System of governing the country under Peter 1. Scheme of government under Peter I. Medical reforms of Peter I

The sage avoids all extremes.

Lao Tzu

The reforms of Peter 1 are his main and key activities, which were aimed at changing not only political, but also social life Russian society. According to Pyotr Alekseevich, Russia was very far behind Western countries in its development. This confidence of the king was further strengthened after he conducted the great embassy. Trying to transform the country, Peter 1 changed almost all aspects of the life of the Russian state, which had developed over centuries.

What was the central government reform?

The reform of central government was one of Peter's first reforms. It should be noted that this reformation lasted a long time, since it was based on the need to completely restructure the work of Russian authorities.

Peter I's reforms in the field of central government began back in 1699. On initial stage this change affected only the Boyar Duma, which was renamed the Near Chancellery. With this step, the Russian Tsar alienated the boyars from power and allowed power to be concentrated in a chancellery that was more pliable and loyal to him. This was an important step that required priority implementation, since it allowed the centralization of government of the country.

Senate and its functions

At the next stage, the king organized the Senate as the main government body in the country. This happened in 1711. The Senate has become one of the key bodies in governing the country, with the broadest powers, which include the following:

• Legislative activity
• Administrative activities
• Judicial functions in the country
• Control functions over other bodies

The Senate consisted of 9 people. These were representatives of noble families, or people whom Peter himself elevated. In this form, the Senate existed until 1722, when the emperor approved the position of prosecutor general, who controlled the legality of the activities of the Senate. Before this, this body was independent and did not bear any responsibility.

Creation of boards

The reform of central government continued in 1718. It took the reformer tsar three whole years (1718-1720) to get rid of the last legacy of his predecessors - orders. All orders in the country were abolished and collegiums took their place. There was no actual difference between the boards and orders, but in order to radically change the administrative apparatus, Peter went through with this transformation. In total, the following bodies were created:

• Collegium of Foreign Affairs. She was in charge of the state's foreign policy.
• Military Collegium. She was engaged in ground forces.
• Admiralty College. Controlled the Russian navy.
• Office of Justice. She handled litigation matters, including civil and criminal cases.
• Berg College. It controlled the country's mining industry, as well as factories for this industry.
• Manufactory Collegium. She was involved in the entire manufacturing industry of Russia.

In fact, only one difference between boards and orders can be identified. If in the latter the decision was always made by one person, then after the reform all decisions were made collectively. Of course, not many people decided, but the leader always had several advisers. They helped me make the right decision. After introduction new system A special system was developed to control the activities of the boards. For these purposes, the General Regulations were created. It was not general, but was published for each board in accordance with its specific work.

Secret Chancery

Peter created a secret office in the country that dealt with state crimes. This office replaced the Preobrazhensky order, which dealt with the same issues. It was a specific government body that was not subordinate to anyone except Peter the Great. In fact, with the help of the secret chancellery, the emperor maintained order in the country.

Decree on unity of inheritance. Table of ranks.

The decree on unified inheritance was signed by the Russian Tsar in 1714. Its essence boiled down, among other things, to the fact that the courtyards that belonged to the boyar and noble estates were completely equalized. Thus, Peter pursued one single goal - to equalize the nobility of all levels that were represented in the country. This ruler is known for the fact that he could bring a person without a family closer to him. After signing this law, he could give each of them what they deserved.

This reform continued in 1722. Peter introduced the Table of Ranks. In fact, this document equalized rights in public service for aristocrats of any origin. This Table divided the entire public service into two large categories: civil and military. Regardless of the type of service, all government ranks were divided into 14 ranks (classes). They included all key positions, from simple performers to managers.

All ranks were divided into the following categories:

• 14-9 levels. An official who was in these ranks received the nobility and peasants into his possession. The only restriction was that such a noble could use the property, but not dispose of it as property. In addition, the estate could not be inherited.
• 8 – 1 level. This was the highest administration, which not only became the nobility and received full control of the estates, as well as serfs, but also received the opportunity to transfer their property by inheritance.

Regional reform

The reforms of Peter 1 affected many areas of the state’s life, including the work of local government bodies. The regional reform of Russia had been planned for a long time, but was carried out by Peter in 1708. It completely changed the work of the local government apparatus. The whole country was divided into separate provinces, of which there were 8 in total:

• Moscow
• Ingermanlandskaya (later renamed Petersburgskaya)
• Smolenskaya
• Kyiv
• Azovskaya
• Kazanskaya
• Arkhangelogorodskaya
• Simbirskaya

Each province was governed by a governor. He was appointed personally by the king. All administrative, judicial and military power was concentrated in the hands of the governor. Since the provinces were quite large in size, they were divided into districts. Later the counties were renamed provinces.

