Obliged peasants

Obligated peasants are former serfs in Russia who switched to contractual relations with the landlords on the basis of a decree on April 2 (14), 1842 . The decree was the result of a secret committee established on November 10, 1839 to determine the conditions for the release of peasants, regardless of the decree on free cultivators . By agreement of the landowners with the peasants, approved by the government, the peasants acquired personal freedom. The landowners retained the right of the patrimonial police. The land remained the property of the landowner, who provided the peasants with an allotment for a "proportionate" quitrent or corvee. Restrictions on the power of the landowners were not provided. The conclusion of such agreements was not obligatory for the landowners. The decree of 1842 did not have significant significance: from 10 million serfs until 1855, 24,708 male souls were transferred to obliged peasants.