Ulus is ... Ulus of Yakutia

In the literature, the word "ulus" is often found, but many of us often have only a general idea of this concept. Let's try to figure out what it means.

The meaning of the word ulus is multiple. This is the tribal union of the population of Central and Central Asia, and the administrative and territorial unit in the eastern and northern part of tsarist Russia, and the village of some peoples of Central Asia and Siberia. Ulus is a destiny, part of the empire of Genghis Khan, the most famous of which are the Central Asian Chagatai, the son of Genghiz Khan (Chagatai ulus), and the Golden Horde. As for modern Russia, it is villages of the villages of Kalmykia and Buryatia, regions of Yakutia. The most common meaning of the word ulus is the people, the generation. Sometimes you can meet the use of this concept in the sense of estate, for example, "chora-ulus" - "sneaky, black people."

History of uluses

The people who formed the ulus did not establish any boundaries between them, recognizing the steppe common to all. The Buryats, who moved from Mongolia to Baikal in the 16th and 17th centuries, were also located on the ground in large groups of genera, and until now own it together. Mongolian and Kalmyk uluses until the end of the 19th century retained the same basic features as in Genghis Khan's time: each of them formed a nomadic horde governed by generic noyon leaders. They depended on the taisha. The best and greatest ulus was owned by taisha, he gave less prosperous to hereditary noyons in accordance with their ancestral eldership. Their rule was unlimited, but in many respects it was regulated in old times by customary law. Its spokesmen and bearers were honorable old people - the best people of the ulus. The internal arrangement corresponded to the features of the patrimonial way of life. Ulus is a union that was divided into small generic groups - hotons, aimaks and swelling. Each of them was in the management of the hereditary oldest ancestor. He answered before noyons or taisha for order and well-being, preserved the integrity of such a fluid public group as the ulus. Thus, these settlements perfectly organized their defense and could themselves carry out the attack.

3 main perspectives

The generic nature of the device is reflected in 3 main foundations: 1) generic solidarity; 2) responsibility; 3) circular bail. Generic solidarity means obligatory charity of the poor and mutual assistance. Rich people came to the aid of the poor, sharing food, livestock and everything necessary with them. Mandatory was the free exchange of services between their members. Circular bail was expressed in the fact that, for example, not only the guilty party himself, but also all the relatives of the union to which he belonged, were responsible for the fault. In the event that it was impossible to detect, the fine had to be paid to the whole family or ulus. There was also a cleansing oath, which sometimes completely freed the suspected member of society.

Several similar neighboring ulus formed a genus, or a clan community. To the duties of their members can also be attributed gifts to the bride after departure from their relatives, for the poor groom paid the bride groom. The bail-out for a long time remained with the Selenga Buryats in the form of payment for stolen things or cattle. If one or more close relatives swore, certifying the honesty and integrity of the suspected person, he was released from punishment.

Recent Changes

However, in the last century the Buryat device has changed quite seriously. The main reasons for this are the spread of Lamaism and the cultivation of grain, as well as the confusion of childbirth. Governmental measures also contributed to the disintegration of the ancient tribal organization of the Buryats. The ancient law ceased to function, giving way to new legal relations, in parallel with this, many of the foundations that gave the ulus a fortress and unity also fell.

Yakutia

The uluses of Yakutia are located in northeastern Siberia and have a common border with the Magadan Region and the Chukotka Autonomous Okrug.

To date, this territory has 32 ulus (including 3 national). Let us dwell on some of them.

Namsky ulus

This ulus, located in Central Yakutia, covers an area of 11.9 thousand km. The largest river is Lena, with many tributaries. It is known that in the present borders this ulus was formed on February 10, 1930. Petr Beketov built a prison and founded the city of Yakutsk. In the Namsky region for a long time engaged in the cultivation of cattle. Most of the people settled in the low part of the valley, the rest along the alas and near the taiga rivers. Their main occupation in the 17th century was cattle breeding. Agriculture as such was not until 1804. Namsky ulus in ancient times was similar to many other corners of Yakutia. If a person falls ill, they turn to healers and shamans. In the olden days this ulus existed in the absence of medical institutions on a scientific basis.

Khangalassky ulus

This ulus has a huge tourist and recreational potential, in particular, unique natural complexes, animal and plant world, untouched nature. All this is of great interest to tourists. Khangalassky ulus, located in central Yakutia, covers an area of 24.7 thousand square kilometers and is represented by more than 50 nations and nationalities. The administrative center is the city of Pokrovsk.

In conclusion, I would like to supplement the article with etymology. From the Vosmer dictionary we learn that the ulus is a "nomad camp" and "a number of direct fields". In some sources, these are "state forests provided for use by peasants."