Anti-Epidemic Measures of the Authorities in Volyn (Early Seventeenth Century)

Abstract

The purpose of the study is to examine, on the basis of documentary materials, quarantine measures taken by Lutsk city and country officials to curb the plague epidemic of 1601 in Lutsk county, as well as to elucidate the lifestyle of representatives of certain categories of the population at that time.

The methodology of the study is to apply the comparative-historical method, the principles of objectivity and the systematic approach in the study of socio-historical phenomena and processes.

Scientific novelty. The specific anti-epidemic measures and their effectiveness in preventing the spread of the plague epidemic to which representatives of the City and Zemskyi authorities of Lutsk county have been identified. The features of epidemiological consciousness and behavior of representatives of different social strata of the population are outlined.

Conclusions. It was established that the epidemic lasted for about four months in the territory of the county – from September 2 until almost the end of December 1601. In the beginning of October, the local government postponed the session (rochky) of the Zemskyi Court to the beginning of 1602. The City Court session was postponed to six. until November 15, and after that it was rescheduled – to December 27, 1601. Despite the protests by some representatives of the dominant social status, who saw the abolition of judicial years as a violation of their private interests, in fact this decision was quite important from an epidemiological point of view. After all, due to this “departmental quarantine”, instituted by the City and Zemskyi states, the judicial and administrative institutions of the nobility managed to avoid coming to Lutsk from different parts of the county covered by the plague, a large contingent of noble claimants and defendants, as well as their servants. At the same time, these anti-epidemic measures were actually half-hearted. After all, throughout the epidemic (except for a short period), the Lutsk City Government regularly met, receiving visitors from both urgent and various routine matters. The county was constantly plied by small court officials. The epidemic threat did not force some nobles to abandon gun violence. One of the consequences of such conflicts was the frequent trips of their participants from the periphery to Lutsk, to the City Government. In the meantime, the population of the rural hinterland, which had not yet reached the plague, did not change too much the usual tribe of life, in particular, took an active part in the fair trade.