The deadlines in Russia at the end of the 16th century were the period for which the owner could sue for the return of his fugitive peasants. This period was not permanent, there are decrees on the establishment of a five-year period, and there are documents on the appointment of 15 years for the legal return of fugitives.
Lesson summers and St. George's Day
Historians claim that the summer lessons were introduced in Russia by order of Fyodor Ioannovich in 1597. This historical event has a rather long and slightly confused background. Some time before the introduction of the lesson years, a system of relations existed in Russia, which was associated with St. George's Day. Every year on November 26, St. George (George) Day was celebrated, at which time final agricultural work was in progress.
The peasants at that time were divided into two groups: those who worked on the land of the landowners, and those who worked on their own plots. At the same time, the former had some duties drawn up in orderly records. If the terms of such an agreement were fulfilled until late autumn, the serf peasant had the opportunity to go to work for another landowner within two weeks before and after St. George's Day.
Until that moment, serfs had practically no opportunity to change the landowner. Before the introduction of school years, the conditions for fulfilling the contract were too difficult, and very few workers were able to fulfill them. Moreover, ancient records indicate that until 1580, none of the peasants had exercised their right to choose another landowner. The first were two serfs from the county of Moscow Russia; they were the only of the 60 peasants who fulfilled the difficult agreement.
Nevertheless, the lack of the opportunity to transfer to another owner before the school years did not prevent the peasants from actively running away from landowners with poor working conditions. In order to prevent the flight of workers and the summer of summer was introduced, at the end of the 16th century the number of fugitives was so great that similar measures were required. Now, on Yuryev’s day, the rights of peasants were limited, while at the same time in some areas of Russia protected areas were introduced and summer lessons were determined.
