Copper and salt riots. Copper riot: causes, events, consequences Development and course of the riot

The 17th century in Russian history gained a reputation as “rebellious.” And indeed, it began with the Troubles, the middle of it was marked by urban uprisings, the last third - by the uprising of Stepan Razin.

The most important reasons for this unprecedented scale of social conflicts in Russia were the development of serfdom and the strengthening of state taxes and duties.

In 1646, a duty on salt was introduced, significantly increasing its price. Meanwhile, salt in the 17th century. It was one of the most important products - the main preservative that made it possible to store meat and fish. Following salt, these products themselves have risen in price. Their sales fell, and unsold goods began to deteriorate. This caused discontent among both consumers and traders. The growth of government revenues was less than expected as the smuggling trade in salt developed. Already at the end of 1647, the “salt” tax was abolished. In an effort to compensate for losses, the government cut the salaries of service people “on the instrument”, that is, archers and gunners. General discontent continued to grow.

On June 1, 1648, the so-called “salt” riot took place in Moscow. The crowd stopped the carriage of the Tsar, who was returning from a pilgrimage, and demanded that the head of the Zemsky Prikaz, Leonty Pleshcheev, be replaced. Pleshcheev's servants tried to disperse the crowd, which only provoked even greater anger. On June 2, pogroms of boyar estates began in Moscow. The clerk Nazariy Chistoy, whom Muscovites considered the mastermind of the salt tax, was killed. The rebels demanded that the tsar's closest associate, boyar Morozov, who actually led the entire state apparatus, and the head of the Pushkarsky order, boyar Trakhaniotov, be handed over for execution. Not having the strength to suppress the uprising, in which, along with the townspeople, the "regular" servicemen took part, the tsar gave in, ordering the extradition of Pleshcheev and Trakhaniotov, who were immediately killed. Morozov, his tutor and brother-in-law (the tsar and Morozov were married to sisters) were “begged” by Alexey Mikhailovich from the rebels and sent into exile to the Kirillo-Belozersky Monastery.

The government announced an end to the collection of arrears, convened a Zemsky Sobor, at which the most important demands of the townspeople for a ban on moving to the “white settlements” and of the nobles for the introduction of an indefinite search for fugitives were satisfied (for more details, see topic 24). Thus, the government satisfied all the demands of the rebels, which indicates the comparative weakness of the state apparatus (primarily repressive) at that time.

2. Uprisings in other cities

Following the Salt Riot, urban uprisings swept through other cities: Ustyug Veliky, Kursk, Kozlov, Pskov, Novgorod.

The most powerful uprisings were in Pskov and Novgorod, caused by the rise in price of bread due to its supplies to Sweden. The urban poor, threatened by famine, expelled the governors, destroyed the courts of wealthy merchants and seized power. In the summer of 1650, both uprisings were suppressed by government troops, although they managed to enter Pskov only due to discord among the rebels.

3. "Copper Riot"

In 1662, there was again a major uprising in Moscow, which went down in history as the “Copper Riot.” It was caused by the government's attempt to replenish the treasury, devastated by the long and difficult war with Poland (1654-1667) and Sweden (1656-58). In order to compensate for the enormous costs, the government issued copper money into circulation, making it equal in price to silver. At the same time, taxes were collected in silver coins, and goods were ordered to be sold in copper money. The salaries of servicemen were also paid in copper. Copper money was not trusted, especially since it was often counterfeited. Not wanting to trade with copper money, peasants stopped bringing food to Moscow, which caused prices to soar. Copper money depreciated: if in 1661 two copper rubles were given for a silver ruble, then in 1662 - 8.

On July 25, 1662, a riot followed. Some of the townspeople rushed to destroy the boyars' estates, while others moved to the village of Kolomenskoye near Moscow, where the tsar was staying those days. Alexey Mikhailovich promised the rebels to come to Moscow and sort things out. The crowd seemed to calm down. But in the meantime, new groups of rebels appeared in Kolomenskoye - those who had previously broken up the courtyards of the boyars in the capital. The tsar was demanded to hand over the boyars most hated by the people and threatened that if the tsar “does not give them back those boyars”, then they “will begin to take it themselves, according to their custom.”

However, during the negotiations, archers called by the tsar had already arrived in Kolomenskoye, who attacked the unarmed crowd and drove them to the river. Over 100 people drowned, many were hacked to death or captured, and the rest fled. By order of the tsar, 150 rebels were hanged, the rest were beaten with a whip and branded with iron.

Unlike the “salt”, the “copper” revolt was brutally suppressed, since the government managed to keep the archers on its side and use them against the townspeople.

Copper Riot occurred in Moscow on July 25, 1662. The reason was the following circumstance. Russia waged a protracted war with the Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth for the annexation of Ukraine. Any war requires huge funds to maintain an army. The state was sorely short of money, then it was decided to introduce copper money into circulation.

This happened in 1655. From a pound of copper, worth 12 kopecks, coins worth 10 rubles were minted. A lot of copper money was immediately thrown into use, which led to the population’s distrust of it and inflation. It is worth noting that taxes to the state treasury were collected in silver money and paid in copper. Copper money was also easy to counterfeit.

By 1662 market price copper money fell as much as 15 times, the cost of goods increased greatly. The situation worsened every day. The peasants did not transport their products to the cities because they did not want to receive worthless copper for them. Poverty and hunger began to flourish in the cities.

The Copper Riot was prepared in advance; proclamations appeared throughout Moscow, in which many boyars and merchants were accused of conspiring with the Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth, ruining the country and betrayal. The proclamation also contained demands to reduce taxes on salt and abolish copper money. It is significant that the discontent of the people was caused by almost the same people as during the .

