Russkaia Pravda
Casey Titus
Mr. Alexandre A. Strokanov
HIS- 1020- L01
11 November 2013
The historical document that I interpreted was the “Russkaya Pravda”. It can be translated as “Russian Truth” or “Russian Justice” (Boyko, 2011). This early code of law of Kievan Rus was considered truthful and fair at the time. It also seems to be straight forward and fair when compared to some of the other codes of law within the same general time period. The code was discovered by the historian Vasily Tatishchev in one of the Novgorod chronicles in the 18th century (Boyko, 2011). The first annotated edition of the code was published thirty years later. More than 110 other copies dating from the 13th to 18th centuries have been discovered since then (Boyko, 2011). The oldest is the Short Edition (Kratkaya), and is also the version that I used for interpretation. The Vast Edition (Prostrannaya) is the most comprehensive. Finally, the most controversial is the Abridged Version (Sokrashchennaya). I tried to find out why it was controversial, but a lack of information available prevented me. It would suffice to say that no matter if one held more sway than others, the document reflects what was most important to people of that age, defines common crimes of the time period, respective punishments to fit those crimes, the establishment of proof of some of these crimes.
Murder appears to be the highest crime, but it did depend heavily on who was murdered specifically. The general law on murder is the very first article (hence highest crime). This article states:
If a man kills a man, the brother is to avenge his brother; the son, his father; or the father, his son; or nephews, their uncles; and if there is no avenger [the murderer pays] forty grivnas fine; if [the killed man] is a Kievan Russian, or a member of the druzhina, or a merchant, or a sheriff, or an agent of the prince, or even a serf, or a Novgorodian Russian, the fine is forty grivnas. (Ruskaia Pravda)
While this seems fair
Mr. Alexandre A. Strokanov
HIS- 1020- L01
11 November 2013
The historical document that I interpreted was the “Russkaya Pravda”. It can be translated as “Russian Truth” or “Russian Justice” (Boyko, 2011). This early code of law of Kievan Rus was considered truthful and fair at the time. It also seems to be straight forward and fair when compared to some of the other codes of law within the same general time period. The code was discovered by the historian Vasily Tatishchev in one of the Novgorod chronicles in the 18th century (Boyko, 2011). The first annotated edition of the code was published thirty years later. More than 110 other copies dating from the 13th to 18th centuries have been discovered since then (Boyko, 2011). The oldest is the Short Edition (Kratkaya), and is also the version that I used for interpretation. The Vast Edition (Prostrannaya) is the most comprehensive. Finally, the most controversial is the Abridged Version (Sokrashchennaya). I tried to find out why it was controversial, but a lack of information available prevented me. It would suffice to say that no matter if one held more sway than others, the document reflects what was most important to people of that age, defines common crimes of the time period, respective punishments to fit those crimes, the establishment of proof of some of these crimes.
Murder appears to be the highest crime, but it did depend heavily on who was murdered specifically. The general law on murder is the very first article (hence highest crime). This article states:
If a man kills a man, the brother is to avenge his brother; the son, his father; or the father, his son; or nephews, their uncles; and if there is no avenger [the murderer pays] forty grivnas fine; if [the killed man] is a Kievan Russian, or a member of the druzhina, or a merchant, or a sheriff, or an agent of the prince, or even a serf, or a Novgorodian Russian, the fine is forty grivnas. (Ruskaia Pravda)
While this seems fair