Veche

Veche (Russian: вече, Polish: wiec) was a popular assembly in medieval Slavic countries, and in late medieval period, a parliament.

Etymology of the word

The word 'veche/wiec' is derived from a Proto-Slavic root *vēt-, meaning `council' or `talk' (which is also represented in the word "soviet"). The semantic derivation that yields the meaning of the word under consideration is parallel to that of parliament.

Veche in Kievan Rus

The earliest mentions of veches in Russian chronicles refer to examples in Belgorod-on-the-Dnieper in 997, Novgorod the Great in 1016 and in Kiev in 1068. The assemblies discussed matters of war and peace, adopted laws, and called for and expelled rulers. In Kiev, the veche was summoned in front of the Cathedral of St Sophia.

Veche in Novgorod

The veche was the highest legislature and judicial authority in the republic of Novgorod until 1478. In its sister state, Pskov veche operated until 1510. Starting with the Novgorod revolution of 1137 that ousted the ruling prince, veche became the supreme state authority, although prince's power was limited in Novgorod from the start and veche was operational perhaps from the moment Novgorod was founded.

After the reforms of 1410, veche was restructured on a model similar to that of Venice, becoming the Commons chamber of the parliament. Аn upper Senate-like Council of Lords was also created, with title membership for all former city magistrates. Some sources indicate that veche membership may have became full-time, and parliament deputies were now called vechniks.

In Novgorod, the veche also elected archbishops.

The Novgorod assembly could be presumambly summoned by anyone who rung the veche bell, although it is more likely that the common procedure was more complex. This bell was a symbol of republican sovereignty and independence. The whole population of the city - boyars, merchants, and common citizens - then gathered at Yaroslav's Court. Separate assemblies could be held in the districts of Novgorod. In Pskov the veche assembled in the court of the Trinity cathedral.

Wiec in Poland

According to the Chronicles of Gallus Anonymus, the first legendary Polish ruler, Siemowit, who began the Piast Dynasty, was chosen by a wiec. The idea of the wiec led in 1182 to development of the Polish parliament, the Sejm.

In Yugoslavia

In Yugoslavia this word was used for the houses of the Yugoslavian parliament.

Notes

See the Slavic etymology of the word and the corresponding refernces in the following entries of the Max Vasmer's Etymological dictionary:
- of the particular word вече/veche ,
- of the basic root вѣт- ,
and the possible further Indo-European etymology of this root in the entry
- *wAit- (-th-),
all of them presented online in the etymological databases of The Tower of Babel project.

Wetsche | Veetše | Wiec | Вече