What did a kisser do in Rus'? Tselovalnik - a mysterious profession of ancient Rus'

Tselovalnik is one of the most mysterious ancient professions in Rus'. Indeed, for ordinary person, who did not delve into the history of the country and word formations in the Russian language of past centuries, the term “tselovalnik” is associated with something lyrically-lovely. Although this is not true...

In Rus', the profession called “tselovalnik” had two meanings, almost diametrically opposed to each other.

Forerunner of the Bailiff

The profession of a kisser first appeared in the 15th century as a rather serious, harsh and even formidable field of activity. And the fact that she has become “forgotten” is also not entirely true. She simply transformed. It is from the first ancient meaning The positions of a kisser have become such “unchildish” modern crafts as, say, a bailiff or a tax inspector, and in the West, a tax policeman.

So, from the 15th century until the beginning of the 19th century, the tselovalnik was a civil servant who was responsible for collecting financial taxes and implementing court decisions. The kissers also carried out general police supervision over the areas or settlements entrusted to them.

Moreover, this position was elective. People from the zemstvo or black-growing peasants were elected to it. At the appointment ceremony for this important post, they swore an oath to “serve faithfully and honestly” and at the same time kissed the cross to confirm their words. This is where the name “kisser” comes from.

Chronicles report that the first mention of this name is found in the judicial charter, Code of Laws of 1497. Then - in Novgorod charters Vasily III. A record dated 1508 states that to ensure a fair trial, kissers were required to participate in the trial. That is, in essence, they combined the functions of lay judges, jurors and bailiffs responsible for the accurate execution of court decisions and sentences.

By the way, what would you think modern man, if you heard such a job title - lip kisser? This position appeared in the 16th century and meant only that the kisser helped the governor to catch thieves and robbers. Such trials in those days usually ended in hard labor or the chopping block. Hence the term “labial”, which comes from the word “to ruin”.

Before the accession of Ivan the Terrible, kissers were free hunters. They were elected “by the whole world,” and performed their functions independently, subordinate to no one and not counting on anyone’s help.

Drinking business

Kissers became government officials after the Time of Troubles, that is, around the middle of the 17th century. Their functions also changed - the activities of the kissers were mainly focused on collecting taxes, taxes and arrears. As officials, they were subordinate to zemstvo bosses, but they were responsible for the quality of their work independently. The authorities demanded from the kissers that the amount of tax collections, customs duties and the arrears in each subsequent period were at least no less than in the previous one. If the tselovalnik did not fulfill this requirement and supplied the state with less money than the last time, then he would be subject to justice - that is, the tselovalnik would bear the amount of the arrears as a personal debt. And he himself had to return the missing money - in any way. To force the kisser to do this, they beat him with batogs. If this did not help, the kisser was given into slavery, where he worked for free until he worked off the debt that arose.

Therefore, at that time the position of kisser was not very popular. On the one hand, it was possible to make money in this position by collecting more taxes than required. The legal part was given to the authorities, the kisser officially took the rest for himself and could live comfortably. On the other hand, it was possible to end up in slavery.

The profession of a kisser in the first, ancient Russian, harsh understanding of this word disappeared by early XIX century, when Russian state Professional authorities were formed for the collection of taxes, customs duties and the execution of court decisions. All these functions were transferred to the relevant departments.

But the term has been preserved. From this time on, the owners of taverns and taverns began to be called kissers. The fact is that in Russia in the 19th century there was a state monopoly on the production and trade of alcohol that was strictly controlled. This means that a person who decided to open a tavern had to obtain, as they now say, a license from the state. At the same time, he swore not to dilute the vodka in his establishment and to confirm his words... he also kissed the cross.

By the way, the term survived until Soviet times. The last mention of kissers is found in the list of occupational diseases approved by the All-Russian Central Council of Trade Unions in 1924.

I repeat: the term itself has disappeared, but it is with kissers in Russia that many begin government agencies- bailiffs, customs and tax authorities. Although I can assume that they themselves do not know about it.