The total number of provinces in Russia in 1719 was 50. The provinces were governed by voivodes, who directed military power. As a result, the governor's power was somewhat curtailed, since the new regional reform took away all military power from them.

City government reform

Changes at the local government level prompted the king to reorganize the system of government in the cities. This was an important issue as the urban population increased annually. For example, by the end of Peter’s life, there were already 350 thousand people living in cities, who belonged to different classes and estates. This required the creation of bodies that would work with each class in the city. As a result, a reform of city government was carried out.

Special attention in this reform was paid to the townspeople. Previously, their affairs were handled by governors. The new reform transferred power over this class into the hands of the Chamber of Burmisters. It was an elected body of power located in Moscow, and locally this chamber was represented by individual mayors. Only in 1720 was the Chief Magistrate created, which was responsible for control functions regarding the activities of the mayors.

It should be noted that the reforms of Peter 1 in the field of urban management introduced clear distinctions between ordinary citizens, who were divided into “regular” and “vile”. The former belonged to the highest inhabitants of the city, and the latter to the lower classes. These categories were not clear cut. For example, “regular townspeople” were divided into: rich merchants (doctors, pharmacists and others), as well as ordinary artisans and traders. All “regulars” enjoyed great support from the state, which provided them with various benefits.

The urban reform was quite effective, but it had a clear bias towards wealthy citizens who received maximum state support. Thus, the king created a situation in which life became somewhat easier for the cities, and in response, the most influential and wealthy citizens supported the government.

Church reform

The reforms of Peter 1 did not bypass the church. In fact, the new transformations finally subordinated the church to the state. This reform actually began in 1700, with the death of Patriarch Adrian. Peter forbade holding elections for a new patriarch. The reason was quite convincing - Russia entered the Northern War, which means that electoral and church affairs can wait for better times. Stefan Yavorsky was appointed to temporarily fulfill the duties of Patriarch of Moscow.

The most significant changes in the life of the church began after the end of the war with Sweden in 1721. The reform of the church came down to the following main steps:

• The institution of the patriarchate was completely eliminated; from now on there should be no such position in the church
• The Church was losing its independence. From now on, all its affairs were managed by the Spiritual College, created specifically for these purposes.

The ecclesiastical college existed less than a year. It was replaced by a new organ state power– Most Holy Governing Synod. It consisted of clergy who were personally appointed by the Emperor of Russia. In fact, from that time on, the church was finally subordinated to the state, and its management was actually carried out by the emperor himself through the Synod. To carry out control functions over the activities of the synod, the position of chief prosecutor was introduced. This was an official whom the emperor himself also appointed.

Peter saw the role of the church in the life of the state in the fact that it had to teach the peasants to respect and honor the tsar (emperor). As a result, laws were even developed that obliged priests to conduct special conversations with peasants, convincing them to obey their ruler in everything.

The significance of Peter's reforms

The reforms of Peter 1 actually completely changed the order of life in Russia. Some of the reforms actually brought a positive effect, while others created negative preconditions. For example, the reform of local government led to a sharp increase in the number of officials, as a result of which corruption and embezzlement in the country literally went off scale.

In general, the reforms of Peter 1 had the following meaning:

• The power of the state was strengthened.
• The upper classes of society were actually equal in opportunities and rights. Thus, the boundaries between classes were erased.
• Complete subordination of the church to state power.

The results of the reforms cannot be clearly identified, since they had many negative aspects, but you can learn about this from our special material.

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Reforms of public administration of Emperor Peter 1

Historians call Peter's reforms of central government the large-scale transformations of the state apparatus that took place during the reign of Peter the Great. The main innovations of the ruler are the creation of the Governing Senate, as well as the complete replacement of the system of orders by the Collegiums, and the formation of the royal Secret Office of the Holy Synod.

During Peter's accession to the throne as a key post government controlled Nobles performed, who received their rank by right of family name and origin. Peter, who came to power, understood that the established system of government was one of the weak links. That it is precisely this that is slowing down the country’s development.

The tsar's travels around Europe from 1697 to 1698 as part of the Grand Embassy allowed him to become familiar with the system of administrative bodies in European states. Based on them, he decides to carry out reforms in Russia.

With the beginning of Peter's rule, the Boyar Duma began to lose its power and subsequently turned into an ordinary bureaucratic department. From 1701, all its work was delegated to a new body called the "Concilia of Ministers", which was a council of heads of the most important government bodies. At the same time, it included many of the same boyars.

Two years before this, the Near Office is created, controlling the financial transactions of each order and making administrative decisions. All royal advisers were required to sign the most important documents and register these events in a special book of personal decrees.

