How did the copper riot end? Copper riot: causes, events, consequences

The history of Russia is like a roller coaster - almost always periods of calm and prosperity were followed by wars, uprisings, riots. Tsar Alexei Mikhailovich, the second ruler of the family, went down in history under the nickname The Quietest - it would seem that this name should characterize the ruler as a supporter of peace and prosperity, but in fact everything was exactly the opposite.

The 17th century became a century of continuous wars, riots, and citizen discontent. The reason is simple and banal - lack of money to fight wars. How can a sovereign increase the treasury? Absolutely right, by raising taxes. From whom? From the common people. Where did he get the extra penny? Nobody cares about this anymore. Food prices rose and taxes rose. Naturally, people didn't like it.

At first they simply went to complain to the king. At the beginning of his reign, Alexei Mikhailovich was extremely popular among the residents of Moscow. However, over time, slight disappointment in the ruler set in. He had already witnessed the discontent of the poor in 1648, when the price of salt (a rare commodity in those days) increased several times, which resulted in the Salt Riot. It would seem that the king should have learned his lesson the first time, but it didn’t work out. It took a few more extra lessons. One of which is a copper riot.

Causes and prerequisites of the uprising

Russia approached the second half of the 17th century, being entirely occupied in wars. At that time, our state had several strong rivals, among which were Sweden and the Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth (a state located on the territory of modern Belarus, Poland, Ukraine and Lithuania). But not all of Ukraine was part of the Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth - I would like to add more. And Moscow could not stay away. The war became protracted - Alexey Mikhailovich did not count on such a long period of fighting. The treasury was soon empty, new resources were needed.

Let us note that Russia did not have its own deposits of precious metals that could be used for minting - all such goods were brought from abroad, mainly from Europe. Therefore, foreign currency that ended up on Russian soil was melted down and our ruble was minted. And one politician (as we would put it now), Afanasy Ordin-Nashchokin, came up with a wonderful (from his point of view) idea - to mint copper coins at the denominations and prices of silver ones.

Salaries were paid in new money, but taxes were collected in silver - after all, foreign trade took place only in silver coins. At first, the copper coin was very popular among citizens, but this did not last long. Soon copper depreciated so much that there was too much money to buy anything with it. The demand for silver grew faster and faster, and copper money lost its value. Of course, this unstable financial situation has led to a surge in counterfeiting.

But that was not all. Inflation has begun. Slowly at first, then the pace began to increase. The state refused to sweeten the pill - taxes were still collected in silver, the price of which had skyrocketed - 170 rubles in copper for 6 rubles in silver. It was impossible to buy anything with copper coins, and there was nowhere to get silver. Trouble, as they say, does not come alone - other disasters followed the unpopular monetary reform: a devastating cholera epidemic in 1654 and 1655 and catastrophic crop failures for 3 years - from 1656 to 1658. Moreover, the war was not enough - a military campaign began against Sweden for access to the Baltic Sea. Again, it ended in failure, which further undermined the confidence of citizens in the government and the tsar.

The state refused to admit that it had made a mistake in the economic scheme. It was necessary to find the guilty - and they did. Counterfeiters became easy prey for the rulers, who decided to organize “demonstration performances” for the people. Many were caught and executed. But the people could no longer be stopped - they needed even the slightest reason to start an uprising.

Riot

On July 25, 1662, leaflets with the names of the boyars - Miloslavsky, Rtishchev, Shorin - were discovered in Lubyanka. They were openly accused of spying for the Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth (although there was no evidence). This circumstance became the trigger that gave the people the opportunity to pour out their anger on the streets.

A huge crowd of several thousand people went to Kolomenskoye, the summer residence of the Tsar. At that time, the very sources of the people’s misfortunes were there - Miloslavsky and the boyar Shorin, whom the king ordered to go to his wife’s chambers and stay there. Alexey Mikhailovich himself went out onto the porch to his subjects. The conversation took place in a fairly peaceful atmosphere - the ruler promised to restore order and punish the perpetrators. People began to disperse. It would seem that's it. The conflict is over. But no. Everything was just beginning.

At the same time, other rebels broke into Shorin’s house, completely destroyed it, then his son (a little boy), under pressure from the rebels, signed a confession that his father was a traitor and served Poland. Together with this document they moved to Kolomenskoye. On the way they met those who were already returning. One crowd grabbed another and dragged them to the royal gates. Here the king could no longer stand it, lost his temper and gave the order for the physical elimination of the rebels.

