Veldamas (plural: veldamai) was a form of landownership in the early stages of Lithuanianserfdom. The term describes a peasant family with its land and other belongings granted by the Grand Duke of Lithuania to his loyal followers, usually as a reward for military service.[1] The peasant retained ownership of his property, including land, but owed taxes and levies imposed by the noble.[2]Veldamas was a middle stage between laukininkas (a free peasant) and a serf. The term veldamas is derived from Lithuanian word veldėti, valda and means "to rule something".[3] East Slavic texts of the Grand Duchy loaned the word as велдомы (plural; singular: велдом).[1] The term gradually disappeared after the Volok Reform in 1557, but it was still used in Postilė by Mikalojus Daukša (1599) to denote a subordinate.[3]
Veldamai were different from kaimynai, a class of peasants also under control of the nobles, as kaimynai did not own their land and had to rent it from the nobles.[2]Veldamai had some personal freedoms and rights. Their daughters could marry anyone their families approved upon a payment of kriena, a wedding tribute to the noble. The nobles could not usurp their property, including land, animals, and tools, or transform them into a šeimynykštis, a type of patrimonial slaves.[2] The nobles could not buy or exchange veldamai without official approval from the Grand Duke of his officials. A series of privileges to the nobles restricted veldamai right to move or buy their freedom: they could not leave to estates of other nobles or of the Grand Duke. The nobles were also granted the right to decide court trials involving veldamai as the Grand Duke promised not to interfere.[4] These privileges were the legal basis for serfdom.
Evolutionedit
The practice was initiated by Grand Dukes Jogaila and Skirgaila, but gained popularity under Vytautas the Great in early 15th century.[2] This coincided with growing demand for agricultural products prompted by developing cities in Western Europe. Noblemen–soldiers shifted to noblemen–landlords.[5] Soldiers were no longer satisfied with sharing spoils of war and demanded land ownership, which would provide steady income during years of peace. Vytautas put veldamai system into use when he centralized the state by replacing local princes with loyal governors, owning their fortune to the Grand Duke. Persons awarded veldamaibecame members of the Lithuanian nobility.[2] Some veldamai were also gifted to churches.
Veldamai were put into difficult position as they owed taxes both to the state (sidabrinė – tax in silver and dėkla – tax in grain) and their local noble. A series of privileges by the Grand Dukes (by Sigismund Kęstutaitis in 1434, Casimir IV Jagiellon in 1447, Alexander Jagiellon in 1492, Sigismund I the Old in 1507) released veldamai from their taxes to the state.[6] All the income veldamai produced was owned by the noble, but veldamai retained other duties to the state, like building and repairing roads, bridges, or castles.[2] The first Statute of Lithuania (1529) confirmed the privileges granted to the nobles and discontinued the tradition of creating new veldamai.[2] In 1547 peasants lost the right to buy or sell their land. Eventually, Volok Reform, begun in 1557, established full-scale serfdom in the Grand Duchy.[5] Differences between šeimynykštis, kaimynas, and veldamas disappeared.
Referencesedit
^ abZigmas, Zinkevičius (1995). "Lietuvos Didžiosios Kunigaikštystės kanceliarinės slavų kalbos termino nusakymo problema". In Neporožnia, Nadija (ed.). Lietuva - Ukraina: istorija, politologija, kultūrologija medžiaga (in Lithuanian). Vilnius: Amžius. ISBN5-87534-123-8.
^ abcdefgTarvydienė, Marytė Elena (2007). (in Lithuanian). Lithuanian University of Agriculture. pp. 22–24. Archived from the original (PDF) on 2011-07-22. Retrieved 2008-10-31.
^ abSkardžius, Pranas (March 1973). "Donum Balticum". Aidai (in Lithuanian). 3. ISSN 0002-208X.
^Jakštas, Juozas (1984). "Lithuania to World War I". In Gerutis, Albertas (ed.). Lithuania: 700 Years. Translated by Algirdas Budreckis (6th ed.). New York: Manyland Books. p. 68. ISBN0-87141-028-1. LCCN 75-80057.
