Historedia
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Issuance of the Sudebnik

When
1497
Where
Russian state
Episodes
1

In 1497, Ivan III issued the Sudebnik, a unified legal code that replaced fragmented principalities' charters. It established centralization, introduced peasant mobility fees, and fixed Yuri's Day as a universal transition period.

Episodes

  1. 1497 · Russian statePeasant Mobility Regulations

    The Sudebnik introduced a fee for peasant departure and fixed November 26 as the universal day for changing masters.

Background and detail

Legal Provisions. The Sudebnik introduced a fee for peasants leaving their lords and established November 26 as a universal day for switching masters. It served as a single code for the entire state, superseding local principalities' laws.

Historical Impact. The code played a significant role in centralizing the Russian state and creating all-Russian legislation. It remained in effect until it was replaced by the Sudebnik of 1550 under Ivan IV.

People involved

  • Ivan III · Grand Prince of Moscow and issuer of the Sudebnik

Sources

  1. Sudebnik of 1497 Wikipedia, revision of 2026-06-20
  2. Ivan III of Russia Wikipedia, revision of 2026-07-20

Machine-drafted from the cited Wikipedia passages and checked by a reviewing model, not by a human editor. Every passage cites the revision it was written from; dates and places follow those passages.