RUSSIAN AWARDS IN THE OLD DAYS

Historically, science has long believed that the first Russian order had been established in Russia by Peter I, but before anything like this in Russia was not. But by the time you receive this order gratuity system Russia has been quite a long way, as well as news about the issuing of special insignia still kept in Russian chronicles.

Russian and be familiar with the structure, and the knights′ spiritual essence of the West awards, in fact, beginning with the XII century Russian princes repeatedly fought with the Teutonic Knights and Livonian Orders, protecting them from their land.

Known in Russia and the secular knights′ orders, because even the ambassadors of Ivan the Terrible, in their reports in detail told about them. But Russian Ambassador Osip Nepeya in 1557 was even the guest of honor at a ceremony of dedication to the English gentleman of the Order of the Garter.

Most of Tsar Ivan the Terrible on the knights′ orders and awards are very interested. Taking in the Alexander Sloboda chelobite of the boyars, he decided that there will be a separate ( "oprich") from the old state institutions it will be a special court, his boyars, their servants and their streltsy. Such "oprichnyh" Streltsov and can be called a secular knight Order of Ivan the Terrible, while in Russia it was not so called.

Oprichnik stood at the head of the king. "Order oprichnik" had his residence - Oprichny court in Moscow, which was placed above the gates of the emblem - two lions, and among them two-headed eagle. Lions, razinuv mouth, protect the eagle.

Oprichnik medal were peculiar garb - black hat and black caftan (or black, like the monastic ryasu). They were, and their decals - pesi head and broom. A broom attached to quivers, but dog′s head hung a horse′s neck, all together, this meant some kind of medal motto: "ferret out treason and clear out from the State. "

Books of the Old Testament told us to know that some of the kings of the East were awarded their gold approached hryvnya. In Scripture the word "Hryvnia" translated word for necklace, chains, rings and hoops, which were worn on the neck. For example, in "Book of Daniel" (5:16) reads:

"And I heard about you that you can explain the meaning and resolve knots, so, if you can read this writing and tell me its value, it will be vested in scarlet and gold chain around his neck will be yours, and will be the third ruler in the kingdom" ;.

The same chain belonged to the honorable and ancient Romans, and in the Middle Ages they were doing, not only gold but also silver and ivory, sometimes even decorated with precious stones. Length, size and wealth of these necklaces are consistent with the dignity and merit award person. Chain-hryvnia were worn on the neck, but to dress, they did not attached, so easy to fall down or just take the ugly situation. Therefore, by the end of steel chains append something heavy, that the chain can easily lie on the breast of man.

Writes in his "Russian Heraldry researcher A. Lakier," for the state priveska to the heavy chain was indifferent, therefore, to hang a chain or other object dependent on the tastes of individuals. " Of course, the thing should not be excessive in length, and therefore chose the gold and silver, which at the time of its rarity and value to serve as a sign of differences, whose breasts are decorated. Subsequently, when the improved art of chasing, the form of suspension is more refined and elegant. In addition, according to their size and picture on them was easy to recognize that this is a mark of distinction for a certain dignity and well-known achievements.

With the adoption of Christianity as examples of such chains with pendants, and have appeared in Russia. Chains have become the most visible sign of benevolence of princes to their druzhinnikam, and suspended him for the greatest weight and volume when applied to Russia money - hryvnia (oblong pieces of silver by weight and obema1). They faced the stigma of the area in which the hryvnia was otchekaneny.

The first mention of the issuance of a special mark of distinction found in Russian chronicles relating to the 1100. In the story of the raids reflected Polovtsy to Kiev when Prince Vladimir Monomakh mention Alexander Popovych - the future hero of the Russian bylinas Alyosha Popovich. Distinguished themselves in battle, he was awarded by the Prince Vladimir hryvnia gold - solid gold hoop.

Chronicler Nestor only twice referred to the awarding of such a sign: to describe the killing of the young prince of Murom Igor (lad retinue Boris) and the story about the murder of Prince Igor Olgovicha when someone Mikhail (maybe druzhinnik Prince Igor) lost the cross and a gold chain hryvnia , which stripped him rebels. However, perhaps we can assume that this mark of honor awarded often.

By 1469 concerns the first time known to science awarding "gold" for the war differences. In this year hodivshaya at Kazan Ustyuzhskaya Naval army "crossed all barriers and penetrate to Nizhny Novgorod. Her glorious feat was marked: "The prince sent twice to the great gold fever, they are both popular money Ivan, Coy them under Kazan was lost, and ordered to pray to the God of the State and all his host.