^Jonas Zinkus; et al., eds. (1985–1988). "Veldamai". Tarybų Lietuvos enciklopedija (in Lithuanian). Vol. IV. Vilnius, Lithuania: Vyriausioji enciklopedijų redakcija. p. 477.
veldamas, plural, veldamai, form, landownership, early, stages, lithuanian, serfdom, term, describes, peasant, family, with, land, other, belongings, granted, grand, duke, lithuania, loyal, followers, usually, reward, military, service, peasant, retained, owne. Veldamas plural veldamai was a form of landownership in the early stages of Lithuanian serfdom The term describes a peasant family with its land and other belongings granted by the Grand Duke of Lithuania to his loyal followers usually as a reward for military service 1 The peasant retained ownership of his property including land but owed taxes and levies imposed by the noble 2 Veldamas was a middle stage between laukininkas a free peasant and a serf The term veldamas is derived from Lithuanian word veldeti valda and means to rule something 3 East Slavic texts of the Grand Duchy loaned the word as veldomy plural singular veldom 1 The term gradually disappeared after the Volok Reform in 1557 but it was still used in Postile by Mikalojus Dauksa 1599 to denote a subordinate 3 Contents 1 Rights 2 Evolution 3 References 4 Further readingRights editVeldamai were different from kaimynai a class of peasants also under control of the nobles as kaimynai did not own their land and had to rent it from the nobles 2 Veldamai had some personal freedoms and rights Their daughters could marry anyone their families approved upon a payment of kriena a wedding tribute to the noble The nobles could not usurp their property including land animals and tools or transform them into a seimynykstis a type of patrimonial slaves 2 The nobles could not buy or exchange veldamai without official approval from the Grand Duke of his officials A series of privileges to the nobles restricted veldamai right to move or buy their freedom they could not leave to estates of other nobles or of the Grand Duke The nobles were also granted the right to decide court trials involving veldamai as the Grand Duke promised not to interfere 4 These privileges were the legal basis for serfdom Evolution editThe practice was initiated by Grand Dukes Jogaila and Skirgaila but gained popularity under Vytautas the Great in early 15th century 2 This coincided with growing demand for agricultural products prompted by developing cities in Western Europe Noblemen soldiers shifted to noblemen landlords 5 Soldiers were no longer satisfied with sharing spoils of war and demanded land ownership which would provide steady income during years of peace Vytautas put veldamai system into use when he centralized the state by replacing local princes with loyal governors owning their fortune to the Grand Duke Persons awarded veldamai became members of the Lithuanian nobility 2 Some veldamai were also gifted to churches Veldamai were put into difficult position as they owed taxes both to the state sidabrine tax in silver and dekla tax in grain and their local noble A series of privileges by the Grand Dukes by Sigismund Kestutaitis in 1434 Casimir IV Jagiellon in 1447 Alexander Jagiellon in 1492 Sigismund I the Old in 1507 released veldamai from their taxes to the state 6 All the income veldamai produced was owned by the noble but veldamai retained other duties to the state like building and repairing roads bridges or castles 2 The first Statute of Lithuania 1529 confirmed the privileges granted to the nobles and discontinued the tradition of creating new veldamai 2 In 1547 peasants lost the right to buy or sell their land Eventually Volok Reform begun in 1557 established full scale serfdom in the Grand Duchy 5 Differences between seimynykstis kaimynas and veldamas disappeared References edit a b Zigmas Zinkevicius 1995 Lietuvos Didziosios Kunigaikstystes kanceliarines slavu kalbos termino nusakymo problema In Neporoznia Nadija ed Lietuva Ukraina istorija politologija kulturologija medziaga in Lithuanian Vilnius Amzius ISBN 5 87534 123 8 a b c d e f g Tarvydiene Maryte Elena 2007 Zemetvarkos pagrindai in Lithuanian Lithuanian University of Agriculture pp 22 24 Archived from the original PDF on 2011 07 22 Retrieved 2008 10 31 a b Skardzius Pranas March 1973 Donum Balticum Aidai in Lithuanian 3 ISSN 0002 208X Jakstas Juozas 1984 Lithuania to World War I In Gerutis Albertas ed Lithuania 700 Years Translated by Algirdas Budreckis 6th ed New York Manyland Books p 68 ISBN 0 87141 028 1 LCCN 75 80057 a b Kiaupa Zigmantas Jurate Kiaupiene Albinas Kuncevicius 2000 1995 The History of Lithuania Before 1795 Vilnius Lithuanian Institute of History pp 172 174 ISBN 9986 810 13 2 Jonas Zinkus et al eds 1985 1988 Veldamai Tarybu Lietuvos enciklopedija in Lithuanian Vol IV Vilnius Lithuania Vyriausioji enciklopediju redakcija p 477 Further reading editJurginis Juozas 1962 Baudziavos įsigalejimas Lietuvoje in Lithuanian Vilnius Lithuanian Institute of History OCLC 13773276 Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Veldamas amp oldid 1222807837, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
