Medieval genocide, or why feudal families were so resilient

2024 Author: Seth Attwood | [email protected]. Last modified: 2023-12-16 15:55

An interesting point of view of Klim Zhukov on the stability of the feudal family in the Middle Ages. As usual with humor.

Regularly reading in sources and / or scientific books, how in the Middle Ages someone was beaten in a battle, you wonder where all the same surnames come from - they seem to have just killed everyone, and they are again! Well, that's okay, we can understand that. Dad went to war and did not return, but the children are growing up and will soon pick up the fallen banner and will also go to war. This system has its limitations, but it is still very durable.

But where does such a devilish mobilization potential come from? Under Cressy in 1346, the flower of French chivalry perished. That did not prevent the French chivalry from fighting well until 1356, when the flower of French chivalry died in the battle of Poitiers. That did not stop the French chivalry from fighting well to peace in Bretigny. It seems that the "reserves" of the military in France were kind of bottomless.

Or remember Novgorod the Great.

1268, February 18, Battle of Rakvere (aka Battle of Rakovor). The Russian team won the fight. However, it was very expensive for the Novgorodians.

killing the mayor Mikhail, and Tverdislav Chermny, Nikifor Radyatinich, Tverdislav Moisievich, Mikhail Krivtsevich, Ivach, / l. 145./ Boris Ildyatinich, his brother Lazor, Ratsha, Vasil Voiborzovich, Osip, Zhiroslav Dorogomayudovykh, Polomanuyudovych, many boyar, and there were many black people; and others could not be without a trace: the thousand's Kondrat, Ratislav Boldyzhevich, Danil Mozotinich, and there are many others, God is true, and Pskovich is also Ladojan; and Yurya is the prince of the shoulders, or if he was translated into him, then God is. (Novgorod first chronicle of the older edition. Synodal copy).

In a clash with the "iron regiment" of the Teutons, Novgorod lost 14 "vyatshih" boyars, among whom was the mayor Mikhail Fedorovich, that is, the prime minister. Three more went missing, including Tysyatsky, the Minister of Defense. Separately, it was emphasized that in addition to the named ones, “many good boyars” of a lesser rank, not worthy of personal mention in the official chronicle, were also killed. About "other black people without number" we will keep silent, who counted them when. The losses were such that Prince Yuri "vda shoulders", that is, fled from the battlefield.

Such beating did not happen often in Novgorod and in Russian history in general. This is clearly indicated by the chronicle news, or rather, an extremely rare listing of the murdered nobility. Apparently, usually the losses were much more modest and did not shock the chroniclers so much.

Why did the 17 murdered boyars (according to common reasoning, one must think that 3 missing also died) shocked the chronicler so much that he quoted the church synodikon and gave birth to a long religious explanation of why such a massacre happened? Yes, simply because Novgorod is approx. 220-250 hectares, no more than 30,000 inhabitants. Boyar "big" families-clans were, judging by the estates preserved in archeology, 35-45. That is, from half to a third of families suffered losses in one day. Where does the shock come from.

Although the bloodletting of Novgorod was done very strong, this did not affect its combat effectiveness in any way. In 1269 the Livonian Germans gathered 180 knights and went to Pskov, where the Novgorod army appeared 10 days later. It was so convincing that the Livonians quickly made peace and left.

How did it happen after the terrible military losses?

Apparently like this:

1. Boyarin was not just a military aristocrat, but also the most important element of city government.

2. Boyarin was also an important element of urban business, that is, an independent economic entity.

3. The boyarin did not speak independently, but within the framework of the clan, with which he was associated with mutual kinship, friendly and business obligations.

You can imagine a kind of middle family of conditional Perdyatichi (I came up with them so as not to offend anyone). And so, in January 1268, the head of the family came from the veche and said: we were going to fight a German. Then she scratches her beard tightly.

Given: Perdyata Perdyatich (dad); Ghoul, Rukosuy, Tverdolob, Zhiroslav and Bludoruk Perdyatichi (sons); Zhidyata Smerdyatich and Zhlobosvin Smerdyatich (nephews); Fat Pyat Ebestoevich (younger cousin).

Perdyatich senior will have to solve a local mobilization problem: who will go to fight?

Bludoruk is the youngest, he has no children, it is too early to drag him to the war. Zhiroslav will have to be left on the farm, because who else will manage family affairs? You come back, and then all the artisans have fled, all the smerds have conquered - you need to keep an eye on them. The hardhead will not go to war, because He is ill and generally very easily will not live to see the start of the campaign. You can't take the Zhidyat Smerdyatich to the war, because he is feeding on the bridge - right now he is repairing bridges across the Volkhov. Zhlobosvin Smerdyatich on a trade trip to the Karelians, by the way, with 25% of the boyar squad on guard.

Thus, Perdyata the Elder, cousin Ebestoevich and two sons, the Ghoul and Rukosuy, are going to the war. Out of 10 people, for objective reasons, only 4 can be taken out on a hike. And you can't go anywhere. Do not drag the youngest and childless? And how to get the cunning Smerdyatich out of the Karelian forests? Or how can you remove Zhidyatushka from the bridge?

So 40% of the family is going instead of 100% theoretically liable for military service. Under Rakovor (let's say), Ebestoevich is killed and Fart the Elder is mortally wounded. Thus, the strength of the clan has decreased by 20%. This is very sad, but not fatal at all. That is, the next year the boyar corporation easily exposes 4 more servicemen from the homeland. And there, he acquires the offspring of Bludoruk, two sons of Ebestoevich come into age, and after 3 years the corporation already has 11 fighters instead of 10 before Rakovor.

That is, the feudal "big" servant family had objectively very low mobilization ability, due to constant participation in the city's business enterprises and their own. At the same time, the feudal family had a very decent mobilization potential, which was directly related to the low ability to field a mass of fighters at a time. This means that the normal medieval genocide was not physically applied to them.

It was very difficult to destroy such a clan at the root or just seriously bleed it. Much more dangerous for him was the epidemic, which mowed down everyone indiscriminately, much more efficiently than swords and arrows.