Establishment of the Senate

On March 2, 1711, Peter the Great formed the so-called Governing Senate, which is the highest body of administrative, judicial and legislative power. The tsar entrusted all his responsibilities to this body during his absence, because frequent trips due to the Northern War could not cause a halt in the development of the state. At the same time, this administrative body was completely subordinate to the royal will and had a collegial structure, the members of which were personally selected by Peter. On February 22, 1711, a new additional post of fiscal was created, which was supposed to exercise additional supervision over officials during the tsar’s absence.

The formation and development of the collegiums occurs in the period from 1718 to 1726. In them the tsar saw an organ capable of replacing the outdated system of slow orders, which, for the most part, only duplicated each other’s functions.

When they appeared, the Collegiums completely absorbed orders, and in the period from 1718 to 1720, the presidents of the formed Collegiums were even senators and personally sat in the Senate. It should be noted that subsequently only the main Collegiums remained in the Senate:

• Foreign Affairs;
• Admiralty;
• Military.

The formation of the above-described system of collegiums completes the process of bureaucratization and centralization of the Russian state apparatus. The delimitation of departmental functions, as well as the general norms of activity regulated by the General Regulations, is the main difference between the updated Petrine apparatus and the previous management system.

General Regulations

By a royal decree of May 9, 1718, the presidents of the three boards were instructed to begin developing a document called the General Regulations, which would be a system of office management and based on the Swedish charter. This system later became known as the “college” system. In fact, the regulations approved a collegial way of discussing and resolving cases, as well as organizing office work and regulating relations with self-government bodies and the Senate.

On March 10, 1720, this document was approved and signed by the ruler of Russia, Peter the Great. The Charter included an introduction, as well as fifty-six chapters with general principles work of the apparatus of each government agency and various applications for interpreting new foreign words, which were in the text of the General Regulations.

Holy Synod

Before the end of the Northern War, Peter the Great begins to plan his church reforms. He orders Bishop Feofan Prokopovich to begin developing the Spiritual Regulations and on February 5, 1721, the tsar approves and signs the establishment of the Theological College, which will later become known as the “Holy Governing Synod.”

Each member of this body was obliged to personally swear allegiance to the king. On May 11, 1722, the post of Chief Prosecutor appeared, supervising the activities of the Synod and reporting all news to the ruler.

By creating the Synod, the sovereign introduced the church into the mechanism of the state, essentially likening it to one of the many existing administrative institutions at that time, endowed with certain functions and responsibilities.

Scheme of government under Peter I

Table: reforms of Peter I in the field of public administration

Date of reform	Contents of the reform
1704	The Boyar Duma was abolished
1711	The Senate was established (legislative, control and financial functions)
1700-1720	Abolition of the Patriarchate and creation of the Holy Synod
1708-1710	Local government reform. Creation of provinces
1714-1722	Creation of the prosecutor's office, introduction of the position of fiscal officers
1718-1721	Replacement of orders by collegiums
1722	Change in the system of succession to the throne (now the monarch himself appointed his successor)
1721	Proclamation of Russia as an empire

Scheme: local government after the management reforms of Peter I

Video lecture: Reforms of Peter I in the field of management

Test on the topic: Public administration reforms of Emperor Peter 1 Time limit: 0 Navigation (job numbers only) 0 of 4 tasks completed Information Check yourself! Historical test on the topic: Governance reforms of Peter I “ You have already taken the test before. You can't start it again. Test loading... You must log in or register in order to begin the test. You must complete the following tests to start this one: results Correct answers: 0 out of 4 Your time: Time is over You scored 0 out of 0 points (0) With answer With a viewing mark Task 1 of 4 1 . In what year was the government senate formed by Peter 1? Right Wrong Task 2 of 4

Explanations for the diagram:

1) The head of the state was the tsar (from 1721 the emperor) who still had full power.

2) Near office(in 1699-1711) replaced the Boyar Duma, then its place was taken by Senate (1711).

3) The Senate concentrated judicial, administrative and partially legislative power. He led all institutions in the state. The decisions of the Senate were collegial.

4) Prosecutor General and his deputy chief prosecutor supervised the work of the Senate. They were obeyed fiscals, who exercised control over all central and local administrative institutions.

5) The place of several dozen old Moscow orders was taken collegium- central government bodies - there were only 11 of them. Adjoining the collegiums Synod- the central governing body of the Church (church hierarchs sat in it, appointed by the tsar himself), as well as Chief Magistrate, ruled all the cities of the empire. Preobrazhensky order was in charge of political investigation.

The territory of Russia was divided into provinces (in 1708-1710 - 8. From 1719 - 11), which were divided into 50 provinces, and those in turn into discretes.

