What is the Streletsky order?

The Streletsky order is one of the leading institutions on the territory of the Vladimir-Suzdal principality, from which the entire Russian empire subsequently grew. After the seizure of the northeastern lands by the Golden Horde, the local administration was carried out through a network of special supervisory bodies - huts, from which further full-fledged administrative "offices" - orders - grew. Few people know that the modern for its time internal management structure was created in the reign of Ivan the Terrible.

Internal reforms and the Streletsky order

The year of foundation of the new institution is 1571. The need for the formation of an agency for the management of half-independent Strelets and Cossack formations was brewing for a long time. The expansion of the territory of the Moscow kingdom required a flexible system of control over internal armed groups. The old Streletskie huts could not fully provide control over the Streltsy troops, in addition, part of them were subordinated to the local boyars. The new reforms completely reorganized the internal troops of Muscovy, directly subordinating them to the tsarist power through the formalized structure of the new administrative apparatus - orders.

Activity of the Streletsky order

The original purpose of creating this body was to provide food and cash payments to representatives of the Strelka troops. The functions of the Strelets' order were reduced to carrying out guard duty, patrolling the streets, escorting valuable cargo. In addition, the archers performed the duties of modern fire brigades and even ... scavengers.

The fact is that in the 16th century Moscow was no different from other medieval cities. Dirt was a constant companion of Muscovites. The streets were cleaned before ceremonial events, such as the entry of foreign ambassadors or the departure of the royal family to numerous monasteries located in the Moscow suburbs. This state of affairs did not suit anyone, therefore, the decrees fixed severe punishment for those who threw dead on the street or did not clean the area in front of their gates. Despite the rather severe measures, the streets were removed inaccurately and reluctantly, the bridges were not repaired on time. Responsibility for the cleanliness of the capital streets was assigned to the local police. However, the police were very small and had no real support. On the eve of solemn events, police detachments were strengthened by the forces of the streltsi and Cossacks, whom the Strelets order sent. Their duties included monitoring the work of sweepers, scavengers and punishing those who did not follow the tsar's decrees about the purity of the streets. Initially, the archers were employed only in the spring for a period of one year, but soon such a service could be renewed automatically, and the archers as guardians or policemen could serve the city authorities for decades.

Powers of the Streltsky orders

All material goods were placed at the disposal of the Streletsky order from other departments that controlled the collection of taxes from the draft population and the black-peasant peasantry. The distribution of money and in-kind compensation was carried out under the control of the head of the order, who personally answered the tsar for the welfare of the servicemen. The Strelets' order controlled the lands that were allocated "for feeding" to the officers of the Streltsy formations, as well as those territories on which the Streltsy units were located.

It was the Streletsky order that was responsible for the manning of the formed units from the category of volunteers in the period of real danger. This state of affairs persisted until 1613, when part of the authority to manage Cossack detachments was transferred to the newly created Cossack order. Soon the Strelets' order became a full-fledged police body - with the functions of search and inquiry. Such expansion required an increase in the bureaucracy, and by the end of the 17th century the number of clerks serving in the Streltsy order had almost doubled.

Executives of orders

At the head of the new departments are the boyars, under which there were several assistants. During the administrative reforms, the old Streletsky cottages were led by the deacons Grigory Grigoryevich Kolychev (1571-1572), Vasily Yakovlevich Shchelkalov (1573) and Luka (Rudak) Tolmachev (1578-1580). The very first person known to us was the head of the Strelets' order, I. Godunov, who headed the department until 1593.

Decline

In the XVII century, the Streletsky Order significantly expanded its powers and became one of the most influential departments in Muscovy. By the end of 1629, the Armory Sloboda was transferred to his subordination, one of the first arms centers of the future Russia.

In 1672 the number of streltsy and Cossacks increased so much that for their full-fledged supply it was necessary to create two additional departments - an order to collect streletskogo bread and an order to receive streletskogo bread. Residents of Pomerania to pay paid with money. Collected bread was brought to Moscow in special residential yards, located near the Kaluga and Myasnitsky gate of the Earth Wall. Receiving and issuing bread allowances were given by the scribes and clerks who were recruited from the elected streltsy of the capital's regiments.

Attempts to transform

In 1676, there was an attempt to expand the Streletsky order by transferring to him Moscow subordinate soldiers' regiments, but by 1680 this decision was canceled. At the same time, from the conduct of the Streletsky order, policemen were taken out of the city, and from now on the order was administered only by the Streltsy capital garrison.

Abolition of the Strelets Order

The liquidation of the Streltsy troops fell on the first years of the reign of Peter the Great. Constant grueling campaigns, bribery and harassment from the higher streltsy leadership led to a riot. In 1698, an unsuccessful attempt at an uprising led to numerous reprisals against the Streltsy. In executions and tortures, Tsar Peter took a direct part. In total, about two thousand streltsy were executed, brand names and sent - about three thousand.

The defrocked Streletsky order turned into a fiction - he already had neither army nor money. Gradually one of the most influential departments of Moscow is transformed into an ordinary economic and administrative institution. In the process of reforms, the Zemsky Order was abolished, and as a result, its functions were transferred to Streletsky, who at that time still had a significant bureaucracy and a working management system.

The Strelets' order was abolished on June 23, 1701. By a special royal decree, he was renamed the Zemsky Affairs Order . A little later he lost all relation to the army and internal troops - all these functions were transferred to the newly created department - the Order of Military Affairs.