Практики найма иноземцев на русскую службу при Алексее Михайловиче и Петре Великом = The Practice of Hiring Foreigners For the Russian Civil and Military Service Under Alexei Mikhailovich and Peter the Great

Ermakova, Olga K. (2023) Практики найма иноземцев на русскую службу при Алексее Михайловиче и Петре Великом = The Practice of Hiring Foreigners For the Russian Civil and Military Service Under Alexei Mikhailovich and Peter the Great. RUSSIANSTUDIES.HU, 5 (2). pp. 105-117. ISSN 2677-0660

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Abstract

This article examines the evolution of the practice of hiring foreign specialists for the Russian civil and military service from the second half of the 17 th to the first quarter of the 18 th century. The author examines continuity and innovations in the methods of recruitment and the documentation of the processes associated with this. The paper identifies the main groups of people engaged in hiring foreigners. This aspect is important because the personalities of mediators left an imprint on the practical and legal basis for recruitment. It is concluded that, from a practical point of view, recruiters (who were sent abroad to hire foreign experts) faced similar tasks both during the reign of Alexei Mikhailovich and later, in the era of Peter I (these included problems of material support, the transportation of craftsmen, attracting specialists by favorable proposals, agreeing on conditions of service, etc.). The author also notes that as early as the second half of the 17 th century there was a practice of issuing written contracts to foreign specialists, but this was only episodic. During the era of Peter the Great, the contract became the key basis for the admission of foreigners to the Russian civil and military service, and such contracts were based on the same principles as in the previous period. In order to attract a large number of foreign specialists, Peter I and his agents had to take into account the requirements of foreigners and legally expand their rights and privileges. This undoubtedly led to an improvement in both the social and legal status of foreigners as well as in the system of relations between the Russian state and its non-Russian hired specialists.

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