It was a massacre! About a thousand people lost their lives in the most terrible tortures - they were stabbed, drowned, chopped. We especially note that the crowd itself was unarmed - that is, the soldiers acted, to put it mildly, dishonestly. But over the next few days, riot participants were caught all over Moscow, trying to identify the organizers and those who wrote (or rather, forced their son to write) the leaflet. Participants were tortured, executed, exiled, but the leaders were never found.

results

What did this uprising decide? The tsar remembered his promise and carried out a monetary reform, according to which copper money was completely withdrawn from circulation and minting factories were closed. Silver was back in use. For these measures, it was necessary to increase taxes and increase the export of key goods - fur, leather, white ash (or potash). All this was sold using copper money in order to completely remove them from circulation. Russia finally returned to silver only in 1663. But this required considerable sacrifices among the common people - peasants, artisans and other urban lower classes.

Copper Riot- a historical event that took place in Moscow on July 25 (August 4) in 1662, where a fairly large uprising of the urban lower classes took place due to copper coins not backed by precious metal.

Reasons for the start of the riot

In the Moscow state in the 17th century, precious metals were imported into the country from abroad, since then there were no silver and gold mines of its own. Therefore, at the Money Yard, Russian coins were minted from foreign coins, which means that more money was spent on this than on making new coins from their own metal. Then the following coins were issued: a penny, a denga and a polushka, which was half.

However, the protracted war with the Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth over Ukraine required simply colossal expenses. A way out of this situation was proposed by A. L. Ordin-Nashchokin. He put forward the idea of ​​​​issuing copper money at the price of silver. But at the same time, taxes from the population were collected in silver, but salaries were paid in copper coins.

Of course, at first the copper coin circulated at the same value as the silver one, but this could not last long, and after a short period of time, when the issue of unsecured copper money began to grow, it became much more expensive than copper coins. For example, in Novgorod and Pskov, for 6 rubles in silver they gave as much as 170 rubles in copper, which is 28.3 times more. And with the release of the royal decree, goods still rose sharply in price, which, naturally, did not please the people.

This financial situation in the country led to the growth and flourishing of counterfeiting, which also did not add joy not only to ordinary people, but also to the government.

Progress of the riot

The common people were already at the limit of their patience, and when sheets were found in the Lubyanka on which accusations were written against Prince I. D. Miloslavsky and several current members of the Boyar Duma, as well as a fairly wealthy guest Vasily Shorin, who were accused of secret relations with the Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth . Although this did not have any evidence, even such a reason was enough for the people to completely lose their temper.

Therefore, several thousand people went to a country palace in the village of Kolomenskoye, where Alexey Mikhailovich was at that time.

This appearance of the people took the king by surprise and he had to go out to the people. From them he received a petition, which spoke of reducing prices for goods and punishment for those responsible. Under such pressure, Alexey Mikhailovich promised to sort everything out and the crowd, taking his word for it, turned back.

However, another crowd was coming towards us from Moscow, which was already more militant than the first. Its number was several thousand. It consisted of butchers, small traders, cake makers, etc. Approaching the palace, they surrounded it again. This time they demanded that the traitors be handed over for execution. By this time, archers and soldiers, who were sent by the boyars to help, had already approached Kolomenskoye. The crowd was initially asked to disperse peacefully, but refused. Then the order was given to use force against her. The archers and soldiers drove the unarmed crowd into the river. At the same time, many more were killed and hanged. After these events, several thousand people were arrested and exiled.

It is worth noting that after the Copper Riot, all literate Muscovites were required to provide samples of their handwriting. This was done in order to compare them with the “thieves' sheets”, which served as a signal for such indignation. But using this method, the instigator could not be found.

Results of the copper riot

The main result of the copper revolt was the abolition of cheap copper coins. It happened gradually. The copper yards, which were located in Novgorod and Pskov, were closed in 1663. Silver coins began to be minted again. The copper money itself was removed from general circulation and melted down into other copper products that were needed by the state.

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Reasons for the riot

In the 17th century, the Moscow state did not have its own gold and silver mines, and precious metals were imported from abroad. At the Money Yard, Russian coins were minted from foreign coins: kopecks, money and polushki (half money).