Peter introduced a new, more consistent than before, territorial division of the state. At the head of the main territorial unit - the province - was the governor, who concentrated in his hands all the power - administrative, police, judicial and financial. As a result of the state reforms of Peter I in Russia, state power was modernized along Western lines. Peter tried to build a regular state in Russia, based on a pre-developed plan - on the principles of rationality, with a unified and identical control system in its parts. An important principle in management has become the principle of collegiality - collective responsibility for decisions made in boards. In 1720, the General Regulations were published, which consolidated this principle and determined the basis for the functioning of the colleges.

Per capita taxation was introduced (for peasants and townspeople). Nobles and clergy did not pay taxes. In 1680-1724. tripling government revenues.

U The decree on the succession to the throne (1722) will cause an era of palace coups.

Features of the reforms: 1) were carried out according to the European model; 2) had a tough course and fast pace; 3) there was no system in their implementation; 4) took place on the basis of the state system of serfdom; 5) covered all spheres of activity and life of society; 6) depended on foreign policy.
The reform of Russia under Peter I was characterized by a certain feverishness and even inconsistency. This was largely due to the waging of a tense war with Sweden. The reforms largely served to strengthen the absolute power of the monarch. At the end of the reign of Peter I, the state structure was already strikingly different from the structure of Muscovite Russia, largely following Western European models. In Russia, an absolute monarchy is finally taking shape - a system of power in which its entirety belongs unlimitedly to one person standing at the head of the state - the tsar (emperor, king).

The attitude towards Peter and his reforms was ambiguous even during his lifetime. Some consider him a Westerner and a modernizer, others - a tyrant and despot. Some see in the reforms a break with the previous national tradition, others consider them only a somewhat improved preservation of these traditions.

Notes of the Danish envoy Just Juhl about Peter I (Extract)

The king is very tall, wears his own short brown, curly hair and a rather large mustache, is simple in attire and outward manners, but very insightful and intelligent. At dinner with the chief commandant, the tsar had with him a sword taken from Field Marshal Reinschild in the Battle of Poltava. ...December 15, 1709, in the afternoon, I went to the Admiralty shipyard to be present when the stems were raised on a 50-gun ship, but that day only one stem was raised, since the arrows (goats) were too weak to lift the sternpost. The king, as the chief shipmaster (a position for which he received a salary), was in charge of everything, participated with others in the work and, where necessary, chopped with an ax, which he wielded more skillfully than all the other carpenters present there. The officers and other people who were at the shipyard drank and shouted every minute. There was no shortage of boyars turned into jesters; on the contrary, a large number of them gathered here. It is worthy of note that, having made all the necessary orders for raising the stem, the tsar took off his hat in front of the admiral general standing there, asked him whether to begin, and only after receiving an affirmative answer put it on again, and then began his work. The tsar shows such respect and obedience not only to the admiral, but also to all senior persons in the service, for for now he himself is only a shautbenakht. Perhaps this may seem ridiculous, but, in my opinion, this course of action is based on a sound principle: the Tsar, by his own example, wants to show other Russians how they should be respectful and obedient to their boss in official matters.
From the shipyard the king went to visit one of his ship carpenters for the evening.
...The king often amuses himself with turning and carries the machine with him when traveling. In this skill he is not inferior to the most skilled turner and has even achieved the ability to turn portraits and figures. During my visit, he sometimes got up from his bench, walked back and forth around the room, joked about the people standing around and drank with them, and also sometimes talked with this or that, by the way, about the most important matters, about which is most convenient to talk to the king precisely in such cases. When the king sat down at the machine again, he began to work with such zeal and attention that he did not hear what was said to him and did not answer, but with great tenacity he continued his work, as if he was working for money and with this work he was earning his livelihood. In such cases, everyone stands around him and watches him work. Everyone stays with him as long as he wants and leaves whenever he pleases, without saying goodbye.

Personalities of the late XVII – first quarter of the XVIII centuries.

Alexey Petrovich(1690–1718) - Tsarevich, son of Peter I and Evdokia Lopukhina. He was hostile to his father's reforms. In 1711 he married Princess Sophia Charlotte of Brunswick-Wolfenbüttel, the sister of the Austrian Emperor, who died in 1715. From this marriage a daughter Natalya and a son Peter (the future Emperor Peter II) were born. Fearing persecution from his father, Alexey secretly went to Vienna in 1716 under the protection of his brother-in-law, the Austrian Emperor Charles VI, but was returned to Russia in 1718, where he was immediately arrested and imprisoned Peter and Paul Fortress on charges of treason and was sentenced to death. He died in his cell on the eve of his execution. According to some reports, he was strangled by those close to Peter I; according to other sources, he died after the verdict.

