Iaryzhnye Liudi

(also iaryzhki, iarygi), a term used to designate several categories of the population in Russia from the 16th to 18th centuries.

The three basic categories were sudovye iaryzhnye liudi (longshoremen, barge haulers, unskilled laborers involved in shipping, and oarsmen on river boats and oceangoing vessels), iamskie iaryzhnye liudi (drivers and loaders of post carts), and zemskie iaryzhnye liudi (the lowest-ranking employees in the prikazy, or central administrative offices). By class affiliation, the sudovye and iamskie iaryzhnye liudi were kholopy (slaves), fugitive or impoverished peasants, and posadskie liudi (merchants and artisans). Zemskie iaryzhnye liudi were recruited from among the residents of volosti (small rural districts) according to instructions from the authorities.

In colloquial speech, the term iaryzhnye liudi refers to drunkards and poor people who frequent taverns.