume of production. As a result of the study, the conclusion is made that the nobility-owned industry of the Middle Volga region was closely associated either with the processing of agricultural products grown on the estates` farms, or with the use of resources located on the territory of their land, thereby causing the development of such branches of the nobility production as textiles (cloth), mill, distillation, glass and sawmill industries. At the same time, most of the local nobles focused on growing cereals, paying little attention to the development of industry, which played a minor role in the structure of their business, satisfying the demands of the economy and the surrounding population. Therefore, the nobility-owned estates demonstrated the small number of large factories, with the exception of a few relatively large enterprises in the textiles (cloth), distillery and glass industries.

Оцінка стану зелених насаджень парку-пам’ятки садово-паркового мистецтва загальнодержавного значення «Скала-Подільський парк»

Green plantations of ancient park not just only an important ecological component of human habitat, but also a cultural and historical factor of national identity. The history of Ternopil landscape art demonstrates the close links of Ukrainian culture with Polish, Lithuanian and Western European. Galicia is rich in architectural monuments of the past: fortresses, castles, defensive ramparts, courtyards, fortifications, fortified monasteries and temples, estates and manors of the local nobility. Decorative parks, orchards, and collections of medicinal plants were established near such buildings. Most of the ancient parks have undergone significant negative changes due to turbulent historical events in the twentieth century. But some objects, although in a state of disrepair, have been preserved and need to be restored and maintained. Skala-Podilsky Park, a monument of landscape art of national importance, was founded at the end of the 18th century. In the future, this park was repeatedly reconstructed. During that time, many ornamental, fruit, berry trees and shrubs, including exotic ones, have been acclimatized here. During the period of Ukraine's independence, proper care of plantations was not carried out. Such way brings the destruction of the park's infrastructure and a reduction in the number of valuable taxes. A tax inventory of dendroflora was carried out to organize the territory and reconstruct the park-monument. The vital and phytosanitary condition of trees and bushes was determined there according to the Alekseev scale. 63 species of trees, bushes and vines were found during this research. It is established that the general indicator of relative living condition of park plantings makes 57,7% and corresponds to a category "weakened". According to the phytosanitary condition of trees and shrubs, 41% belong to the category of "satisfactory", 34% - "good", 25% - "unsatisfactory". Thus, a quarter of the registered trees need to be rehabilitated or removed from the stand. The received materials testify to the need to conduct counting and inventory of all ancient parks of Ukraine and to develop a system of their geoinformation monitoring in order to streamline revitalization.

THE MAIN STAGES OF THE HISTORY OF POPULATION OF THE FOREST-STEPPE OF DNIEPER LEFT-BANK AREA IN THE MID-7th — EARLY 3rd CENTURY BC

THE MAIN STAGES OF THE HISTORY OF POPULATION OF THE FOREST-STEPPE OF DNIEPER LEFT-BANK AREA IN THE MID-7th — EARLY 3rd CENTURY BC

Examination of the Substance of Cases in Samogitian Courts of the Early Seventeenth Century

Based on the manuscripts of the early-seventeenth-century books of Samogitian land and castle courts, the article shows that the examination of the cases was based on the verification of the submitted written evidence, testimonies of witnesses, or investigation of the circumstances of cases at the scenes of incidents. Reliability was the most important aspect in the study of written evidence. The main focus was placed on proving the authenticity of the document. A slightest suspicion that the document had been corrected or supplemented immediately provoked protests from the opponents. The origin of the witnesses and their property status were the main reliability criteria. In courts, testimonies given by local nobility were considered more valuable than the testimonies of peasants, and testimonies of non-native nobles (mostly arrivals from Poland) or even their origin were often questioned. Scrutiny, or the examination of the circumstances of the case at the scene of the incident, was not frequent, although this action was sometimes performed without including the term ‘scrutiny’ as such in court books.

Grant of Prominent Individuals for the Restoration of a Gymnasium in Larissa

Philip V king of Macedon and his son Perseus are recorded on a list as prominent individuals for the restoration of a gymnasium in Larissa, as a result of the new scenario after the Second Macedonian War. The decree (first quarter of II century BC) concerns the epidosis of local nobles and in general the euergetism of Hellenistic kings.