Bulavin Kondraty Afanasyevich(1660–1708) - Don Cossack, son of the village ataman. Leader of the uprising on the Don in 1707–1708. In 1707, Russia fought the Northern War with Sweden. To recruit recruits and search for fugitive peasants, a military detachment led by Prince V.V. was sent to the Don. Dolgorukovs. The ancient Cossack rule “There is no extradition from the Don” became the reason for the uprising. After the capture of Cherkassk, the capital of the Don Army, Bulavin was declared military chieftain. But after a series of unsuccessful battles, unrest began among the rebels; some of the Cossacks separated and tried to capture Bulavin. He was killed in a brutal shootout.

Golitsyn Vasily Vasilievich(1643–1714) - prince, military and statesman of Russia, boyar (from 1676). Promoted under Tsar Fyodor Alekseevich. He headed a number of orders. Participated in the defense of the country’s southern borders in the 70–80s. XVII century He headed the commission that made the decision to abolish localism. In 1686, he obtained from Poland the conclusion of the Eternal Peace, according to which it recognized the entry of Ukraine into Russia. He led the Crimean campaigns of 1687 and 1689, which turned out to be unsuccessful. A supporter of rapprochement with the West and the use of European experience in reforming Russia. During the reign of Sofia Alekseevna, he was her favorite and the de facto ruler of the state. After her fall, he was deprived of his boyar rank and property and exiled with his family.

Dolgorukovs - princes, associates of Peter I: Vasily Lukich (1670–1739) – diplomat, member of the Supreme Privy Council, executed; Grigory Fedorovich (1656–1723) – diplomat, ambassador to Poland 1701–1721; Yakov Fedorovich (1639–1720) – confidant of Peter I, in 1700–1711. in Swedish captivity; from 1712 - senator, from 1717 - president of the Board of Auditors.

Ivan V Alekseevich(1666–1696) - Russian Tsar, son of Alexei Mikhailovich from his marriage to M. Miloslavskaya. After the death of Tsar Fyodor Alekseevich in 1682, the Naryshkins proclaimed the younger Tsarevich Peter tsar, removing his older brother Ivan, who was sick and incapable of state affairs. However, during the Streltsy uprising, Ivan was placed on the throne, and then approved by the Zemsky Sobor as the first tsar, and his younger brother Peter began to be considered the second tsar. The reign of Ivan V was nominal: until 1689, Princess Sofya Alekseevna actually ruled, then Peter I.

Lefort Franz Yakovlevich(1656–1699) – military leader, a native of Switzerland. In 1678 he entered the military service into the Russian army, participated in the Russian-Turkish war (1676–1681) and the Crimean campaigns (1687 and 1689). He became close to Peter I, which contributed to his fast career; from 1691 - lieutenant general, from 1695 - admiral. During the Azov campaigns he commanded the Russian fleet. In 1697–1698 formally headed the Grand Embassy to Western Europe.

Lopukhina Evdokia Fedorovna(1670–1731) - queen, first wife of Peter I, mother of Tsarevich Alexei Petrovich, was tonsured a nun in 1698. In 1718, after the trial of Tsarevich Alexei, she was transferred from Suzdal to the Ladoga Assumption Monastery, and in 1725 to the Shlisselburg Fortress. After the accession of her grandson Peter II, she lived in the Moscow Ascension Monastery and enjoyed royal honors.

Mazepa Ivan Stepanovich(1640–1709) – Hetman of Left Bank Ukraine (1687–1708). One of the largest landowners in Ukraine. In an effort to separate Ukraine from Russia, he went over to the side of Charles XII after the Swedish invasion of Ukraine. In the Battle of Poltava he fought on the side of the Swedes. After the defeat, he fled with Charles XII to the Turkish fortress of Bendery, where he died.

Menshikov Alexander Danilovich(1673–1729) – statesman and military leader, generalissimo. The son of a court groom, Lefort's servant, from 1686 he was Peter I's orderly and favorite. He accompanied the Tsar on the Azov campaigns (1695–1696), on the Grand Embassy, ​​supervised the construction of St. Petersburg, Kronstadt, etc. Near Poltava, he led the persecution of the Swedes and forced them to surrender (1709). From 1704 – major general; from 1702 - count; from 1707 - His Serene Highness Prince, promoted to field marshal; from 1718 - President of the Military Collegium. After the death of Peter I, relying on the guard, he elevated Catherine I to the throne and became the de facto ruler of Russia. After her death, Peter II accused Menshikov of treason and theft of the treasury. The prince was arrested and stripped of all titles and awards, property and fortune. He was exiled with his family to Berezov (now Tyumen region), where he soon died.

