|
Appanage Prince. |
A Prince possessing his own state within the Grand Principality of Moscow, with his own army and court of boyars, nobles, and officials. The state was virtually independent, but foreign affairs were in the hands of the Grand Prince. |
|
Boyar. |
Boyars were members of the Grand Prince’s council chosen from among the most important nobles’ families. These families were known as the boyar families. Originally the boyar families were untitled. Then in the sixteenth century, after Moscow had absorbed all the other Russian states, the dispossessed prince of these states came to serve the Grand Prince of Moscow. The most important of these princes became members of the Boyar Council and their families merged with the old untitled boyar families of Moscow. |
|
Kvas. |
A Russian drink made from black bread and malt. |
|
Lobnoye Mesto. |
Literally, Upper Place. From lob, meaning forehead. The Lobnoye Mesto was on the crest of the ridge that cut across the Red Square. |
|
Oprichnina. |
Formerly a portion of an estate set apart for the widow’s use. From oprich, meaning separate. The oprichniki, or separated ones, were nobles and boyars selected by Ivan to serve him when he created his separate kingdom early in 1565. The Oprichnina was the vast area claimed by Ivan as his private and personal possession. |
|
Serdechniki. |
People who remove hearts from corpses. From serdtse, meaning heart. The word appears to be unknown before 1547, when the Chronicles relate that hearts were being removed in Moscow and other towns. |
|
Sinodiki. |
Books used in Orthodox churches inscribed with the names of the dead. These names were read out during the services with prayers to bring peace to their souls. |
|
Skomorokhi. |
Entertainers, players, clowns, jugglers, musicians and singers who were invited to weddings and other celebrations. Appears to be derived from Scaramuccio (“skirmish”), a stock figure in Italian farces. Scaramuccio was beaten by Harlequin for his boasting and cowardice. |
|
Terem. |
The private apartments of the Tsar and Tsaritsa, usually on the upper floors of their palaces. Also the women’s part of a house. |
|
Voyevoda. |
Military commander. Connected with voina, meaning war. Later used for a governor of a province. |
|
Yurodivy. |
God’s fools. Literally, foolish, crazy. It was believed that they wore their foolishness as a disguise and that their strange and unpredictable actions possessed deep spiritual meaning. |
|
Zemshchina. |
From zemlya, meaning land. The territory that was not included in the Oprichnina. The Zemskiye were the people who lived in the Zemshchina. |