Veche

The veche (Cyrillic: вече, Scientific Transl. Veče, Polish: Wiec ) was a gathering of people in ancient Russian cities and a member of the co-determination or self-management. For the first time, this institution is mentioned in a chronicle 997 for the city of Belgorod, it had its peak in the 12th century when she appeared as a contractor of the respective rulers in many Russian demesnes.

In the Republic of Novgorod and Pskov in the veche experienced its most striking expression, these were ruled until the end of the 15th century by a veche. With the integration of the two cities in the Grand Duchy of Moscow in 1478 or in 1510 ended the tradition of the veche in Russia.

Russian historians of the 18th and 19th centuries, see the veche as the successor of the Slavic tribal gatherings and as an alternative to the Russian autocracy.

In Polish, the word " wiec " in the sense of a public rally meeting (eg during demonstrations ) and still in use today.