Oulojénié

The Oulojénié is the new Code of laws, founded in Russia in 1649, in order to replace obsolete the Soudiebnik of Ivan the Terrible.

At the beginning of the reign of Alexis Ier, the Russians are overpowered taxes but those return badly. The Muscovites protest, the riots multiply. In 1648, the Révolte of Salt bursts, having due setting-up to a surtax on salt. Alexis recommends a reform of the administration in order to put order in his corrupted bureaucracy and to thus perhaps alleviate the population.

The July 16th, a commission, chaired by the boyard Nicolas Obolenski, starts to update the old legislative code, the Soudiebnik , cutting off certain articles and by adding others. September 1st, the Zemski sobor gathers, bringing together the delegates of 130 cities. One decides there the drafting of a new Code of laws. The process will be done very quickly because it comes into effect on January 1st 1649.

The Oulojénié will remain in force until in 1833, date of the promulgation of a new Code. It is composed of 25 chapters divided into 967 articles. The original is appeared as 959 sheets of parchment.

It divides the Russian company into 4 distinct groups: men of service, i.e. employees of the State; people of size of the suburbs or townsmen, including/understanding the craftsmen, the merchants, the businessmen; people of size of the campaigns, serfs, property of the tsar; the country kholops , slaves belonging to the landowners.

The 4 groups are characterized by nature from their obligations. The men of service work for the State, either in the administration, or in the army. The townsmen pay the taxes. The serfs and the kholops are imposed by nature on their production.

The principal function of the townsmen is to provide for the needs for the people in service. They do not have any more the right to deal with agriculture. They cannot leave a city for a another nor even suburb for another. They are connected with their obligationset cannot hope for one rise in the social scale more.

The only difference between the Serf and the kholop is that first is with the service of the tsar whereas the other is the property of a boyard or of an aristocrat. Both are attached definitively to their grounds. They cannot change owners any more. The runaway which is made take is inevitably returned to its Master, whatever the time passed since its defection. It does not have any more any right and its owner has all the rights on him.

The Oulojénié reform also administration. The voiévode , formerly military chief, becomes the representative of the tsar in the areas. It is sent there to control it on its behalf. It is not remunerated but can receive gifts of the people of which it with the load. The police force is subjected to him, which makes the absolute master of the area of it that it manages.

Certain articles include/understand specific laws. In voci some:

any affront made with a boyard is punished by the knout or the prison;
the affront made with a townsman is punished from one to fifty roubles, according to the importance of the townsman;
it is from now on interdict to smoke (those which are caught in the act make cut the nose);
the frequentation of the churches is obligatory;
of the devotions annual is founded.

Ultimately, the Oulojénié transforms Russia into true police State.

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