Каменцева В. М. «Присяги правительствам» в Смутное время [Электронный ресурс] // Vox medii aevi. 2019. Vol. 1(4). С. 15–48. URL: https://voxmediiaevi.com/2019-1-kamentseva
DOI: 10.24411/2587-6619-2019-00001
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Veronika Kamentseva
Master Student of the Faculty of History, European University at Saint Petersburg
vkamenceva@eu.spb.ru
“Oaths to Governments” in the Time of Troubles
The Time of Troubles is a period of dramatic change in traditional institutions. In this article, the Time of Troubles is considered as a precedent of a deep systemic crisis, encompassing all spheres of life. At this time, the oath is not just a ritual, repeated every few decades with the change of the sovereign. In the Time of Troubles, the institution of the oath is overgrown with many additional functions. In the conditions of constant change of authority, the oath is an effective means of integration into new life realities. The oath becomes one of the tools by which the authorities try to justify their legitimacy. This is a bilateral process because the oath as a text tries to legitimise the authority of the ruler as convincingly as possible, while the oath as an act serves as an actual confirmation of the truth and legitimacy of this authority, which can be an important argument in the subsequent power struggle. What social functions does the oath carry out in the Time of Troubles? Having examined the texts of the oaths of allegiance, one can infer that the interests of the two sides differ: the authorities want to prove their legitimacy, to acquire more supporters and to prevent their betrayal, namely to keep them from switching to the rival’s side when struggling for authority; common people, on the other hand, are trying to protect themselves and their property and, at the same time, to get material benefits. Thus, in the Time of Troubles during the destruction of established institutions, the oath is in many ways not only a confirmation but also a source of authority.
Key words: Authority; Crisis; Legitimacy; Oath of Allegiance; Time of Troubles; 17th century.