S. Kirillov "Thoughts about Russia"

Speaking about the reforming activities of Peter I, we must not forget that all his activities were not only his personal whims or quirks of character - they were due to all the 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 is the other way around. Solovyov notes that the pre-Petrine time was for Russia a time when feeling prevails. Peter I ascended the throne at a time when Russia was moving into an age dominated by thought.

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. Under a lying stone, as you know, water does not flow.

The scheme of administrative reforms of Peter I

IN. Klyuchevsky wrote: “The transformation of management is perhaps the most ostentatious, facade side of Peter's transformative activity; for it especially willingly appreciated all this activity. It should be noted that Klyuchevsky was rather critical of Peter's activities, believing that the management reforms were carried out by Peter hastily, unsystematically, the main purpose of their implementation was a more effective withdrawal of money from the people for ever-growing military spending, 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, then their execution did not correspond to this characteristic: often the establishments and orders were nullified by constant changes in state institutions, sometimes the same functions were duplicated by different institutions, many institutions and positions changed only their names: old Russian to European, but in essence they remained the same, because the people in them worked according to the same principle, and the tsar, although he was Peter I, could not personally follow 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 made up of the closest associates of Peter I. At first, Prince Fedor Romodanovsky, whom his contemporaries characterized as "an evil tyrant, drunk all day," was Peter's main adviser.

In 1699, a special department of cities was created. Decrees introduced self-government for the city merchants, as well as for the population of Pomeranian cities. The power of governors was abolished - elected burmisters began to be in charge of court and tax collection. The Moscow City Hall, which was chosen by the merchants of Moscow, was placed at the head of the new bodies. The City Hall was in charge of state revenues from cities and general supervision of the actions of self-government bodies. The chief inspector of the town hall board headed the Town Hall (the former butler of Sheremetev Alexei Kurbatov was the first to hold this position). But soon Peter loses confidence in the Town Hall and comes to the decision to transfer most of the management to the field, because. “It is difficult for a man to understand and rule everything with his eyes.”

Peter the Great

1707 - the beginning of a new reform: provinces are created, which are divided into provinces. In total, 8 provinces were formed: Moscow, Ingermanland (later St. Petersburg), Kyiv, 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. Governors were at the head of the provinces. Under the governors and governors were zemstvo offices. Since 1710, governors began to be called district commandants.

The governors had as assistants a deputy (vice-governor), a landrichter (judicial clerk), a food 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 dragged on, there was not enough money, and this always creates fertile ground for fraud. In addition, an incomprehensible situation arose with the capital: Petersburg had not yet become one, and Moscow had already ceased to be one, and power was still concentrated in the hands of the Peter's team, which he called either the nearest chancellery or the "council of ministers."

Establishment of the Senate

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

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

This is where the legs of modern corruption grow from!

A. Tolyander "Peter I"

But in 1722 the post of prosecutor general was introduced - to lead the fiscals. The Prosecutor General was supposed to oversee the Senate, thereby reducing the role of the Senate.

Model for reform government controlled Peter took the Swedish state structure, which was built on the principles of cameralism (organization of the institution on the basis of collegiality, regulation of the activities of officials, uniformity of states and salaries). But never someone else's experience can be completely transferred to another soil. Peter also made changes, due to the peculiarities of Russia, by Decree of April 28, 1718: “Now, on the basis of the Swedish charter, it is necessary for all collegiums to compose in all matters and procedures point by point, and which points in the Swedish regulations are inconvenient, or are dissimilar to the situation of this state and put them according to your own reasoning. And, putting about them, report whether they are so.

Creation of boards

In 1712, Peter created the Swedish model colleges: Foreign Affairs, Admiralty, Military, Chamber College and Commerce College. Peter defined their competencies, staffed and appointed presidents and vice-presidents of the colleges.

Thus, many of the surviving orders ceased to exist, but some became part of the new institutions: the Justice College included seven orders. In the collegial system, the division of activities became clearer, and an advisory order of doing business was carried out. Peter noted: “In the college, the proposed need is analyzed by many minds, and what one does not comprehend, the other will comprehend, and what this one does not see, he will see.”

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

In 1720, with the adoption of the General Regulations, the functions and competences of the collegiums were finally delimited. The collegiate system lasted almost a hundred years - until 1802.

Formation of the Synod

In 1721 The Spiritual College 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 self-government. The provinces were now divided into provinces, and the provinces into districts, at the head of the districts were zemstvo commissars, who were appointed by the Chamber Collegium.

