Rumânii și rumânia prin prisma condicii Marii Logofeții (1692–1714)
Serfs and Serfdom through the Lens of the Great Chancellery’s Register (1692–1714)

Summary/Abstract: The study examines the issue of the institution of “rumânie” (the status of serfdom) through the lens of the Great Chancellery’s Register (1692–1714). Although the documents date from the end of the 17th century and the early years of the 18th century, they contain valuable information regarding the realities of the 17th century as a whole. In approaching the issue of serfdom, frequent references are made to Mihai’s Charter, to fiscal policy, and to migration during the rule of Matei Basarab. Although official acts, the documents contained in the Great Chancellery’s Register provide valuable information about the situation of free and enslaved peasants, about them and their families, their efforts, the hardships they faced, and their relations with the boyar class, the ruling power, and the community in the second half of the 17th century and the early 18th century. The analysis of these historical sources demonstrates that, in Wallachia at the end of the 17th century, society was undergoing change. Boyars increasingly distanced themselves from their estates and moved to cities, preferably to the capital city. This proximity to the city did not diminish their desire to increase the number of estates, dependent peasants, and serfs. By the end of the 17th century, boyars accepted the redemption of Romanians, but without granting land—a precursor to reforms in the following century. For serfs, this process meant a continual struggle to obtain and preserve freedom against the lay and ecclesiastical elites, who often sought to annul liberation acts and even subject free inhabitants to abusive servitude. Although serfs appeared to be a homogeneous group, the data in the Great Chancellery’s Register reveal numerous particularities among members of this social category depending on their material status, aspirations, political context, and relations with the local elites.

• Details
• Contents