Sudebnik of 1497

It played a big part in the centralisation of the Russian state, the creation of all-Russian legislation, and the elimination of feudal fragmentation.

It set up an order of court procedures and legal norms, binding uniformly on all parts of the state and strengthening the central authority in Moscow.

It established a universal system of the judicial bodies of the state, defined their competence and subordination, and regulated legal fees.

The Sudebnik expanded the range of acts considered punishable by the standards of criminal justice (e.g., sedition, sacrilege, slander).

The Sudebnik also introduced a fee (пожилое, or pozhiloye) for peasants who wanted to leave their feudal lord (Крестьянский выход, or Krestiyansky vykhod), and also established a universal day (November 26) across the Russian state for peasants who wanted to switch their masters (Юрьев день, or Yuri's Day).