The townspeople were divided into three guilds: the 1st guild (wealthy merchants, owners of handicraft workshops), the 2nd guild (small merchants, wealthy artisans) and the "mean people". The body of city self-government was called a magistrate. Only members of the guilds had the right to choose a 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: it was united with the state peasants. Serfdom was eliminated by merging it with the serfs.

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

Introduction to the 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 code of laws public service. All nobles were obliged to serve, the service was declared the only way to obtain a state rank. She opened the possibility of promotion, including people from the "mean people." Peter said: “For this reason, we do not allow anyone any rank until they show us and the fatherland any services and do not receive character for them.”

In accordance with the Table, all posts were divided into six parts: military (ground, artillery, guards, naval), civil and courtiers, and into 14 classes, or ranks.

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

Peter the Great. Mosaic portrait made by M. Lomonosov at the Ust-Ruditskaya factory

Changing the system of succession

In February 1722, Peter I signed a 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 him. After the death of Tsarevich Alexei (1718), Peter did not want to transfer power to his grandson Peter Alekseevich, because. he feared that opponents of the reforms would come to power, hoping to resolve the issue of succession in the spirit of absolutism. The situation of the struggle for the throne and, later, palace coups are connected with this decree of Peter.

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

There is no unambiguous attitude to all Peter's reforms, especially administrative reforms. Historian V.Ya. Ulanov writes: "All these transformations, which followed one after 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."

With the strengthening of autocratic power, the Boyar Duma lost its significance. Peter I stopped awarding Duma ranks, and the Duma began to "die out." During the reign of Peter I, Zemsky Sobors were forgotten.

Establishment of the Senate

Colleges and orders

In 1717, Peter I determined the name of the central bodies of state administration and their tasks. The decree issued by the king read: "... Colleges were instituted, that is, an assembly of many persons instead of orders." Boards are bodies of the central executive power. Their number was much less than orders.

At the same time, the apparatus of orders was not completely destroyed. Some of them became offices run by appointed chiefs. Local government institutions were closely connected with colleges.

Under Peter I, there was the Preobrazhensky Prikaz - it was an organ of political investigation. He obeyed only the king. It was headed by F. Yu. Ro-modanovsky. This order dealt with crimes against the king, the church and the state.

Holy Synod

Formation complex system state institutions with a whole army of officials-bureaucrats took place in Europe during the period of the formation of the states of the New Age - absolute, that is, 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 a model of absolutism. It is no coincidence that Alexei Mikhailovich was declared the “king of the sun” a couple of years earlier than Louis XIV! Both states were characterized by the omnipotence of the ruler, relying on a powerful bureaucratic apparatus, the army and the all-powerful police.

Most of all, Peter I was occupied with the thought of the fleet and the possibility of trade relations with Europe. To put his ideas into practice, he equipped the Great Embassy and visited a number of European countries, where he saw how Russia lagged behind in its development.

This event in the life of the young tsar marked the beginning of his transformational activity. The first reforms of Peter I were aimed at changing the external signs of Russian life: he ordered beards to be shaved and ordered to dress in European clothes, he introduced music, tobacco, balls and other innovations into the life of Moscow society, which shocked him.

By decree of December 20, 1699, Peter I approved the reckoning from the Nativity of Christ and the celebration of the new year on January 1.

Foreign policy of Peter I

main goal foreign policy Peter I had access to the Baltic Sea, which would provide Russia with a connection with Western Europe. In 1699, Russia, having entered into an alliance with Poland and Denmark, declared war on Sweden. On the outcome Northern war, which lasted 21 years, was influenced by the victory of the Russians in the Battle of Poltava on June 27, 1709. and the victory over the Swedish fleet at Gangut on July 27, 1714.

On August 30, 1721, the Treaty of Nystadt was signed, according to which Russia retained the conquered lands of Livonia, Estland, Ingermanland, part of Karelia and all the islands of the Gulf of Finland and Riga. Access to the Baltic Sea was secured.

In commemoration of what was achieved in the Great Northern War, on October 20, 1721, the Senate and the Synod awarded the tsar with the title of Father of the Fatherland, Peter the Great and Emperor of All Russia.

In 1723, after a month and a half of hostilities with Persia, Peter I acquired the western shore of the Caspian Sea.

Simultaneously with the conduct of hostilities, the vigorous activity of Peter I was also aimed at carrying out numerous reforms, the purpose of which was to bring the country closer to European civilization, increase the education of the Russian people, and strengthen the power and international position of Russia. A lot has been done by the great tsar, here are just the main reforms of Peter I.

