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Сбор ополчений 1806–1812 годов в контексте социальных отношений (Санкт-Петербургская и Московская губернии)
The subject of this study is the social contradictions in meshchane communes in district capitals at the beginning of the XIX century, revealed when nominating men for military service. The object of the study is the appointment of militiamen during 1806–1807 and 1812, when far more men were requested than during regular recruit levies. The communes of three district centres have been examined: Serpukhov, Novaia Ladoga, Gdov. The practices adopted by families, communes, the town council when nominating men are explored, together with the motivations behind these. The sources are hitherto unseen documents, coming from the council archives (communes’ verdicts, minutes of the town councils, their correspondence with governors). Two central problems have been identified: accusations of dissolute behaviour; and 2) poorly regulated selection among families required to contribute, leading to conflicts between big and small, and rich and poor households. During the first militia, the traditional system of supplying recruits by commune proved insufficient to supply the purposes of mass war. The age of the nominees, their marital status, family size, reasons for being nominated have been examined. A suggestion is made that meshchane were more inclined to nominate older men than peasant communes: the role of nomination as a means of social cleansing seems to have been more important in towns. The reaction of the government to delays and problems revealed during raising militia in 1807 has been studied. Two response measures have been identified: the nomination of dissolutes has been revised in 1808–1809 as a direct reaction to massive abuse recorded during the first militia – and the establishment of the official system of families’ recruit groups under the recruitment manual of 1810. On the example of the militia levy in 1812 and recruit levies in the 1810–s, the article demonstrates that the new rules reduced conflict and delay in communes. During the Patriotic War of 1812 the nomination and dispatch of militiamen went considerably faster than in 1807. It is also suggested that mass recruitment in the early 19th century, together with changes in legislation in 1808–1810, which made the position of small families more secured, could be a factor which encouraged the transition to the nuclear family in towns.