Poplechnyk

Poplechnyk. A personally free but landless peasant in the Lithuanian-Ruthenian state during the 14th to 16th centuries (see Landless peasants). The social status of poplechnyky was similar to that of the later state peasants. They lived on the estates of the grand duke and paid monetary taxes or performed various feudal obligations in exchange for the use of arable plots. When the estates were granted to feudal lords, the poplechnyky there became enserfed (see Serfdom).

[This article originally appeared in the Encyclopedia of Ukraine, vol. 4 (1993).]