Land ownership granted on the basis of service: the order and characteristics of ownership

The Earth has always been the subject of numerous disputes and conflicts. It is because of the fertile areas located in the mouths of large rivers that the first wars began. Later the feudal lords sought to cultivate more and more territories to their possessions, subordinating themselves and their inhabitants. Thus they proved the fullness of their power. So appeared and strengthened the state. Thus, the possession of land has always been one of the most important signs of wealth and power. This situation continues today.

The basic principles of land ownership in Russia

The time when everything was common for all members of society, lasted very briefly. Human nature is peculiar to want to enjoy the benefits of civilization alone and independently. Precisely because of this aspiration landholding began to take shape. What does this concept mean ?

Land ownership in Russia is the possession of a site by a certain person (both physical and legal) on the basis of ownership, leasing, and so on.

During the reign of the kings there were various categories of this concept. So, there was ecclesiastical, monastic, urban, landed property and, of course, private. Despite the fact that Russia was considered a patriarchal country, which reluctantly adopted best practices of foreign states, its system of distribution of territory was much more civilized than, for example, in Ethiopia. There, all the land was completely in the hands of the autocrat, who in certain ways rented it to his subjects. All taxes and taxes collected from it were accumulated in the state treasury.

The concept of patrimony

Approximately until the 15th century in our country there was one kind of private land ownership. It was patrimony. If we compare it with the land ownership provided on terms of service, the difference is undoubtedly there. The person disposed of the property on the basis of property rights and could transfer it to his descendants. Hereditary land ownership in Russia meant the creation within it of a certain administrative apparatus that controlled the collection of taxes and the organization of peasants' work.

The very origin of the word "patrimony" (paternal property) implied its main feature - the possibility of passing by inheritance. This form of land ownership was born in Kievan Rus. As a rule, the princes and noble members of the squad, as well as the boyars, became the owners. After the acceptance of Christianity by Rus, church patrimony also appeared.

During the political fragmentation of the state, this form of ownership became the basis of feudalism. The lands belonging to the princes were constantly expanded due to awards, ransoms and seizures of neighboring territories. This also led to a significant increase in the influence of the owners of fiefdoms on the political and economic life of Rus.

Land ownership granted on a duty basis: what is it?

In the 15th century, a local system emerged. It implied granting of land plots to persons serving for the benefit of the state. This was simultaneously a reward for conscientious fulfillment of official duties. At the discretion of the sovereign, the land possession provided on terms of service could be either temporary (that is, while a person works) or permanent (passed on to a person for life).

The estate is what?

In the middle of the 15th century a new form of land ownership arose in Russia. The estate is a special type of property, possession of a site, the right to which was granted for the performance of military or public service. There were analogues of this concept in Europe. So, in Spain the estate was called hacienda, and in Portugal - a hacienda.

In order to separate this form of landownership from others, for example, from the fiefdom, it is necessary to isolate its main features. To them it is possible to carry:

• Personal character. The estate was given to a specific person, and not assigned to a particular position.
• A temporary nature. The man owned the manor only during a certain period, which often ended with the termination of state or military service.
• Conditional character. The manor was issued to man not just so, but in exchange for the fact that he would perform certain duties in relation to the state.
• Inability to dispose of. A person could live on the estate's territory, carry out agricultural work there, hunt, etc. But to transfer land ownership granted on the basis of service, inheritance, to sell or exchange rights he did not have. If the official was dismissed from his place of work, he was forced to leave the estate together with his property.

These are the main distinctive features of the estate.

Land tenure in modern Russia

Nowadays much has changed. Now a citizen of the Russian Federation (and also any foreign person) can own a piece of land on the following grounds:

• property rights;
• The right to lifelong inheritable possession;
• Right of lease;
• Right of unlimited use.

This possibility is legislatively enshrined in the Constitution of Russia (Article 35).