Abstract
The purpose of the article is to study the functioning of the system of lower and upper courts (rozpravy) as a tool for ensuring the loyalty of free peasant communities in the Ukrainian lands of the Russian Empire between 1780 and 1796. The methodological basis of the study combines the principles of historicism and scientific objectivity with critical analysis of archival materials, systematic comparison, and prosopographical approaches. This comprehensive methodology enables a thorough examination of the judicial system's transformation for free peasant populations under imperial rule. Conclusions. The rozpravy court system served as a key instrument of imperial policy for integrating Ukrainian lands through specialized judicial bodies for free peasants. On the Left Bank, these courts primarily regulated former Cossack populations, facilitating state control over this strategic group. On the Right Bank – lacking Cossack structures - jurisdiction extended to peasants under ecclesiastical authority, demonstrating imperial efforts to standardize justice across diverse rural populations. Chronic personnel shortages, particularly in Right Bank regions requiring imported officials, significantly hampered system effectiveness. These courts predominantly adjudicated property crimes, prisoner escapes, and military cases. The system's abolition under Paul I resulted from new political priorities emphasizing noble authority and judicial centralization. This study highlights the complex balance between imperial unification policies and local particularities in Ukrainian borderlands.