Reform of public administration of Peter I

Instead of the Boyar Duma, in 1700 the Council of Ministers was created, which met in the Near Chancellery, and in 1711 - the Senate, which by 1719 had become the highest state body. With the creation of the provinces, numerous Orders ceased their activity, they were replaced by Collegia, which were subordinate to the Senate. The control system also operated Secret police- Preobrazhensky order (in charge of state crimes) and the Secret Chancellery. Both institutions were under the jurisdiction of the emperor himself.

Administrative reforms of Peter I

Regional (provincial) reform of Peter I

The biggest administrative reform local government was the creation in 1708 of 8 provinces headed by governors, in 1719 their number increased to 11. The second administrative reform divided the provinces into provinces headed by governors, and the provinces into districts (counties) headed by zemstvo commissars.

Urban reform (1699-1720)

To manage the city, the Burmister Chamber in Moscow was created, renamed in November 1699 into the City Hall, and magistrates subordinate to the Chief Magistrate in St. Petersburg (1720). The members of the City Hall and the magistrates were elected through elections.

Estate reforms

The main goal of the estate reform of Peter I was to formalize the rights and obligations of each estate - the nobility, the peasantry and the urban population.

Nobility.

1. Decree on estates (1704), according to which both boyars and nobles received estates and estates.
2. Decree on Education (1706) - all boyar children are required to receive primary education.
3. Decree on single inheritance (1714), according to which a nobleman could leave an inheritance only to one of his sons.
4. Table of Ranks (1722): the service to the sovereign was divided into three departments - the army, the state and the court - each of which was divided into 14 ranks. This document allowed a man of the lower class to curry favor with the nobility.

Peasantry

Most of the peasants were serfs. Kholops could sign up as soldiers, which freed them from serfdom.

Among the free peasants were:

• state, with personal freedom, but limited in the right to move (i.e., by the will of the monarch, they could be transferred to serfs);
• palace, which belonged personally to the king;
• sessional, assigned to manufactories. The owner had no right to sell them.

urban estate

Urban people were divided into "regular" and "irregular". The regular ones were divided into guilds: the 1st guild - the richest, the 2nd guild - small merchants and wealthy artisans. Irregulars, or "mean people", made up the majority of the urban population.

In 1722, workshops appeared that united masters of one craft.

Judicial reform of Peter I

The functions of the Supreme Court were carried out by the Senate and the College of Justice. Courts of appeal and provincial courts headed by governors operated in the provinces. The provincial courts dealt with the cases of peasants (except for monasteries) and townspeople not included in the settlement. Since 1721, the court cases of the townspeople included in the settlement were conducted by the magistrate. In other cases, cases were decided by the Zemstvo or city judge alone.

Church reform of Peter I

Peter I abolished the patriarchate, deprived the church of power, and transferred its funds to the state treasury. Instead of the post of patriarch, the tsar introduced a collegiate supreme administrative church body - the Holy Synod.

Financial reforms of Peter I

The first stage of the financial reform of Peter I was reduced to collecting money for the maintenance of the army and the conduct of wars. Benefits from the monopoly sale of certain types of goods (vodka, salt, etc.) were added, indirect taxes (bath, horse, beard, etc.) were introduced.

In 1704, a monetary reform, according to which the penny became the main monetary unit. The fiat ruble was abolished.

Tax reform of Peter I consisted in the transition from the household taxation to the poll tax. In this regard, the government included in the tax all categories of the peasant and townspeople, who had previously been exempt from tax.

Thus, during tax reform of Peter I a single monetary tax (poll tax) was introduced and the number of taxpayers increased.

Social reforms of Peter I

Education reform of Peter I

In the period from 1700 to 1721. many civilian and military schools were opened in Russia. Among them are the School of Mathematical and Navigational Sciences; artillery, engineering, medical, mining, garrison, theological schools; digital schools for free education of children of all ranks; Maritime Academy in St. Petersburg.

Peter I created the Academy of Sciences, under which the first Russian university, and with him the first gymnasium. But this system began to operate after the death of Peter.

Reforms of Peter I in culture

Peter I introduced a new alphabet, which facilitated literacy and promoted book printing. The first Russian newspaper Vedomosti began to be published, in 1703 the first book in Russian with Arabic numerals appeared.

The tsar developed a plan for the stone construction of St. Petersburg, paying special attention to the beauty of architecture. He invited foreign artists, and also sent talented young people abroad to study "arts". Peter I laid the foundation for the Hermitage.