Naryshkins- Russian noble family of the 16th - early 20th centuries. The rise of the family is associated with the second marriage of Tsar Alexei Mikhailovich to Natalya Kirillovna Naryshkina, the mother of Peter I. Lev Kirillovich Naryshkin (1664–1705) - statesman, boyar, uncle of Peter I. One of the largest and most influential politicians in Russia at the end of the 17th and beginning of the 18th centuries. In 1690–1702 headed the Ambassadorial department.

Peter I the Great(1672–1725) - Russian Tsar from 1682, Russian Emperor from 1721. Son of Alexei Mikhailovich Romanov and Natalya Kirillovna Naryshkina. Proclaimed king at the age of 10. However, he gained real power after the removal of his sister-regent Sophia Alekseevna (1689) and the death of his half-brother-co-ruler Ivan V (1696). He continued the line of his father and older half-brother Fyodor Alekseevich to overcome the backwardness of Russia by more actively introducing it to Western traditions. Peter I is an outstanding statesman of Russia, who significantly advanced its development in all areas. The main task of his reign was to ensure Russia's access to ice-free seas. This was the subject of his Azov campaigns (1695 and 1696), as well as the long Northern War, which resulted in the proclamation of Russia as an empire, and Peter I as the first Russian emperor and “Father of the Fatherland.” In 1703 he began construction of St. Petersburg, and in 1713 he moved the capital there.

Peter I carried out a series of reforms aimed at modernizing the country, its political and economic life. He was married twice - to Evdokia Lopukhina and Marta Skavronskaya (Catherine I), had a son Alexei and daughters Anna and Elizaveta (children from his first marriage - Alexander and Pavel and from the second - Ekaterina, Maria, Margarita, Peter, Pavel, Natalya - died in infancy or childhood). Son Alexei was accused of high treason and died in prison under unclear circumstances. Peter I himself died on January 28, 1725, without having time to name the heir to the throne.

The Emperor largely succeeded in solving most of the problems that faced Russia by the end of the 17th century. The country gained access to the Baltic Sea, a regular army and navy were created, a government system was formed that corresponded to European models, and a powerful breakthrough was made in the economy and cultural development. Russia has forced other European states to reckon with itself. A significant role in these changes was played by Peter I, who, being an integral and selfless nature, subordinated his entire life and all his activities to the service of the Russian Empire.

Prokopovich Feofan(1681–1736) – political and church leader, writer, historian. Originally from Ukraine. Since 1711 - rector of the Kiev-Mohyla Academy. In 1716 he moved to St. Petersburg and became Peter I’s closest assistant in carrying out church reform. Since 1721 - Vice-President of the Synod. In his works “The Tale of the Tsar’s Power and Honor” and “The Truth of the Monarch’s Will” he argued for the need in Russia for a policy of “enlightened absolutism” and the further strengthening of serfdom. Author of “The History of Emperor Peter the Great from his birth to the Battle of Poltava” and other works. He took part in the creation of the Academy of Sciences.

Sofya Alekseevna(1657–1704) – ruler of Russia in 1682–1689, daughter of Tsar Alexei Mikhailovich from his marriage to M. Miloslavskaya. She was distinguished by her intelligence, energy, ambition, and was an educated woman. Taking advantage of the uprising of 1682, the Miloslavsky party seized power, Ivan V Alekseevich was proclaimed the first tsar, and Peter the second. Sophia became regent for the young brothers-tsars. During her reign, some concessions were made to the settlements and the search for runaway peasants was weakened. In 1689, there was a break between Sophia and the boyar-noble group that supported Peter I. Peter’s party won. Sophia was imprisoned in the Novodevichy Convent. During the Streltsy uprising of 1698, Sophia’s supporters intended to “call” her to the throne. After the suppression of the uprising, Sophia was tonsured under the name of Susanna as a nun at the Novodevichy Convent, where she died.

Sheremetev Boris Petrovich(1652–1719) – statesman and military leader, field marshal general, diplomat, count. Companion of Peter I, participated in the Crimean and Azov campaigns. In 1697–1699 headed diplomatic missions to Poland, Austria, Italy, and Malta. Active participant in the Northern War, the Battle of Poltava, the Prut Campaign, etc.

As autocratic power strengthened, the Boyar Duma lost its significance. Peter I stopped granting Duma ranks, and the Duma began to “die out.” During the reign of Peter I, Zemsky Sobors were forgotten.

Establishment of the Senate

Boards and orders

In 1717, Peter I determined the name of the central government bodies and their tasks. The decree issued by the tsar read: “... Collegiums have been established, that is, a meeting of many people instead of orders.” Collegiums are bodies of the central executive power. Their number was much smaller than the orders.

