- Poliudie
The "poliudie" ( _ru. полюдье) was the process of gathering
tribute by the rulers ofKievan Rus' fromvassal East Slavic tribes.The "poliudie" was described in "
De Administrando Imperio " by the Byzantine emperorConstantine Porphyrogenitus . [Martin (1995), p. 12] In winter, the ruler ofKiev went out on rounds, visitingDregovichs ,Krivichs ,Drevlians ,Severians , and other subordinated tribes. Some paid tribute in money, some in furs or other commodities, and some in slaves. In April, the prince returned to Kiev. [Jones (2001), p. 256]The
Primary Chronicle suggestsOlga of Kiev changed the method of gathering tribute. The chronicle reports that Olga's husband, Igor, was killed by the Drevlians angered at his attempt to collect more tribute than it had been agreed. After his death, Olga appointed her own officials to gather and deliver tribute, at least in some of the areas of her domain, preferring not to rely on local chiefs and the system of "poliudie". [Martin (1995), pp. 12–13]Valentin Yanin suggests that Olga's reform was the first germ of the Rus' law, later codified as theRusskaya Pravda .Notes
References
*Jones, Gwyn (2001). "A History of the Vikings". Oxford University Press. ISBN 0-19-280134-1
*Martin, Janet (1995). "Medieval Russia, 980-1584". Cambridge University Press. ISBN 0-521-36832-4
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