The crowd split into two parts. One, in the amount of 5 thousand people, moved to the tsar in Kolomenskoye, the second smashed the courts of the hated nobles. The rioters caught Alexei Mikhailovich at a prayer service. The boyars went to talk to the people, but they were unable to calm the crowds. Alexei Mikhailovich himself had to go. People beat their foreheads in front of the king, demanding to change the current situation. Realizing that the crowd could not be calmed, Alexei Mikhailovich spoke “quietly,” and persuaded the rioters to be patient. People grabbed the king by the dress and said, “What to believe?” The king even had to shake hands with one of the rebels. Only after this did the people begin to disperse.

The people were leaving Kolomenskoye, but on the way they met the second part of the crowd, which was going to where the first was leaving. The united, dissatisfied crowd of 10 thousand people turned back to Kolomenskoye. The rebels behaved even more boldly and decisively, demanding the boyars be killed. Meanwhile, the Streltsy regiments loyal to Alexei Mikhailovich arrived at Kolomensky and dispersed the crowd. About 7 thousand people were subjected to repression. Some were beaten, some were sent into exile, and some were branded with the letter “B” - rebel.

Only people from the lower strata of society - butchers, artisans, peasants - took part in the copper riot. The result of the copper riot was the gradual abolition of the copper coin. In 1663, the copper yards in Novgorod and Pskov were closed, and the printing of silver money resumed. Copper money was completely withdrawn from circulation and melted down into other necessary items.

Before Moscow had time to forget the consequences of the salt riot, new riot, copper, this time more massive and bloody. The reasons for the Copper Riot began to take shape back in October 1653, when Tsar Alexei Romanov accepted Ukraine into Russia, which led the country to a new protracted war with Poland. Starting in 1653, this war lasted until 1667. At the same time, in 1656-1658, Russia also had to fight with Sweden.

Prerequisites for the riot

Wars depleted the country's treasury, and the tsar and his officials looked for new opportunities to replenish the treasury. Officials saw one of the ways to replenish the royal treasury in minting new money. In 1654 it was additionally minted silver coins for 1 million rubles. At the same time, copper money was also introduced into circulation. In total, 4 million rubles were minted. These actions, or rather the consequences of these actions, created the main reasons for the copper riot in Moscow. New money in their mind huge amount began to fall sharply in price. If in 1660 1 silver coin cost 1.5 copper coins, then already in 1661 4 copper coins were given for 1 silver coin, in 1662 already 8 copper coins, and in 1663 up to 15 copper coins. Petty officials who were paid in new money, army people, as well as merchants refused to accept such coins for payments. As a result, prices for almost all goods increased several times. In addition, cases are often mentioned when money was very easily counterfeited not only by counterfeiters, but also by tsarist officials. As contemporaries claim, the initiator of the introduction of such money was the boyar I.D. Miloslavsky, who was also the head of the government. The reasons for the copper riot that hung over Russia seemed to overlap each other like a lump.

The beginning of popular discontent

The Copper Riot began on July 25, 1662 at 6 a.m. At this time, a gathering of people dissatisfied with the tsarist officials took place on Sretenka. Kuzma Nagaev spoke to the people, calling on people to rise up in rebellion and oppose the tyranny of the boyars and officials. After this, the crowd went to Red Square. Literally within an hour, the uprising swept the entire city. People who considered the reasons for the Copper Riot to be just, actively opposed the tsar's policies. In addition, some rifle regiments went over to the side of the rebels.

From Red Square people went to the village of Kolomenskoye, where the tsar was. In total, about 4-5 thousand people moved to the village. The rebels approached Kolomenskoye village at 9 o'clock in the morning. The king and his retinue were taken by surprise. The tsarist troops did not offer serious resistance to the rebels, despite the fact that they numbered almost 1 thousand people. People, having made their way to the tsar, demanded the extradition of individual boyars and their execution. The king had to personally enter into negotiations with the people. The Tsar managed to convince the rebels that the boyars they disliked would be removed from the government and would be prohibited from visiting Moscow. People, believing the tsar, went back to Moscow.

Completion

At the same time, a new wave of rebels set off from Moscow to Kolomenskoye. Both groups of rebels met at 11 o'clock in the morning and together again went to the king. This time their number was 9-10 thousand people. They again entered into negotiations with the tsar, demanding the extradition of the boyars they disliked. Tsar Alexei Romanov delayed the negotiations in every possible way. The king did this so that on his orders they would have time to transfer the active army to the village. In total, about 10 thousand archers arrived at Kolomenskoye. At the king's command, they entered into battle against the unarmed rebels. A bloody battle began. In total, about 1 thousand rebels were killed. About 2 thousand people were injured and arrested. The Tsar harshly punished the rebels and at the initial stage did nothing to soften the anger of the people. It was only by mid-1663 that copper money, hated by people, was abolished.

These were the reasons for the copper riot in Moscow and its consequences.

Copper Riot of 1662

Copper Riot of 1662

Ernest Lissner, 1938

When it happened:

In 1662 in Moscow.

Causes:

Currency reform. Issue of copper money instead of silver (there was not enough silver) from 1654. At first they were equal, but later taxes began to be collected in silver coins. Trade also switched to them. Copper money depreciated, although salaries were paid in copper money, taxes were collected in silver.

Rising food prices.

Increase in various levies from the population.

The growth of bribery, outrages and impunity of the boyars.

The deterioration of the country's economic life due to the wars with Sweden and Poland.

Driving forces:

The capital's lower classes: artisans, pastry makers, butchers, peasants from neighboring villages.

Progress of the uprising:

Results:

Brutal reprisals against the rebels.

The minting of copper money in Pskov and Novgorod was cancelled, and the minting of silver coins resumed. Soon copper money was completely withdrawn from circulation.

Salaries for serving people were again paid in silver coins.