Articles

“Ancient Custom” and Royal Investiture: Enthronement of Vassal Rulers in Russia in the Seventeenth – Early Twentieth Centuries

Vostok/Oriens '2015, №4

 
The article examines the investiture of vassal monarchs in Russia during the seventeenth – early twentieth centuries. A central government constantly watched after a situation in the adjunct lands and tried to shut out dangerous strengthening of their rulers who had been deprived sovereignty. The figure of vassal ruler was useful to the government as a symbol of tolerance of power to ethnic traditions of people, demonstrative respect to their native vital foundations. A ceremony of enthronization of ruler dependent upon the Russian tsar was an important part of Russian ethnic politics. It was necessary in order to combine suggestion to the subjects of grandeur and power of Russia with demonstration of favour of an emperor to a new protégé. The vassal ruler obtained his power both from “electing” the people and from of tsar’s will that turn the Moscow/Petersburg creature to the champion of politics of the centre, to the instrument of adaptation of the fellow tribesmen to the Russian state system.

Keywords: ethnic politics, empire, khanate, protectorate, vassals, investiture, enthronization

Pages: С. 5–16