The Case of the Counterfeiters

The financial situation in the country has led to the rise of counterfeiting

Development and course of the rebellion

The common people were outraged by the impunity of the boyars. On July 25 (August 4), 1662, sheets with accusations against Prince I. D. Miloslavsky, several members of the Boyar Duma and a wealthy guest Vasily Shorin were discovered in Lubyanka. They were accused of secret relations with the Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth, which had no basis. But dissatisfied people needed a reason. It is significant that the object of universal hatred became the same people who were accused of abuses during the Salt Riot, and just like fourteen years ago, the crowd attacked and destroyed the house of Shorin’s guest, who was collecting the “fifth of the money” in the entire state. Several thousand people went to Tsar Alexei Mikhailovich, who was in his country palace in the village of Kolomenskoye. The unexpected appearance of the rebels took the king by surprise, and he was forced to go out to the people. He was given a petition demanding a reduction in prices and taxes, and the punishment of those responsible. Under pressure from circumstances, Alexey Mikhailovich gave his word to investigate the matter, after which the calmed mass of people, believing the promises, turned back.

Another crowd of thousands, much more militant, was moving towards us from Moscow. Small traders, butchers, bakers, cake makers, village people again surrounded the palace of Alexei Mikhailovich and this time they did not ask, but demanded that the traitors be handed over to them for execution, threatening “he will not give them the goods of those boyars, and they will learn to take from him themselves , according to his custom." However, archers and soldiers had already appeared in Kolomenskoye, sent by the boyars to the rescue. After refusing to disperse, the order was given to use force. The unarmed crowd was driven into the river, up to a thousand people were killed, hanged, drowned in the Moscow River, several thousand were arrested and exiled after investigation.

G.K. Kotoshikhin describes the bloody finale of the copper riot as follows:

“And the same day, near that village, 150 people were hanged, and the rest were all given a decree, they were tortured and burned, and upon investigation for guilt, they cut off their arms and legs and the fingers of their hands and feet, and beat others with a whip, and laid them on their faces on on the right side are signs that the iron has been lit red, and “beeches” are placed on that iron, that is, a rebel, so that he will be recognized forever; and inflicting punishment on them, they sent everyone to distant cities, to Kazan, and to Astarakhan, and to Terki, and to Siberia, for eternal life... and by another thief, days and nights, a decree was made, tying their hands back and putting them in large ships were sunk in the Moscow River."

The search in connection with the copper riot had no precedents. All literate Muscovites were forced to give samples of their handwriting in order to compare them with the “thieves' sheets”, which served as a signal for indignation. However, the instigators were never found.

results

The Copper Riot was an uprising of the urban lower classes. It was attended by artisans, butchers, pastry makers, and peasants from suburban villages. Of the guests and merchants, “not a single person accosted those thieves; they even helped those thieves, and they received praise from the king.” Despite the merciless suppression of the rebellion, it did not pass without a trace. In 1663, according to the Tsar's decree of the copper industry, the yards in Novgorod and Pskov were closed, and the minting of silver coins was resumed in Moscow. The salaries of service people of all ranks again began to be paid in silver money. Copper money was withdrawn from circulation, private individuals were ordered to melt it down into cauldrons or bring it to the treasury, where for each ruble handed over they paid 10, and later even less - 2 silver money. According to V. O. Klyuchevsky, “The Treasury acted like a real bankrupt, paying creditors 5 kopecks or even 1 kopeck per ruble.”

see also

Notes

Literature

• Buganov V.I. Copper riot. Moscow “rebels” of 1662 // Prometheus. - M.: Young Guard, 1968. - T. 5. - (historical and biographical almanac of the “Life of Remarkable People” series).
• Uprising of 1662 in Moscow: collection. doc. M., 1964.
• Moscow uprisings of 1648, 1662 // Soviet military encyclopedia / ed. N.V. Ogarkova. - M.: Military Publishing House, 1978. - T. 5. - 686 p. - (in 8 t). - 105,000 copies.