Medical reforms of Peter I

The main transformations were the opening of hospitals (1707 - the first Moscow military hospital) and schools attached to them, which trained doctors and pharmacists.

In 1700, pharmacies were established at all military hospitals. In 1701, Peter I issued a decree on the opening of eight private pharmacies in Moscow. Since 1704, state pharmacies began to open in many cities of Russia.

To grow, study, create collections of medicinal plants, pharmaceutical gardens were created, where seeds and foreign flora were imported.

Socio-economic reforms of Peter I

To boost industrial production and develop trade relations with foreign countries, Peter I invited foreign specialists, but at the same time encouraged the domestic industrialist and merchant. Peter I sought to ensure that more goods were exported from Russia than were imported. During his reign, 200 plants and factories operated on the territory of Russia.

Reforms of Peter I in the army

Peter I introduced annual recruitment sets of young Russians (from 15 to 20 years old) and ordered the training of soldiers to begin. In 1716, the Military Regulations were issued, outlining the service, rights and duties of the military.

As a result military reform of Peter I a powerful regular army and navy was created.

The reform activities of Peter had the support of a wide range of nobility, but caused discontent and resistance among the boyars, archers and the clergy, because. transformations entailed the loss of their leading role in public administration. Among the opponents of the reforms of Peter I was his son Alexei.

The results of the reforms of Peter I

1. The regime of absolutism is established in Russia. During the years of his reign, Peter created a state with a more advanced system of government, a strong army and navy, and a stable economy. There was a centralization of power.
2. Rapid development of foreign and domestic trade.
3. The abolition of the patriarchate, the church lost its independence and authority in society.
4. Enormous progress has been made in science and culture. A task of national importance was set - the creation of a Russian medical education, as well as the beginning of Russian surgery.

Features of the reforms of Peter I

1. The reforms were carried out according to the European model and covered all spheres of activity and life of society.
2. Lack of reform system.
3. The reforms were carried out mainly through harsh exploitation and coercion.
4. Peter, impatient by nature, innovated at a rapid pace.

Reasons for the reforms of Peter I

To XVIII century Russia was a backward country. It was significantly inferior to Western European countries in terms of industrial output, level of education and culture (even in the ruling circles there were many illiterate people). The boyar aristocracy, which was at the head of the state apparatus, did not meet the needs of the country. Russian army, consisting of archers and noble militia, was poorly armed, not trained and could not cope with its task.

Prerequisites for the reforms of Peter I

In the course of the history of our country by this time, significant shifts in its development had already taken place. The city separated from the countryside, agriculture and handicrafts were separated, industrial enterprises of the manufactory type arose. Developed internal and international trade. Russia borrowed from Western Europe technology and science, culture and education, but at the same time developed independently. Thus, the ground for Peter's reforms had already been prepared.

Peter the Great (1672 - 1725) - Russian Tsar, ruled independently from 1689 to 1725. He carried out a large-scale reform of all areas of life in Russia. The artist Valentin Serov, who dedicated a number of works to Peter, described him as follows: “He was terrible: long, on weak, thin legs and with such a small head, in relation to the whole body, that he should have looked more like some kind of stuffed animal with a poorly set head than a living person. There was a constant tic in his face, and he was always "cutting faces": blinking, twitching his mouth, moving his nose and clapping his chin. At the same time, he walked with huge steps, and all his companions were forced to follow him at a run. .

Prerequisites for the reforms of Peter the Great

Peter accepted Russia as a backward country, located on the outskirts of Europe. Muscovy had no access to the sea, with the exception of the White, regular army, navy, developed industry, trade, the system of government was antediluvian and inefficient, there were no higher educational establishments(only in 1687 the Slavic-Greek-Latin Academy opened in Moscow), printing, theater, painting, libraries, not only the people, but many members of the elite: boyars, nobles, did not know the letter. Science did not develop. Serfdom ruled.

Public Administration Reform

- Peter replaced the orders, which did not have clear responsibilities, with collegiums, the prototype of future ministries

• College of Foreign Affairs
• Collegium military
• Maritime College
• College for commercial affairs
• College of Justice...