However, the apparatus of orders was not completely destroyed. Some of them became offices, which were managed by appointed superiors. Local government institutions were closely connected with the collegiums.

Under Peter I, there was the Preobrazhensky Order - it was a body of political investigation. He obeyed only the king. It was headed by F. Yu. Romodanovsky. This order dealt with crimes against the king, the church and the state.

Holy Synod

The formation of a complex system of government institutions with a whole army of bureaucratic officials took place in Europe during the formation of modern states - absolute, i.e., not accountable to anyone, monarchies.

France under Louis XIV (1643-1715) and Russia from the reign of Alexei Mikhailovich to Peter I (1645-1721) became an example of absolutism. It is no coincidence that Alexei Mikhailovich was declared the “Sun King” a couple of years earlier than Louis XIV! Both states were characterized by the omnipotence of the ruler, who relied on a powerful bureaucratic apparatus, an army and an all-powerful police force.

S. Kirillov "Thoughts about Russia"

Speaking about the reform activities of Peter I, we must not forget that all his activities were not just his personal whim or quirks of character - they were conditioned by the entire previous development of Russia.

According to the historian S. Solovyov, in the life of every state, as in the life of every person, there is a transition from one age to another. And this transition is not always smooth and problem-free; more often it happens the other way around. Solovyov notes that pre-Petrine times were for Russia a time when feelings prevailed. Peter I ascended the throne at a time when Russia was moving into an age in which thought reigns.

Another thing is that Peter perceived the need for reforms for the country as a personal matter, which is why they were carried out by force. But what is certain is that they were necessary. As you know, water does not flow under a lying stone.

Scheme of administrative reforms of Peter I

IN. Klyuchevsky wrote: “The transformation of management is perhaps the most ostentatious, façade side of Peter’s transformative activities; All this activity was especially appreciated because of her.” It should be noted that Klyuchevsky was quite critical of Peter’s activities, believing that the management reforms were carried out by Peter hastily, haphazardly, the main purpose of their implementation was to more effectively withdraw money from the people for ever-increasing military expenses, because Peter himself called money the artery of war. As one American researcher said, “Peter not only dressed like a soldier, but also acted and thought like a soldier.” But if Peter’s commands were clear and precise, their execution did not correspond to this characteristic: often regulations and orders were nullified by constant changes in government institutions, sometimes the same functions were duplicated by different institutions, many institutions and positions changed only their names: old Russian ones European, but in essence they remained the same, because the people in them worked according to the same principle, and the tsar, even though he was Peter I, could not personally keep track of everything.

Abolition of the Boyar Duma

But the style and methods of management gradually changed: instead of the Boyar Duma, decisions began to be made by a team composed of the closest associates of Peter I. At first, Peter’s main adviser was Prince Fyodor Romodanovsky, whom his contemporaries characterized as “an evil tyrant, drunk all day.”

In 1699, a special department of cities was created. The decrees introduced self-government for the city merchants, as well as for the population of Pomeranian cities. The power of the governor was abolished - elected mayors began to be in charge of the courts and collection of taxes. The Moscow City Hall, which was elected by the merchants of Moscow, was placed at the head of the new bodies. The Town Hall was in charge of state revenue receipts from cities and general supervision of the actions of self-government bodies. The Town Hall was headed by the Chief Inspector of the Town Hall Board (the first in this position was Sheremetev's former butler Alexey Kurbatov). But soon Peter loses confidence in the Town Hall and comes to the decision to transfer most of the management to the local authorities, because “It is difficult for a person to understand and rule everything with his own eyes.”

Peter the First

1707 - the beginning of a new reform: provinces are created, which are divided into provinces. A total of 8 provinces were formed: Moscow, Ingermanland (later St. Petersburg), Kiev, Smolensk, Arkhangelsk, Kazan, Azov and Siberian. Governor-Generals were appointed at the head of the border provinces, and governors at the head of the rest. The governors were at the head of the provinces. Zemstvo offices were located under the governors and governors. Since 1710, voivodes began to be called district commandants.

The governors had as their assistants a deputy (vice-governor), a landrichter (a judicial officer), a provisions master and other officials.

In 1710, a household census was carried out and a special payment unit was established, providing one “share” of funds to cover military expenses.

But this reform did not live up to expectations: the Northern War was dragging on, there was not enough money, and this always creates fertile ground for fraud. In addition, an incomprehensible situation had arisen with the capital: St. Petersburg had not yet become one, and Moscow had already ceased to be one, and power was still concentrated in the hands of Peter the Great’s team, which he called either the nearby chancellery or the “consultation of ministers.”

Establishment of the Senate

Finally, by Decree of March 2, 1711, a new government body was created - the Senate. Initially, the Senate consisted of 9 of Peter’s closest employees. It was the highest state authority.