Links

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See what “Copper riot” is in other dictionaries:

- (Moscow uprising of 1662), an anti-government uprising of Muscovites on July 25, 1662, caused by the disruption of economic life during the wars of Russia with Poland and Sweden, an increase in taxes, and the release of depreciated copper money. Since 1654... ... encyclopedic Dictionary

The uprising of the urban lower classes that took place in Moscow in 1662 against the issue of copper kopecks, which had been minted since 1655 to replace silver coins. The release of copper money led to its depreciation in comparison with silver. A year after the riot... ... Financial Dictionary

The accepted name in literature for the uprising of the lower and middle strata of Moscow residents, archers, soldiers (July 25, 1662). Caused by an increase in taxes during the Russian-Polish War of 1654 67 and the release of depreciated copper money. Some of the rebels went to the village of Kolome... Modern encyclopedia

The uprising of the urban lower classes that took place in Moscow in 1662 against the release of copper kopecks, which, since 1655, had been minted at Russian money courts to replace silver ones. The release of copper money led to its depreciation in comparison with silver. Through… … Economic dictionary

COPPER RIOT, the name adopted in historical literature for the speech in Moscow on July 25, 1662 by representatives of the lower and middle strata of townspeople, archers, and soldiers. Caused by an increase in taxes during the Russian-Polish War of 1654 67 and the release of depreciated... ... Russian history

"Copper Riot"- “COPPER RIOT”, the accepted name in literature for the uprising of the lower and middle strata of Moscow residents, archers, soldiers (7/25/1662). Caused by an increase in taxes during the Russian-Polish War of 1654 67 and the release of depreciated copper money. Some of the rebels went... Illustrated Encyclopedic Dictionary

- (“Copper Riot”) the name of the Moscow uprising of 1662 (See Moscow uprising of 1662), adopted in Russian noble and bourgeois historiography ... Great Soviet Encyclopedia

The Copper Riot took place 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, the market price of copper money had fallen by as much as 15 times, and the cost of goods had increased significantly. 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.

"Copper Riot". July 25, 1662 there was a powerful, albeit fleeting, uprising - the famous “Copper Riot” . Its participants - the capital's townspeople and part of the streltsy, soldiers, reitar of the Moscow garrison - presented Tsar Alexei Mikhailovich their demands: to abolish copper money, introduced 8 years earlier with the beginning, to reduce high prices for salt and so on, to stop violence and bribery of the “traitor” boyars.

The king and his court were at that time in the village of Kolomenskoye. “Mob,” “people of all ranks,” “men” and soldiers walked and ran along different streets from Moscow towards Kolomenskoye. 4 thousand rebels headed there, including more than 500 soldiers and other military personnel.

The rebels, despite the opposition of the Streltsy guards, "violence" They burst into the royal courtyard and broke down the gates. The tsar, who was in church at mass, sent the boyars to negotiate with the rebels, who demanded that he accept them "sheet"(proclamation) and petition, issued “traitors” - boyars and “Ordered the death penalty.”

Copper riot. 1662. (Ernest Lissner, 1938)

The rebels refused to deal with the boyars. When the king left the church, he was surrounded by indignant rebels, again “they beat them with their foreheads with great ignorance and brought the thieves’ sheet and petition”, “with obscene cries they demanded a reduction in taxes.”

The king spoke to them “quiet custom”. They managed to convince the rebels, and one of the rebels “I shook hands with the king”, after which the crowd calmed down and headed to Moscow.

All the time while some of the rebels were going to the royal residence and staying there, others were destroying the courtyards of hated persons in the capital. They smashed and destroyed the courtyard of the merchant V. Shorin, who collected emergency taxes from the entire state, and the guest of S. Zadorin. Then the pogromists also headed to Kolomenskoye.

Both parties of rebels (one went from Kolomenskoye to Moscow, the other, on the contrary, from Moscow to Kolomenskoye) met somewhere halfway between the capital and the village. Having united, they went again to the king. There were already up to 9 thousand of them. They came to the king's court again “strongly”, i.e., overcoming the resistance of the guards. Negotiated with the boyars “angry and impolite” talked to the king. The boyars again demanded "for murder". Alexey Mikhailovich “made excuses” by the fact that he is supposedly going to Moscow to search.

By this time, troops had already been assembled in Kolomenskoye. They mercilessly suppressed the uprising. At least 2.5 thousand people died or were arrested (the death toll was slightly less than a thousand people). They were caught and killed in the village and its environs, and drowned in the Moscow River.

At the beginning of the next year, copper money was abolished, openly motivating this measure with the desire to prevent a new "bloodshed" — “so that nothing else happens between people about money”, the king ordered them “set aside.”