Photo — «Russian Awards In
the Old Days»

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This passage shows that receiving awards in the form of "golden hryvnia" becomes a symbolic act, when the price becomes a material for the award much less than the mere receipt of awards. On the same writing, and many foreigners:

"What can not be expected from the immortal armies, which, without fear or cold or hunger, and nothing but the wrath of the king′s, with toloknom and Sukharev, without the baggage and shelter, with the irresistible patient wander in the deserts of the North, and in any way for the glorious cause gives Only a small gold star, happy heroes for portable sleeve or cap? "

The same writing in its historical composition D. Fletcher (his testimony relates to the times the board has Tsar Fyodor Ioannovicha):

"Those who distinguished bravery in front of others or would have any special favor, the king sends a golden image of St. George on horseback, who are on the sleeves or a hat. And that revered the very great honor, which only can be obtained for any service. "

In the reign of Ivan III, when it was folded Moscow State, any award for the feat, done for his benefit, has come only from the sovereign. Because most print and on the external distinction becomes public. At that time, was cast so-called Moskovko - less silver and gold medals, which were used later. Thus, for the Livonia tour Ivan the Terrible, among other awards distributed by other Moskovko of gold and gilded on the other. " On one side was depicted Moskovko double eagle with a unicorn on his chest, but on the other - the emblem of Moscow: rider on the horse and around the inscription, there is a title of the sovereign and his name, as well as the year when the medal was broken.

Moskovko have different weights, but the differences were small in it. The biggest and valuable medal adorned chest chief honored person - Voivod or military leader, while others received lesser medal of dignity, if not just foreign minting gold money (or even Russian gold and gold-plated penny)

In later times the gold chain and hryvnia Russian state complained only the most deserved people. For example, Ivan the Terrible gold chain decorated B. Velskogo in 1551 the king sent the army to hand out a large number of "gold" to Shigaleyu and magistrates at the end of Sviyazhskoy fortress in 1558 AD Vyshnevetskomu and deacons Rzhevskaya for the trip to krymtsev, etc. But the special character was in royal stipend "Polonne patience" returned home in 1552: boyar M. Bulgakov - a gold, a son of boyar Selehovskogo - Deng golden.

A king Fedor Ioannovich for successful trips to the enemy gave Boris Godunov, among other awards and gold hryvnya.

In abundance vodilis in Russia and foreign gold coins. Even in a contract with Prince Oleg ancient Greeks referred valve. There have been walking in on Russia and the Greek solid, which took the form of tribute to the Greeks and gave them to soldiers as a reward for work. The distinguishing feature of these and other foreign coins was that this award was given money and to improve the material well-being sluzhilyh people. Therefore, the money, on the one hand, retain their face value, but on the other - the very grant of individuals honored with gold and the desire to do award higher led to the fact that the money awarded to nashivali caftan or hats.

One of these awards were Korabelnikov. Long believed that the name refers to Russian English rozenoblyam, chasing that began when King Edward III in the XIV century. They were big, beautiful, but quite thin coin weighing up to 7, 5 grams. As Russia is likely to fall prey not present rozenobli because English Parliament banned the export of their country. Perhaps it was the Dutch emulate them with the same images, as in England coins. On one side of the coin depicts a rose, on the other - standing in the boat with her King in lats.

In the XVI century in Russia there were golden Portugal - Portuguese coins that were minted under King Emmanuile (1521-1557), but then they were minted in other European countries. Portugal distributed only to military leaders and magistrates, for example, Ivan the Terrible has awarded a coin Bogdan Belsky of Livonia trip. In NM Karamzin in "History of the Russian state" this is written: "The State Bogdan granted Portuguese gold at the gold chain. "

Sometimes awarding "gold", which became the prototype for future medals and orders, was massive. For example, in 1654 in connection with the reunification of Ukraine to Russia in Bohdan Khmelnytsky′s army sent more than 70,000 different decorations dignity.

In 1687 Princess Sofia awarded "gold" Streltsov and widows of soldiers who died during the Crimean campaign. When it appeared in Russia and a new type of medal coin: on the front of their side was placed a portrait of the Princess Sophia, and on the back - the portraits of Peter and Ivan. When power passed to Peter I, the portraits on medals replaced bicipital eagles. However, the Russian Tsar at the time and kept the tradition of awarding "gold. " Coins transmitted to descendants by inheritance as the ancient shrine and stored for the icons . . .