THE INFLUENCE OF GUSTAV II ADOLF'S "MILITARY ARTICLE" ON THE RUSSIAN "MILITARY ARTICLE" OF 1715

Abstract

The article presents a comparative analysis of two military-legal documents of the 17th-18th centuries: the Swedish Articles of War of 1621, issued by King Gustavus II Adolphus and supplemented by Charles XI in 1683, and the Russian Military Article of 1715, compiled under Peter I. The author examines the influence of the Swedish document on the structure and content of the Russian Article, identifying both borrowed elements and original additions reflecting the specific features of the Russian military and legal system. Special attention is paid to issues of discipline, military jurisdiction, the definition of crimes and punishments, and legal procedures. The comparison of selected articles shows how Peter I adapted Western European norms to Russian conditions while retaining key principles from the Swedish model. The author concludes that although the Russian Article was based on the Swedish one, it was revised in accordance with national traditions, administrative context, and centralization goals. The study emphasizes the role of military articles in shaping a new legal culture, supporting absolutist governance, reinforcing discipline, and legitimizing state violence. This article will be of interest to legal historians, scholars of military and state history in Russia and Sweden, and researchers of legal norm transfer in Early Modern Europe. It also contributes to comparative law and institutional modernization studies.