Social developments: the redefinition of the Service State; serfdom and…

The idea

During the epoch of palace coups, the Petrine Service State was significantly redefined as the nobility gradually emancipated themselves from compulsory state service. This culminated in Peter III's 1762 Manifesto on the Freedom of the Nobility, which legally ended mandatory service. Conversely, the condition of the peasantry deteriorated as serfdom became more entrenched. Nobles gained greater control over their serfs, including the right to exile them to Siberia. This widening social chasm and increasing exploitation sparked frequent serf unrest and violent uprisings, driven by crushing taxation, conscription, and the brutal enforcement of noble authority, laying the groundwork for the massive Pugachev Rebellion later in the century.

What earns the marks

• Trace the gradual relaxation of compulsory noble service, culminating in the 1762 Manifesto on the Freedom of the Nobility.
• Explain how the redefinition of the Service State altered the traditional social contract between the autocrat, the nobility, and the peasantry.
• Detail the legislative changes that worsened the condition of serfs, such as nobles gaining the right to exile serfs to Siberia in 1760.
• Analyse the causes of serf unrest, focusing on increased taxation, conscription, and the unchecked power of landowners.

Common mistakes and how to put them right

• Stating that the abolition of compulsory service applied to all classes.

  Put it right: It only applied to the nobility, while serfs remained bound to the land and their lords.

• Assuming serf unrest was rare before Pugachev.

  Put it right: Localised uprisings and violent resistance were frequent and escalating throughout the 1725 to 1762 period.

• Claiming Catherine the Great issued the Manifesto on the Freedom of the Nobility.

  Put it right: It was actually issued by Peter III in 1762.

Exam tips

• Contrast the growing liberties of the nobility with the increasing subjugation of the serfs to highlight the era's social polarisation.
• Use the 1762 Manifesto as a turning point when evaluating changes to the Petrine Service State.
• Connect the causes of serf unrest directly to the economic demands of the state and the absolute authority granted to landowners.