To control management in 1711, Peter created a system of fiscals, which were subordinate to the chief fiscal. Their duties: to report to the Senate and the Tsar about the abuses and dishonest actions of officials. Fiscals received half of the property of the culprit if their denunciation was confirmed.

This is where the legs of modern corruption come from!

A. Tolyander "Peter I"

But in 1722, the position of prosecutor general was introduced - to manage the fiscal authorities. The Prosecutor General was supposed to oversee the Senate, thereby reducing the role of the Senate.

Peter took the Swedish government system as a model for the reform of public administration, which was built on the principles of cameralism (organization of an institution based on collegiality, regulation of the activities of officials, uniformity of staff and salaries). But someone else's experience can never be completely transferred to another soil. Peter also made changes, due to the peculiarities of Russia, by Decree of April 28, 1718: “All boards must now, on the basis of the Swedish statute, write in all cases and procedures point by point, and which points in the Swedish regulations are inconvenient, or are dissimilar to the situation of this state and Set them according to your own judgment. And, having stated about them, report whether they are so.”

Creation of boards

In 1712, Peter created collegiums based on the Swedish model: Foreign Affairs, Admiralty, Military, Chamber Collegium and Commerce Collegium. Peter defined their competencies, staffed them and appointed presidents and vice-presidents of the boards.

Thus, many of the surviving orders ceased to exist, but some became part of new institutions: seven orders were included in the Justic College. In the collegial system, the division of activities became clearer, and a consultative procedure for conducting business was implemented. Peter noted: “In the college, the proposed need is analyzed by many minds, and what one does not comprehend, another will comprehend, and what this one does not see, that other will see.”

In 1722, the Berg and Manufactur Collegium was divided into the Berg Collegium and the Manufactory Collegium, and the Little Russian Collegium was formed to improve the governance of Ukraine.

In 1720, with the adoption of the General Regulations, the functions and competencies of the collegiums were finally delineated. The collegial system lasted for almost a hundred years, until 1802.

Formation of the Synod

In 1721 The Spiritual Collegium was formed - the Synod, which was removed from the subordination of the Senate. The patriarchate was abolished. The Chief Prosecutor became the head of the Holy Synod.

Local government reform

Following the Swedish model, Peter also reformed local government. The provinces were now divided into provinces, and the provinces into districts; the districts were headed by zemstvo commissars, who were appointed by the Chamber Collegium.

The townsfolk population was divided into three guilds: the 1st guild (rich merchants, owners of craft workshops), the 2nd guild (small traders, wealthy artisans) and the “mean people.” The body of city government was called the magistrate. Only members of the guilds had the right to be elected to the magistrate. The activities of city magistrates were controlled by the Chief Magistrate, created in 1720.

Transformations were also carried out in relation to the non-serf population: they were united with state peasants. Serfdom was eliminated by merging it with serfs.

Thus, a powerful noble-bureaucratic apparatus was formed in Russia.

Introduction Table of ranks

Original Table of Ranks

The result of the administrative reform was the adoption in 1722 of the Table of Ranks. This is a set of laws about order civil service. All nobles were obliged to serve; service was declared the only way to obtain a state rank. It opened up the possibility of promotion, including for people from the “vile crowd.” Peter said: “For this reason, we do not allow anyone any rank until they show us and the fatherland any services and receive character for them.”

In accordance with the Table, all positions were divided into six parts: military (land, artillery, guard, naval), civil and court, and into 14 classes, or ranks.

The table of ranks existed with numerous changes until the 1917 revolution.

Peter the First. Mosaic portrait made by M. Lomonosov at the Ust-Ruditsk factory

Changing the succession system

In February 1722, Peter I signed the Decree on Succession to the Throne. It abolished the ancient custom of passing the throne to direct descendants in the male line and provided for the appointment of an heir to the throne at the will of the monarch. The decree on succession to the throne appeared in connection with the struggle of Peter I with his son, Tsarevich Alexei, who grouped the opposition around himself. After the death of Tsarevich Alexei (1718), Peter did not want to transfer power to his grandson Peter Alekseevich, because feared that opponents of the reforms would come to power, hoping to resolve the issue of succession to the throne in the spirit of absolutism. This decree of Peter is associated with the situation of the struggle for the throne and subsequently palace coups.

The decree on succession to the throne was canceled by Emperor Paul I in 1797.

There is no unambiguous attitude towards all Peter’s reforms, especially with regard to administrative reforms. Historian V.Ya. Ulanov writes: “All these transformations, which followed one another in a continuous stream... not only did not lead the population to material and moral prosperity, but were oppression, not much inferior to the war of Peter the Great.”