«Boyar's verdict on the раtrol and guard service», 1571: problems of source studies

Aim . To form an idea of what tactical experience the compilers of such a source on the history of the Russian border service as the "Boyar's verdict on the Stanitsa and guard service" of 1571 relied on. Methodology . A preliminary analysis of the composition of the "team of authors" of experts on the peculiarities of the border guard service, gathered by Prince M. I. Vorotynsky to compile the document, is carried out, then it is supplemented by a source analysis of the monument itself, as well as the tactical experience of Prince M. I. Vorotynsky and his assistants. Results . It is concluded that the "Boyar verdict...", on the one hand, is based on the extensive tactical experience of people with practical knowledge of the steppe borders of Russia, on the other hand, is rigidly tied to regional forms of border defense and is not suitable for other areas of border service: in the west and in the east of the country. Research implications . The article analyzes the source in those aspects that have so far been ignored by specialists in the military history of Russia of the 16 th –17 th centuries.