Jauna slota tīri slauka jeb muižnieka Bernharda Magnusa fon Vulfa tiesas prāva pret mācītāju Frīdrihu Danielu Vāru

The subject of this article is a court case between Aumeisteri nobleman Berhard Magnus von Wulf (1732–1784) and the minister of Palsmane and Aumeisteri parishes Friedrich Daniel Wahr (1749–1827) about the suspension of the minister from his duties from 1775 to 1779. The aim of the research is to approach the court case as evidence of the different opinions of several social groups where extreme colonial ideas in Vidzeme meet Enlightenment ideas from Western Europe. At the same time, the court case is a source of contextual information for a better understanding of the development of Wahr’s literary and folkloristic heritage. The research is based on studies of documents found in the Latvian State History Archive that are approached using the culture-historical and comparative methods, thus trying to contextualize certain events in a specific place and time. The results of the research show the Palsmane and Aumeisteri society as typical of the second part of the 18th century. The existence of specific social groups, particularism, and the implementation of colonial attitudes by the local nobility are also evident. The attitude of Wahr towards Latvian peasants shows the influence of Enlightenment, especially his efforts in education. The relationship between the parish and its minister incorporates evidence of a syncretic praxis with pagan and Christian traditions. In the light of political events of that particular time, i. e. peasant rebels in Vidzeme, the court case allows Wulf’s accusations to be treated as an opportunity to decrease the implementation of Enlightenment ideas, thus safeguarding the local nobility’s power. At the same time, the court case is a source of biographic, private, and daily life details. The broad range of the parish territory which was often challenging to navigate, the modest means of the minister, and distancing of the local nobility on the one hand, along with the influence of enlightenment ideas, on the other hand, are the most probable grounding for Wahr’s folkloristic and literary work.

The Image of a Vicious Circle in Mikhail Saltykov-Shchedrin’s Art World

The article examines the image-symbol of a vicious circle in the work of the social satirist M. E. Saltykov-Shchedrin. This image, plays an important role in creating a picture of the Russian national world. The circle embodies integrity, continuity, initial perfection and – hopelessness, fate, dead end. In the works of the satirist, the image-symbol of a vicious circle carries the meaning of stagnation, lifelessness, denial of the future, mysterious predestination. With regard to the social sphere, this image-symbol was used in the 19th century. French socialist-utopian Charles Fourier in his work “The New Economic and Societal World, or the Invention of a Method of Attractive and Naturally Appropriate Labor Distributed in Series of Passions”, a representative of the radical democratic wing in Russian journalism D. I. Pisarev (article “Realists”). In the works of Saltykov-Shchedrin, the idea of avicious circle appears repeatedly. The satire “The History of a City” testifies that the despotic forms of government, replacing one another, the power of the reactionary dark forces are a kind of fate for the country and the people. The existence of representatives of the local nobility, the popular masses, moves in a vicious circle, marked by stagnation, hopelessness, emptiness, and lack of hope for the future. The same can be said about the situation in the Russian outback: there only meaningless repetitions of events, the renewal of identical phenomena are possible. The conservative-protective desire to mythologize history, an apology for absolutism, is fraught with the danger of distorting the meaning of history, its driving forces, denying the centuries-old trials that have befallen the country and the people. For Saltykov-Shchedrin, the image of a vicious circle is associated with the riddle of Russian national destiny, which he has been trying to comprehend over the years. Striving for the ideal of social harmony, overcoming the vicious circle of predetermination for the enlightener, moralist was associated with both social transformations and moral renewal of the individual, with the awakening of Shame, Conscience and Truth in an individual and in the whole society, with their spiritual transformation, which gives an opportunity to make a breakthrough, initiate a purposeful life-giving movement forward.

