Zemsky Cathedral is an important stage in the development of Russia. Vecherical orders have always existed in our country, but there have been periods when all independence has been reproached. And he revived the opportunity to collect most of the estates Ivan the Terrible.
The Zemsky Sobor included representatives of the following estates: the boyar Duma, whose members participated in the Zemsky Sobor in its entirety; consecrated cathedral, from them were only the highest church hierarchs; elected people from servicemen, Moscow and city nobility, archers, Cossacks and Pushkars; elected from the posadskoy population (Chernoshosny and Sloboda) and from the cloth hundreds and living room. The cathedral of the first convocation was called the "cathedral of reconciliation."
The first Zemsky Sobor was convened in order to acquaint the meeting participants with the reforms of the new organ of Ivan the Terrible - the Elected Council. As you know, the reforms of the Rada included the creation of a streltsy army, the introduction of a new criminal, as well as the development of the command system and the strengthening of central authority.
Over time, the functions of the estate-representative body also developed. So, by the end of the 16th century, participants in this meeting received the right to approve the accession to the throne of a new monarch. In those years, it was decided that the new rulers receive the approval of the people, which was expressed by the Zemsky Sobor.
The history of the development of this body is multifaceted: there were periods when its role was completely lost, and there were those when the fate of the state depended on its decision. The Time of Troubles is a prime example of the latter period.
The most important Zemsky cathedrals
The first cathedral was convened on Red Square, after which the meeting moved to the Kremlin’s chambers. From the mid 16th to the end of the 17th century, about 50 meetings were held, among which there are those that changed the course of the history of our country.
The Cathedral of 1589 approved the controversial candidacy of Boris Godunov on the throne. There were many rumors about his involvement in the Uglich drama, but, strangely enough, he received the approval of elected officials. The most famous and largest is the Zemsky Cathedral in 1613 , which was held in the Assumption Cathedral.
As you know, the cathedral approved a new dynasty on the Russian throne and brought to power young Mikhail Romanov. It is worth noting that in his reign, the young king constantly convened these meetings to solve various problems. A meeting in 1632/1634 was convened to resolve the issue of the war with Poland. At this time, a new “military” tax is being established - five-day money. The meeting of 1648/1649 was convened after the suddenly erupted Salt Riot in Moscow. It discussed the problems of outdated legislation.
It was then that the decision was made to introduce the Council Code - a new code of laws of Russia. The last Zemsky Cathedral was convened in 1653. At this meeting, it was decided to join the Cossack army and Little Russia to Russia.
Meaning in history
Zemsky Sobor laid the foundation for the formation of the estate-representative monarchy in Russia. But the growth of absolutist tendencies among subsequent monarchs significantly weakened the role of the organ.