Welcome to the Russian rulers podcast, a slapshot version. Today's topic,

serfdom in Russia in the 18th and 19th centuries.

One of the things that's really intriguing about Russian history is its people and not just the elite.

One of the sad things also about Russian history is how most of the people, the full 90% of the population of Russia,

were enslaved, they were serfs. These people were tied to the land, tied to masters. They went through horrible times. And to think of the

numbers here, when Peter the Great took over, there were about 11 million people and 90 percent, about 9 million, were serfs.

By the end of the time when Nicholas I came about, it was before Alexander, there were about 60 million people or about

54 million people who were enslaved.

So there were a lot of uprisings.

There was the Ivan Bolotnikov uprising in 1606.

Stankarazin, which we've talked about in the past.

There was Kondrati Bolavin, and of course the famous one,

Yemulien Pugachev, during the time of Catherine the Great.

There are some things that I'd like to read to from the history of these people and some of the rules and instructions that were given from their owners, how they were treated, what they had to do, and to live through.

The first one is Landlord Instructions on the State Administration.

This is from the late 18th century.

And from the instructions of the surf owner, I.I. Schuvelov.

Now concerning the bailiff, the bailiff is a person who took over and controlled basically everything that went around in the estates, you know, the agricultural estates there.

And here, Chuvilalo says, the bailiff must be chosen for his post with the prior

approval of the commune and with my consent. He will be fully entrusted by me to administer the entire estate and to administer justice to the peasants without prejudice or oppression and he must give a good account of himself in all respects before me.

Now others who were in this area were controlling the serfs,

be the deputy, the elder, there were clerks.

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