Legislative regulation by the Russian state of the status of the privileged and dependent layers of Kalmyk society in the XVII - XIX centuries

In historical science, there remain contentious issues regarding the interconnection between privileged and dependent layers among nomads in the context of exploitation forms and the impact of Russian state policies on integrating nomads into the broader Russian space, and more broadly, the essence of the social model of nomadic societies. This article examines the legislative aspect of regulating the status of privileged (noyons, zaisangs) and dependent (commoners) layers of the population using the example of Kalmyk society of 17 - 19 centuries. It analyzes the historiography of the issue, presents normative acts of the Russian state of 17 - 19 centuries, and materials from the “AstrakhanskiyListok” newspaper of the late 19th century. The author concludes that from the early 18th century, the Russian government provided material and military political support to Kalmyk owners (noyons). Initially, Russian authorities, lacking a broad understanding of Kalmyk society, relied on local customs and traditions, using the power of privileged layers among the Kalmyks to control the population of the Kalmyk settlements. The power of owners was based not on ownership of land and livestock of subordinates but on personal feudal dependence of the population. Russian authorities, reforming it, integrated it into the legal field of the Empire. Simultaneously, government authorities effectively legalized serfdom among the Kalmyks, although this conclusion requires special research. Since de jure and de facto feudal dependence already existed in Kalmyk society with its patriarchal clan traditions. However, by the first quarter of the 19th century, Russian acts abolished the right of privileged layers to sell, mortgage, or gift subordinate Kalmyk commoners, leaving only economic dependence in the form of taxes. By the end of the 19th century, this dependence was also abolished. The integration of the ruling layers of Kalmyk society and the legalization of their control over subordinate populations were one of the ways to consolidate Russian influence. A second method involved direct management through government officials.