Formation of the Smolensk Militia during the Crimean War (1853-1856)

The article analyzes the economic aspect of the formation of the Smolensk mobile militia in 1855. The source base of the research consisted mainly of office documents deposited in the Smolensk State Archive. The article shows that the conscription of the militia took place using the practices of recruitment and carrying out work to maintain the local economy. The entire nobility and all groups of the tax-paying population were involved in the formation of the militia. The militia was funded from the local zemstvo levy with little government involvement. The maintenance of the militia led to an increase in compulsory military service and had a negative impact on the situation of the inhabitants of the province, while the military effect of the participation of the Smolensk militia in military operations was extremely insignificant.