The Supreme Privy Council 1730. The Supreme Privy Council briefly and clearly - the most important thing

Supreme Privy Council- the highest advisory state institution of Russia in 1726-1730 (7-8 people). Created by Catherine I as an advisory body, in fact, it resolved the most important state issues.

The accession to the throne of Catherine I after the death of Peter I caused the need for an institution that could explain the state of affairs to the empress and direct the direction of the government, for which Catherine did not feel capable. Such an institution was the Supreme Privy Council.

The decree establishing the Council was issued in February 1726. Field Marshal General His Serene Highness Prince Menshikov, General Admiral Count Apraksin, State Chancellor Count Golovkin, Count Tolstoy, Prince Dimitri Golitsyn, and Baron Osterman were appointed members of the Council. A month later, the son-in-law of the Empress, the Duke of Holstein, was included in the number of members of the Supreme Privy Council, on whose zeal, as the Empress officially declared, "we can fully rely." Thus, the Supreme Privy Council was originally composed almost exclusively of the chicks of Petrov's nest; but already under Catherine I, one of them, Count Tolstoy, was ousted by Menshikov; under Peter II, Menshikov himself found himself in exile; Count Apraksin died; the duke of Holstein had long ceased to be in the council; of the original members of the Council, three remained - Golitsyn, Golovkin and Osterman.

Under the influence of the Dolgoruky, the composition of the Council changed: the predominance in it passed into the hands of the princely families of Dolgoruky and Golitsyn.
The Council was subordinated to the Senate and collegiums. The Senate, which began to be called "High" (and not "Governing"), was at first belittled to such an extent that it was decided to send decrees to it not only from the Council, but even from the Holy Synod, which was formerly equal to it. The Senate was deprived of the title of governing, and then they thought of taking this title away from the Synod as well. First, the Senate was titled "highly trusted", and then simply "high."

Under Menshikov, the Soviet tried to consolidate government power; ministers, as the members of the Council were called, and senators swore allegiance to the empress or to the regulations of the Supreme Privy Council. It was forbidden to execute decrees that were not signed by the Empress and the Council.

According to the will of Catherine I, during the childhood of Peter II, the Council was given power equal to that of the sovereign; only in the question of the order of succession the Council could not make changes. But the last clause of the testament of Catherine I was left without attention by the leaders when Anna Ioannovna was elected to the throne.

In 1730, after the death of Peter II, half of the 8 members of the Council were Dolgoruky (princes Vasily Lukich, Ivan Alekseevich, Vasily Vladimirovich and Alexei Grigorievich), who were supported by the Golitsyn brothers (Dmitry and Mikhail Mikhailovich). Dmitry Golitsyn drafted a constitution.
However, most of the Russian nobility, as well as members of the Supreme Privy Council Osterman and Golovkin, opposed the Dolgoruky plans. Upon arrival in Moscow on February 15 (26), 1730, Anna Ioannovna received from the nobility, headed by Prince Cherkassky, in which they asked her "to accept autocracy such as your laudable ancestors had." Relying on the support of the guards, as well as the middle and petty nobility, Anna publicly tore up the text of the conditions and refused to comply with them; By the Manifesto of March 4 (15), 1730, the Supreme Privy Council was abolished.

The fate of its members was different: Mikhail Golitsyn was dismissed and died almost immediately, his brother and three of the four Dolgoruky were executed during the reign of Anna Ioannovna. Only Vasily Vladimirovich Dolgoruky survived the repressions, returned from exile under Elizaveta Petrovna and appointed head of the military collegium. Golovkin and Osterman during the reign of Anna Ioannovna occupied the most important government posts. Osterman in 1740-1741 briefly became the de facto ruler of the country, but after another palace coup, he was exiled to Berezov, where he died.

After Peter the Great, Catherine the Great came to the throne. In order to orient in public affairs, to choose the right direction in the leadership of the country, to receive sensible explanations of the current state of affairs, the Empress decided by the highest decree to establish such a state body, which would consist of men experienced in political affairs, knowledgeable people, loyal to the throne and Russia. This Decree was signed in February 1726. Thus, the Supreme Privy Council was created.

At first it consisted of only six people, and a month later their composition was replenished by Catherine's son-in-law, the Duke of Holstein. All these people were close associates of Peter the Great, and over the years of service they proved themselves to be loyal subjects of His Imperial Majesty. But over time, people in the Council changed: Count Tolstoy was ousted by Menshikov under Catherine, Menshikov himself fell out of favor under Peter the Second and was exiled, then Count Apraksin died in the Bose, and the Duke of Holstein simply stopped appearing at meetings. As a result, only three of the first advisers remained. Gradually, the composition of the Council changed dramatically: the princely families of Golitsyn and Dolgoruky began to predominate there.

Activity

The government was directly subordinate to the Council. The name has also changed. If earlier the Senate was called "Governing", now it could not be called otherwise than "High". The Senate was reduced to the point that decrees were sent to it not only by the Council, but even by the Holy Synod, which was equal to it before. So the Senate from "Governing" turned into "Highly Faithful", and then simply into "High". Under Alexander Menshikov, who led the original Council, this body sought to consolidate its power as firmly as possible: from now on, all ministers and senators took the oath either directly to the empress, or to the Supreme Privy Council - on an equal footing.

