The Influence of the Polemic Between the Josephites and the Non-Possessors on the Concept of Royal Authority in the 15th–16th Centuries

The article examines the polemic between the Josephites and the Non-Possessors in the late 15th and early 16th centuries and its influence on the formation of ideas about royal authority in Russia. Particular attention is paid to the confrontation between these two ideological currents regarding monastic landownership, attitudes towards heretics, and the role of the clergy in state governance. The study analyzes the core concepts ad-vanced by both factions, their historical significance, and their consequences for Russian statehood. It explores the concepts of the sacralization of power and its accountability to society, as proposed by the Josephites and Non-Possessors, as well as the influence of their debates on the ideology of the Muscovite state. The article concludes on the significance of the Josephites’ victory in consolidating autocratic authority and the long-term influence of non-possessor ideas on opposition movements and religious thought.