The law without state and the common law of Zaporizhian Cossacs

Volodymyr Machuskyy 

Scholars in the law, economics, and politics literatures have, however, studied several important historical examples of the emergence of a legal order prior to the rise of nation-states. These examples include the following: Medieval Iceland, Gold rush California and Medieval merchants" (Gillian K. Hadfield, Barry R. Weingast).

"Zaporiz'ka Sich was a historical territory that existed between the 16th and 18th centuries, the center of which was located in the region of  lower Dnieper river. At one point the area was a condominium of both the Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth and the Russian Empire. Soon after the colonization of Sich by the Russian Empire the Sich was liquidated. The term  Zaporiz'ka Sich has also been metonymically used as an informal reference to the whole military-administrative organisation of the Zaporizhian Cossack Host". (From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia).

In the XV-XVI centuries Ukraine was a part of Lithuania, and later the part of Poland. With the strengthening of the Polish rule the freedom-loving Ukrainians fled to the free space in the lower Dnieper and initiated in the armed bands are becoming the Cossacks.

The Cossacks - members of self - govern male military communities that existed on the territory of the Ukrainian "wild field” on the edge of the Christian and Muslim worlds. The main occupation of the Cossacks was the war: robbery and patrolling the trade routes, piracy in the Crimea and the Black Sea, protection of the Ukrainian lands of the Tartar "hunts on slaves", participated in the military campaigns of the neighboring owners and protect the borders of neighboring States.

Gradually the Cossacks occupy a leading place in the Ukrainian society and became its political elite. Thus, Ukrainian Cossacks evolved from small bands of homeless items to a social estate of feudal society.

Also, Zaporiz'ka Sich  was a city-fortress. On the territory of the fortress are usually housed square, a church, a shack, barns, and administrative buildings. Walls of the fortresses of the zaporiz'ky Cossacks were embankments and wooden fortifications. Women were not allowed to enter in Zaporiz'ka Sich.

Political regime of  Zaporiz'ka Sich was a popular assembly democracy. The highest authority in the Sich was the Council. The right to participate in the Council had all the Cossacks. The Cossacks Council traditionally gathered each year on January 1 for the re-election of the Cossacks chieftain and foremen. Executive power belonged to  the Ataman and the central body of Zaporiz'ka Sich which name was Kish  (means the fortified camp).

The legal system of Zaporiz'ka Sich was based on common law (oral customs and norms). Features of the common law were: the corporate spirit, the predominance of public law, oral form of expression, the absence of a separation of branches of law, conservatism, ritual, pretty tough punishment, the widespread use of the death penalty, etc.

The common law of Zaporiz'ka Sich never knew the difference between criminal and civil offenses. Thus, the biggest development was the scope of the criminal law, particularly the rules that establish liability for the offence. The crime is considered to be the damage caused to a life, a health, a property, an honor of the person or the society as a whole.

The crimes depending on the object of crime were following:

1) A war crime – a violation of the rules of service, a desertion, a bypass from service;

2) A service crime - plundering Treasury, an exceeding of an official powers and a malpractice;

3) A crime against public order and justice - a disobedience administration, a counterfeiting, a forgery of seals and a documents, a perjury and a false testimony;

4) A crime against the person – a homicide, causing injury, a grievance;

5) A crime against property – a larceny, a robbery, a cover-up of steal, destruction of property;

6) A crime against morality – an abuse of women, bringing women to Zaporiz'ka Sich,   a sex with a woman at Zaporiz'ka Sich. 

A court in Zaporiz'ka Sich was simple, right, fast and based only on the norms of the oral law. The written law of other states had no effect. In proceedings involved all military officers. Also, Cossack’s community took a significant part in making and enforcement of the sentence. If the accused refused to give evidence he was tortured.

A punishment had a public character. When the offender confessed his guilt, the foreman at gathering read out a judgment which immediately executed at the crime scene or at a fair near the shameful pillar or near the gallows.

The death sentence is to be executed in the following ways: burial in the ground alive (for killing a comrade), landing on a sharp stake, drowning and clogging by cues to a death in the pillory. There were following corporal punishments:  cutting off the nose, ears, and limbs. For theft, bodily injury   broken arm or leg

A common law of Zaporiz'ka Sich knew a variety of transactions. Most contracts between the Cossacks were barter, purchase-sale of the property, gift, loan, personal lease. They all agreed orally (except for the loan agreement).