The boards consisted of several officials, the eldest was called the chairman or president. All of them were subordinate to the Governor-General, who was a member of the Senate. There were 12 boards in total.
- In March 1711, Peter created the Governing Senate. At first its function was to govern the country in the absence of the king, then it became a permanent institution. The Senate consisted of presidents of colleges and senators - people appointed by the king.
- In January 1722, Peter issued a "table of ranks" with 14 class ranks from State Chancellor (first rank) to collegiate registrar (fourteenth)
- Peter reorganized the secret police system. Since 1718, the Preobrazhensky Prikaz, which was in charge of political crimes, was transformed into the Secret Investigative Office

Church reform of Peter

Peter abolished the patriarchate, a church organization practically independent of the state, and instead created the Holy Synod, all members of which were appointed by the tsar, thereby eliminating the autonomy of the clergy. Peter pursued a policy of religious tolerance, facilitating the existence of the Old Believers and allowing foreigners to freely profess their faith.

Administrative reform of Peter

Russia was divided into provinces, provinces were divided into provinces, provinces into counties.
Provinces:

• Moscow
• Ingrian
• Kyiv
• Smolensk
• Azov
• Kazanskaya
• Arkhangelsk
• Siberian
• Riga
• Astrakhan
• Nizhny Novgorod

Military reform of Peter

Peter replaced the irregular and noble militia with a standing regular army, manned by recruits, recruited one from each of the 20 peasant or petty-bourgeois households in the Great Russian provinces. He built a powerful navy, he wrote the military charter himself, taking the Swedish one as a basis.

Peter turned Russia into one of the strongest maritime powers world, with 48 linear and 788 galley and other ships

Economic reform of Peter

The modern army could not exist without a state supply system. To supply the army and navy with weapons, uniforms, food, consumables, it was necessary to create a powerful industrial production. By the end of Peter's reign, about 230 factories and plants operated in Russia. Factories focused on the production of glass products, gunpowder, paper, canvas, linen, cloth, paints, ropes, even hats were created, the metallurgical, sawmilling, and leather industries were organized. In order for the products of Russian craftsmen to be competitive in the market, high customs duties were introduced on European goods. Encouraging entrepreneurial activity, Peter widely used the issuance of loans to create new manufactories and trading companies. The largest enterprises that arose in the era of Peter's reforms were those created in Moscow, St. Petersburg, the Urals, Tula, Astrakhan, Arkhangelsk, Samara

• Admiralty Shipyard
• Arsenal
• Gunpowder factories
• Metallurgical plants
• Linen production
• Production of potash, sulfur, saltpeter

By the end of the reign of Peter I, Russia had 233 factories, including more than 90 large manufactories built during his reign. During the first quarter of the 18th century, 386 different ships were built at the shipyards of St. Petersburg and Arkhangelsk, at the beginning of the century, about 150 thousand pounds of pig iron were smelted in Russia, in 1725 - more than 800 thousand pounds, Russia caught up with England in iron smelting

Peter's reform in education

The army and navy needed qualified specialists. Therefore, Peter paid great attention to their preparation. During his reign were organized in Moscow and St. Petersburg

• School of Mathematical and Navigational Sciences
• artillery school
• engineering school
• medical school
• Marine Academy
• mining schools at the Olonets and Ural factories
• Digital schools for "children of every rank"
• Garrison schools for children of soldiers
• spiritual schools
• Academy of Sciences (opened a few months after the death of the emperor)

Reforms of Peter in the field of culture

• Publication of the first Russian newspaper "Sankt-Peterburgskie Vedomosti"
• Ban on boyars wearing beards
• Establishment of the first Russian museum - Kunskamera
• Requirement for nobility to wear European dress
• Creation of assemblies where the nobles were to appear together with their wives
• Creation of new printing houses and translation into Russian of many European books

Reforms of Peter the Great. Chronology

• 1690 - The first guards regiments Semenovsky and Preobrazhensky were created
• 1693 - Creation of a shipyard in Arkhangelsk
• 1696 - Creation of a shipyard in Voronezh
• 1696 - Decree on the establishment of an arms factory in Tobolsk
• 1698 - Decree banning the wearing of beards and ordering the nobles to wear European clothes
• 1699 - Dissolution of the archery army
• 1699 - creation of commercial and industrial enterprises enjoying a monopoly
• 1699, December 15 - Decree on the reform of the calendar. New Year starts January 1
• 1700 - Creation of the Government Senate
• 1701 - Decree forbidding kneeling at the sight of the sovereign and taking off his hat in winter, passing by his palace
• 1701 - Opening of the school of mathematical and navigational sciences in Moscow
• 1703, January - the first Russian newspaper is published in Moscow

