Residents of provincial regions in divorce proceedings with adulterous husbands in the second half of the 19th - early 20th centuries

The aim of the study was to study the peculiarities of the divorce process of women with adulterers both in the central dioceses and on the periphery in the second half of the 19th - early 20th centuries. The results of the study of the issue as a result of the analysis of cases of divorce by the Tver, Yaroslavl and Tobolsk spiritual consistories are presented. Particular attention is paid to the forms of male adultery that existed at that time and the dependence of the probability of ending the case in divorce on their severity. It was found that it was easiest to obtain permission for a divorce if there were witnesses who had the opportunity to confirm the husband's family relationship with another woman, and moreover, the birth of an illegitimate child with them. The article presents the stages of the divorce process due to male adultery, the main categories of terms for solving such cases. The hypothesis was confirmed that it was more difficult for peasant women than for representatives of other classes to get a divorce from a traitor husband, this was hampered by both low literacy and ignorance of the laws, and fear of consequences from her husband, and over time their literacy increased, and patriarchal views remained in early 20th century Of the cases examined, only in those related to peasant divorces did the spouses agree to reconcile, peasant cases almost never ended in divorce. Differences in motives are also interesting: for peasant women, the primary desire, even a necessity, was to enter into a new marriage in order to find a master, breadwinner and assistant in the house, for other estates, divorce was the motive, since treason was considered an “insult”.