Professor Kira Stevens (Colgate University): Everyday law in a Moscow suburb, 1693-1730

Professor Kira Stevens (Colgate University) will give a presentation on ‘Everyday law in a Moscow suburb, 1693-1730’ at this seminar organised by the UCL SSEES Russian Studies Seminar Series.

Abstract
The Preobrazhenskii Prikaz is best known for its investigation and prosecution of political crimes under Peter I.  However, the Preobrazhenskii Prikaz also administered a suburb of Moscow, where the Peter's preferred military units, the Preobrazhenskii and Semenovskii Guards regiments, were billeted. These rarely examined Moscow archives contain the records of approximately 11,000 accusations of what currently would be recognized as felonies and misdemeanors and more, filed by bureaucrats, watchmen, and ordinary residents of the suburb. They offer an unparalleled opportunity to examine the meaning of administrative and legal oversight in the early 18th century. Who were the litigants and what issues were they attempting to resolve? What role did gender and rank play in this venue?  And in what ways did the purpose and functioning of this body change substantially in the imagination of the suburb's residents over the 35 years for which detailed records exist? 

All Welcome! No registration required.