“And the Sharpalniks (Robbers) Came from Pskov”: to the Problem of Relationship between Pskovites and Novgorodians during the Time of Troubles
The author of the article explores the relationship between Pskovites and Novgorodians during the Time of Troubles. Thanks to the rich acts data, survived and kept in the National Archives of Sweden and in St. Petersburg Institute of History of RAS, it becomes possible to trace the relationship and find out that Novgorod and Pskov, despite their proximity, during the Time of Troubles were seen by the authorities of both territories as unfriendly and detached from each other. However, this did not prevent the ordinary population from continuation of contacts in trade or joint activity of an illegal nature. Accordingly, such a relationship was considered criminal and was punishable. In this connection, Novgorodians often resorted to the tactics of “whitewashing” themselves, shifting the blame to neighboring Pskovites, who were presented as criminals and robbers (sharpalniks), guilty of most of the robberies in the Novgorod region and its borderlands.