• 1704 - Replacement of the Boyar Duma with a council of ministers - the Council of Chiefs of Orders
• 1705 - First recruitment decree
• 1708 November - Administrative Reform
• 1710, January 18 - decree on the official introduction of the Russian civil alphabet instead of Church Slavonic
• 1710 - Foundation of the Alexander Nevsky Lavra in St. Petersburg
• 1711 - instead of the Boyar Duma, a Senate of 9 members and a chief secretary was created. Monetary reform: minting gold, silver and copper coins
• 1712 - Transfer of the capital from Moscow to St. Petersburg
• 1712 - Decree on the creation of horse breeding farms in the Kazan, Azov and Kyiv provinces
• 1714, February - Decree on the opening of digital schools for the children of clerks and priests
• 1714, March 23 - Decree on majorate (single inheritance)
• 1714 - Foundation of the State Library in St. Petersburg
• 1715 - Creation of shelters for the poor in all cities of Russia
• 1715 - Order of the merchant college to organize the training of Russian merchants abroad
• 1715 - Decree to encourage the cultivation of flax, hemp, tobacco, mulberries for silkworms
• 1716 - Census of all dissenters for double taxation
• 1716, March 30 - Adoption of military regulations
• 1717 - The introduction of free trade in grain, the annulment of some privileges for foreign merchants
• 1718 - Replacement of Orders by Colleges
• 1718 - Judicial reform. tax reform
• 1718 - Beginning of the census (lasted until 1721)
• 1719, November 26 - Decree on the establishment of assemblies - free meetings for fun and business
• 1719 - Creation of an engineering school, the establishment of the Berg College to manage the mining industry
• 1720 - Adopted the Charter of the Sea
• 1721, January 14 - Decree on the creation of the Theological College (future Holy Synod)

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Reforms of public administration of Emperor Peter 1

Historians call the Petrine reforms of the central administration 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 Collegia, the formation of the royal Secret Office of the Holy Synod.

During the formation of Peter on the throne, the nobles acted as a key post of state administration, who received their rank by the right of surname and origin. Peter, who came to power, understood that the established system of government was one of the weak links. What exactly is it that hinders the country in its development.

Traveling around Europe from 1697 to 1698, the king as part of the Great Embassy allowed him to get acquainted 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 power, 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 "Concil of Ministers", which was a council of chiefs 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, which controls the financial transactions of each order and makes administrative decisions. All royal advisers were required to sign the most important documents and register these events in a special book of nominal decrees.

Establishment of the Senate

On March 2, 1711, Peter the Great formed the so-called Governing Senate, which is highest authority administrative, judicial and legislative powers. The tsar assigned all his duties to this body during his absence, because frequent trips due to the Northern War could not stop the development of the state. At the same time, this administrative body was completely subordinate to the royal will and had a collegiate 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 carry out additional supervision during the absence of the king for officials.

The formation and development of colleges takes place in the period from 1718 to 1726. In them, the king saw an organ capable of replacing the outdated system of slow orders, which, for the most part, only duplicated each other's functions.

Appearing, colleges completely absorbed orders, and in the period from 1718 to 1720, the presidents of the educated Colleges even are senators and personally sit in the Senate. It should be noted that later only the main Colleges remained in the Senate:

• Foreign Affairs;
• Admiralty;
• Military.

The formation of the above-described system of boards completes the process of bureaucratization and centralization of the state apparatus of Russia. The division 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 royal decree of May 9, 1718, the presidents of the three colleges were instructed to begin the development of a document called the General Regulations, which would be a system of office work and be based on the Swedish charter. This system later became known as "college". In fact, the regulation 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 operation of the apparatus of each public institution and various applications for the interpretation of new foreign words that 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 transformations. He orders Bishop Feofan Prokopovich to start developing the Spiritual Regulations, and on February 5, 1721, the Tsar approves and signs the establishment of the Spiritual College, which will later become known as the "Holy Governing Synod."

Each member of this body was required 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 the news to the ruler.

Having created the Synod, the sovereign introduced the church into the mechanism of the state, in fact 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

reform date	The content of the reform
1704	The Boyar Duma was abolished
1711	The Senate was established (legislative, control and financial functions)
1700-1720	The abolition of the patriarchate and the creation of the Holy Synod
1708-1710	Reform of local self-government. Creation of provinces
1714-1722	Creation of the prosecutor's office, introduction of the position of fiscals
1718-1721	Replacement of orders by boards
1722.	Change in the system of succession to the throne (now the monarch himself appointed his own successor)
1721.	Proclamation of Russia as an empire

Scheme: local self-government after the management reforms of Peter I

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

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