SELF-GOVERNMENT IN MEDIEVAL RUSSIAN CITIES OF THE 12th–13th CENTURIES
The article presents and analyzes data on the forms and functioning of self-government in medieval cities. N. F. Kotliar considers the information written sources on assemblies of medieval Kiev, the process of forming a veche assemblies. The management system of «free cities» is characterized. Forms and development of craft associations, merchant corporations are shown. The complex problem of the city law and contracts of the Prince with the city community is touched upon. The author has defined the status of elected heads of city government: posadnik, the tysiatsky, socky. Separately, the article examines the difficult situation in Kiev in 1146–1147, which led to the murder of Igor Olgovich. The mechanisms of manipulation of moods of vechniki are shown. The author shows the dynamics of self-government processes since the 40s of the 12 century: there is an expansion of urban rights. The ways of development and transformation of the studied institutions in the 13 century are outlined.