Family and Ideas of the Worldview of the Russian Local Nobility at the turn of the XIX – early XX centuries (on the Example of the Memoirs of S.E. Trubetskoy, A.A. Kornilov, V.V. Rozanov)

Family and Ideas of the Worldview of the Russian Local Nobility at the turn of the XIX – early XX centuries (on the Example of the Memoirs of S.E. Trubetskoy, A.A. Kornilov, V.V. Rozanov)

Reforming the judicial system in the territory of Belarus during the reign of Paul I (1796–1801)

The article deals with the content and results of the reforms in the judicial sphere in the territory of Belarus, which took place during the reign of Paul I. He declared the recognition of special rights and privileges for the territory, which was annexed to Russia as a result of partitions of the Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth (the so-called Western provinces). First of all, this was reflected in the reform of the judicial system here. The main content of these changes was the restoration of the judiciary of the period of the Grand Duchy of Lithuania and the Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth, although not in full. The article concluded that the reforms of Paul I in the judicial sphere in the territory of the Western provinces were an attempt to form here the judicial system on the basis of local justice traditions of the period of the Grand Duchy of Lithuania and the Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth, but given the realities of the autocratic Russian Empire. The local judicial system, which was established at that time, was similar to the former (before annexing to Russia) – was partially restored former judiciary, continued to use local rights, local nobility had considerable authority in the justice sphere. But at the same time on many aspects this judicial system was significantly different from the former in the direction of unification with the Russian judicial traditions (using of Russian laws, the appointment of some judges by the government, the significant role of governors in the justice, the subordination of the highest court – the Senate, etc.).

Los voluntarios realistas de la ciudad de León (1823-1833)

The corps of "Voluntarios Realistas" was one fundamental pillar of the contrarevolution during the second absolutist restoration (1.823 - 1.833). Since the beginning a strong group of "Voluntarios" from Leon became the main support to the radical absolutism. They would be helped by the local clergymen and their bishop Joaquín Abarca.The "Voluntarios" came into riots several times with the Army, the Police, the conscriptions and even with the king Fernando VII, good example of these was the oustanding revolt in jannuary 1.833. The group was only not rnade by lower class subjects (crafmen and labourers) but also by some members of the local aristocracy and bourgeoise.The above mentioned revolt was lead by retired militaries and clergymen. After the rebellion failure the most notorions members took refuge in Portugal.

Senhores de engenho e lavradoresde cana-de-açúcarda capitania de Pernambuco:Conflitos e direitos de propriedade,América portuguesa, século XVIII

In the Captaincy of Pernambuco, in Portuguese America, sugar cane mill lords andsugar cane farmers managed throughout the seventeenth and eighteenth centuriesto secure successive extensions of a privilege guaranteeing that their their prop-erty would not be confiscated as payment for debt. To understand how this privilegehelped preserve the patrimony of the local nobility in the sugar-based economy of Per-nambuco, the origins of this privilege and debates surrounding it were analyzed. Re-search for this work involved accessing diverse historical sources, mainly the OverseasHistorical Archive, the Historical Documents collection of the National Library of Riode Janeiro and the Torre do Tombo National Archive in Lisbon

Collective Political Portrait of Landlords of the Oryol Province

Within the previous work during the launch of the project “Implementation of the reform from February 19, 1861 in the Oryol province (experience of computer analysis of mass sources)” the topics touched upon were not only the ones which were based on the analysis of mass sources, but also some scenarios related to the aspects of the socio-economic situation in the region were developed. The work was continued, and some observations made during the preliminary study are given in the presented article. The key point here is the discussion of problems related to the “determination of the grounds” for the development of the position of the provincial nobility with regards to existing at that time correlation of interests between the supreme power, bureaucratic reformers and landowners. The author attempts to outline a collective portrait of the representatives of the landowning and agrarian-industrial local nobility of the Oryol province. This period in question was the peak of the political activity of the local nobility, a time when subjective and personal factors in the preparation of the peasant reform were fully manifested. The representatives of the Oryol nobility had different motives that determined their attitude to the upcoming abolition of serfdom. The study of a wide variety of differences in the views of the local nobility, the analysis of the factors that determined their views in these conditions, will help broaden the understanding of the foundations of the upcoming transformations and the level of historical responsibility of the main estate of the country.