Kisser

Kissers- officials of Muscovite Rus', elected by the zemshchina in counties and towns to perform judicial, financial and police duties. The chosen person swore to honestly fulfill his duties and, in confirmation of the oath, kissed the cross, which is where the name comes from.

In the history of the development of this institution, two periods can be distinguished: before the 17th century, when kissers performed their functions independently, and after the 17th century, when they acted under the command of a governor or clerks in general. Tselovalniki were first mentioned in the Code of Laws of 1497, and then in the statutory Novgorod charters of Vasily III. Under 1508, the chronicler reports that in order to avoid falsehood at trial Grand Duke ordered the tiuns to judge with the kissers, 4 for each month. In the first half of the 16th century, before Grozny came of age, cities and districts almost everywhere received the right to choose their favorite people, including kissers, for provincial affairs, and from 1555 zemstvo self-government was introduced in many places; The activity of the kissers is expanding, and they receive help from their voters for carrying out their duties, for example, in the estate of Vladimir Andreevich, in the Vyshkovsky camp, half a ruble per plow. At this time, tselovalniks act independently or help zemstvo, gubny and other elders in court, in the capture of thieves, robbers, in collecting taxes, trade and customs duties, hand over these fees from the superintendent to farming, etc.

see also

• Corral books

Sources

• Lappo-Danilevsky, "Organization of direct taxation"
• Miliukov, “Controversial issues in the financial history of the Moscow State”
• Chicherin, "Regional institutions in the 17th century"
• Gradovsky, "History of local government in Russia"
• Sergeevich, “Russian legal antiquities”
• GARF, f. 1911, op.1, d.391, l.79

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See what “kisser” is in other dictionaries:

KISSER, executive in the 15th - 18th centuries. He was responsible for the regular receipt of cash income, participated in judicial and police supervision of the population. Elected from the townspeople or black-growing peasants, upon taking office, the kisser gave... ...Russian history

Seller, innkeeper Dictionary of Russian synonyms. kisser noun, number of synonyms: 3 innkeeper (4) ... Synonym dictionary

In the Russian state of the 15th-18th centuries. an official elected from the townspeople or black-growing peasants to perform various financial or judicial duties; also participated in police surveillance of the population. Taking office... Legal dictionary

Official in the Russian state 15-18 centuries. Elected from the townspeople or black-growing peasants to perform various financial or judicial duties. He swore to fulfill them honestly (kissed the cross). Later they were called kissers... ... Big Encyclopedic Dictionary

KISSER, kisser, husband. (source). 1. Seller of wine in drinking houses and taverns. “Father will receive his salary first at the tavern, congratulate the kisser on the upcoming first day.” Saltykov Shchedrin. “There was a sheepskin coat, but let’s be honest? planned the evening... Dictionary Ushakova

KISSER, huh, husband. 1. In Russia 1518 centuries: an official involved in the collection of taxes and certain judicial and police matters. 2. Seller in a drinking establishment, tavern (obsolete). | adj. kisser, ya, ye. Ozhegov's explanatory dictionary. S.I.... ... Ozhegov's Explanatory Dictionary

Official in the Russian state 15-18 centuries. Elected from the townspeople or black-growing peasants to perform various financial or judicial duties. Upon taking office, he swore an oath (he kissed the cross, hence the name). Along with… … Political science. Dictionary.

Kisser- in Russia at the end of the 15th - 18th century. elective position. Ts. was first mentioned in the Code of Laws of 1497 as a person who participated in the court of governors and volosts. The name comes from the ceremony of taking the oath and kissing the cross. Zemsky and... Encyclopedia of Law

- (foreign) wine seller; own juror, collector (juror who kissed the cross) Wed. The neighboring tavern was doing great business. The kisser received the poor guests with feeling. I.F. Gorbunov. From Moscow outback. 2. Wed. We stood there in the morning, tired, tea, yes... ... Michelson's Large Explanatory and Phraseological Dictionary

