Наследственное правo молдавских женщин (XIV-XVII вв): компаративное исследование
ENThe hereby article presents an analogous analysis of the patrimonial and inheritance legal status of Moldovan women, contrasted with their counterparts in the neighbouring countries, such as Lithuania, Romania, Transylvania, Russia, Serbia and Montenegro. In author’s opinion, woman’s patrimony served as a warranty for her legal and social status. Empowered by the autonomous possession and management of their assets, women attained some economic independence in the social sphere. A noteworthy matter is that, initially, Moldavian women had equal property and inheritance rights as men. In addition, even after they received their dowry, Moldavian women were entitled to the same rights and privileges as their brothers regarding the division of family assets (sinisfora). Moldavian women were the sole and righteous owners both of their movable and immovable property. They could administer it freely and were able to buy, sell, and transfer their estate without any constraints. In the European countries, during the studied period (14th-17th centuries), male rights to the estate prevailed over female rights. Nonetheless, there existed multiple legal forms which allowed women to run their estates even on equal terms to men. Characterizing the differences and similarities in the status of women regarding the laws of succession, it should be observed that too much emphasis was placed on the legal inequality of women in different countries. In consequence, a stereotype was established in historical literature. In fact, females enjoyed numerous liberties which were available to them also in other countries. Frequently, in European countries, an inconsistency or even a contradiction between legislation and law enforcement could be observed.For instance, the keystone of the Lithuanian statutes considering women’s rights and responsibilities was the patriarchal traditional view. Nevertheless, a great deal of historical sources have shown that the Lithuanian noblewomen enjoyed an unprecedented freedom in the social sphere, particularly, during the 16th and the 17th centuries. The gender equality regarding property rights was legitimately enshrined by the legal privileges (in 1387, 1413, 1434, 1468, 1492) and the Lithuanian Statutes (in 1529, 1566, 1588). In Russia, one would find its (property rights equality) funda mentals in the so-called “zakoniki” (the Acts of the Zemsky Sobor (1611) and the Council’s Code of 1649, decree of Peter I of 1714). In Moldova, the customary law was written in the code of laws of Vasile Lupu (1646), in Walachia in the code of Matei Basarab (1652), in Serbia in the “code of laws” of Stefan Dušan (1349 and 1354), in Hungary and Transylvania in “Tripartitum” in 1514. Officially, women could not participate in the political life of the state, yet, some of them, possessing large estates, were indeed influential.
- A Vessel of sins full of virtues: the ideal image of the female in the occasional writings of the Grand Duchy of Lithuania in the late sixteenth and early seventeenth centuries. Lithuanian historical studies 2002, 6, 23-54.
- Barboros Radvilaitės laiškai Žygimantui Augustui ir kitiems: studija apie XVI a. Lietuvos Didžiosios kunigaikštystės moterų korespondenciją. Vilnius : Vaga, 2001. 253 p., [12] faks. lap.
- Inter sacrum et profanum: религиозность женщин в панегиричеcкой литературе Великого Княжества Литовского в XVI-XVII веках. Український історичний збірник 2005, 8, 120-139.
- Lietuvos didžiosios kunigaikštienės Elenos (1476-1513) patronatas. Lietuvos didysis kunigaikštis Aleksandras ir jo epocha. Vilnius: Vilniaus pilių valstybinio kultūrinio rezervato direkcija, 2007 P. 99-112.
- Lietuvos statutų (1529, 1566, 1588 m.) šeimos teisė. Vilnius : Teisinės informacijos centras, 2003. 191 p.
- Moteris Vilniuje ir Kaune XVI a. pirmojoje pusėje : gyvenimo sumiestinimo Lietuvoje atodangos.. Vilnius : Versus aureus, 2005. 276 p.
- Moterys, darbas, šeima: lyčių vaidmenys užimtumo sferoje: sociokultūrinis aspektas. Vilnius : Vilniaus universiteto leidykla, 2008. 231 p.
- The Noblewoman's court in the sixteenth-century Grand Duchy of Lithuania. Lithuanian historical studies 2005, 8, 27-60.
- XVI a. didikų Radvilų lenkų kilmės žmonos. Istorija 2012, 87, 3-15.
- XVI a. Lietuvos Didžiosios Kunigaikštystės didikų patronatas.. Lituanistica 2005, 2, 1-19.