A; m. 1. In Russia 15-18 centuries: an elected official who collected taxes and performed a number of judicial and police duties (when taking office, he took an oath by kissing the cross). 2. East. Wine seller in a drinking establishment, tavern... encyclopedic Dictionary

Books

• Good life, Nikolai Vasilievich Uspensky. “A kisser with a trimmed beard, dressed in a blue cloth jacket, with his left hand resting on his knee, was sitting at the table opposite his friend, a short tradesman, who... eBook

In the section on the question What did the kisser do? given by the author Dushechka X the best answer is position in Russia at the end of the 15th-18th centuries. Upon taking office, Ts. swore an oath (kissed the cross, hence the name “Ts.”). Along with the floor guards and elders, the Ts., being their assistants, were responsible to the central and local administration for the regular receipt of cash income and participated in judicial and police supervision of the population. It was first mentioned in the Code of Laws of 1497. After the liquidation of internal customs (1754), only tavern wine shops were preserved. According to tradition, sellers in state-owned wine shops in the 2nd half of the 19th - early 20th centuries. continued to call Ts.
Source: Great Soviet Encyclopedia

Answer from 2 answers[guru]

Hello! Here is a selection of topics with answers to your question: What did the kisser do?

Answer from Dswf sdfsdfkjghg[newbie]
kissing and sex

Answer from Mashenka.[guru]
Tselovalniks were persons of non-noble origin who were engaged in collecting various duties.

Answer from Evil Lelik[guru]
In pre-Petrine Rus', any financially responsible civil servant was called a kisser. The word comes from the fact that the person hired swore to be honest and on this KISSED THE CROSS.

Answer from Jamara[guru]
How divided opinions are!..

Answer from Victor Zelenkin[guru]
He maintained a drinking establishment, having the appropriate license from His Imperial Majesty. Try to find the etymology (origin) of the term itself at the link

Answer from Larisa Mirzayan[guru]
Kisser,
position in Russia at the end of the 15th-18th centuries. Taking office, Kisser. took an oath (kissed the cross, hence the name “Kisser.”). Along with the polovs and elders, Tselovalnik, being their assistants, were responsible to the central and local administration for the regular flow of cash income and participated in judicial and police supervision of the population. It was first mentioned in the Code of Laws of 1497. After the liquidation of internal customs (1754), only the tavern Tselovalniki remained. According to tradition, sellers in state-owned wine shops in the 2nd half of the 19th - early 20th centuries. continued to be called Kissers.

Answer from 20090114 [guru]
Collection of taxes. Later - this was the name of the tavern owner

Answer from Olenka[guru]
Tselovalnik - in the Russian state of the XV-XVIII centuries. an official elected from the townspeople or black-growing peasants to perform various financial or judicial duties; also participated in police surveillance of the population. Upon taking office, Ts. swore an oath (he kissed the cross, hence the name). ;

In counties and towns to perform judicial, financial and police duties. The chosen person swore to honestly fulfill his duties and, in confirmation of the oath, kissed the cross, hence the name.

Story

In the history of the development of this institution, two periods can be distinguished: before the 17th century, when the kissers performed their functions independently, and after the 17th century, when they acted under the command of a governor or clerks in general.

Until the 17th century

Tselovalniki were first mentioned in the Code of Laws of 1497, and then in the statutory Novgorod charters of Vasily III. In 1508, the chronicler reports that in order to avoid falsehoods at the trial, the Grand Duke ordered the tiuns to be tried with kissers, 4 for each month. In the first half of the 16th century, before Grozny came of age, cities and districts almost everywhere received the right to choose their favorite people, including kissers, for lip service, and from 1555 zemstvo self-government was introduced in many places; The activity of the kissers is expanding, and they receive help from their voters for carrying out their duties, for example, in the estate of Vladimir Andreevich, in the Vyshkovsky camp, half a ruble per plow. At this time, tselovalniks act independently or help zemstvo, gubny and other elders in court, in the capture of thieves, robbers, in collecting taxes, trade and customs duties, hand over these fees from the nadda to