Resolutions of any level, if they were not signed by the Empress or the Privy Council, were not considered legal, and their execution was prosecuted. Thus, under Catherine the Great, the true power in the country belonged to the Privy Council, and to be more precise, to Menshikov. Catherine left the “spiritual”, and, according to this last will, the Council was given power and authority equal to the sovereign. These rights were given to the Council only until the age of Peter II. The clause in the will of succession to the throne could not be changed. But it was precisely this point that the advisers ignored and appointed Anna Ioannovna to the throne immediately after the death of Peter II in 1730.

By that time, half of its eight members in the Council were the princes Dolgoruky. The two Golitsyn brothers were their like-minded people. Thus there was a strong coalition in the Privy Council. Dmitry Golitsyn became the author of Conditions. This document spelled out the conditions for the accession to the throne of Anna Ioannovna, the monarchy was severely limited and the rights of the aristocratic oligarchy were strengthened. The plans of the Dolgoruky and Golitsyns were opposed by the Russian nobility and two members of the Privy Council - Golovkin and Osterman. Anna Ioannovna received an appeal from the nobility, headed by Prince Cherkassky.

The appeal contained a request to accept the autocracy as it was with her ancestors. Supported by the guards, as well as the middle and small nobility, Anna Ioannovna decided to demonstrate her unquestioning power: she publicly tore up the document (“Conditions”), refusing to follow the rules indicated in it. And then she issued a special Manifesto (03/04/1730), abolishing the body of the Supreme Privy Council. Thus, power in Russia again returned to imperial hands.

After the dissolution of the Privy Council, the fate of the former supreme leaders developed in different ways. Council member Mikhail Golitsyn was dismissed, after which he soon died. His brother Dmitry, the author of the "Conditions" and the three princes Dolgoruky, at the behest of Empress Anna, were executed. Vasily Vladimirovich Dolgoruky was arrested, and then was imprisoned in the Solovetsky Monastery. The new empress - Elizaveta Petrovna - returned him from exile and even appointed him president of the Military Collegium. But Golovkin and Osterman, who held the most important government positions, remained at the top of power under Anna Ioannovna. Osterman even for some time (1840 - 41) actually ruled the country. But he did not escape repression: in 1941, Empress Elizabeth sent him to the town of Berezov (Tyumen region), where he died six years later.

Supreme Privy Council

The Supreme Privy Council - the highest advisory state institution in Russia in 1726-30. (7-8 people). Decree establishing the Council issued in February 1726 (see Appendix)

Reasons for creation

Created by Catherine I as an advisory body, in fact, it resolved the most important state issues.

The accession to the throne of Catherine I after the death of Peter I caused the need for such an institution that could explain the state of affairs to the empress and direct the direction of the government, for which Catherine did not feel capable. Such an institution was the Supreme Privy Council.

Members of the Supreme Privy Council

Its members were General Field Marshal His Serene Highness Prince Menshikov, General Admiral Count Apraksin, State Chancellor Count Golovkin, Count Tolstoy, Prince Dimitri Golitsyn and Baron Osterman. A month later, the son-in-law of the Empress, the Duke of Holstein, was included in the number of members of the Supreme Privy Council, on whose zeal, as the Empress officially stated, "we can fully rely on." Thus, the Supreme Privy Council was originally composed almost exclusively of the chicks of Petrov's nest; but already under Catherine I, one of them, Count Tolstoy, was ousted by Menshikov; under Peter II, Menshikov himself found himself in exile; Count Apraksin died; the duke of Holstein had long ceased to be in the council; of the original members of the Council, three remained - Golitsyn, Golovkin and Osterman.

Under the influence of the Dolgoruky, the composition of the Council changed: the predominance in it passed into the hands of the princely families of Dolgoruky and Golitsyn.

Under Menshikov, the Soviet tried to consolidate government power; ministers, as the members of the Council were called, and senators swore allegiance to the empress or to the regulations of the Supreme Privy Council. It was forbidden to execute decrees that were not signed by the Empress and the Council.

According to the will of Catherine I, during the childhood of Peter II, the Council was given power equal to that of the sovereign; only in the question of the order of succession the Council could not make changes. But the last clause of the testament of Catherine I was left without attention by the leaders when Anna Ioannovna was elected to the throne.

In 1730, after the death of Peter II, half of the 8 members of the Council were Dolgoruky (princes Vasily Lukich, Ivan Alekseevich, Vasily Vladimirovich and Alexei Grigorievich), who were supported by the Golitsyn brothers (Dmitry and Mikhail Mikhailovich). Dmitry Golitsyn drafted a constitution.

Dolgoruky's plans, however, were opposed by most of the Russian nobility, as well as members of the military-technical cooperation Osterman and Golovkin. Upon arrival in Moscow on February 15 (26), 1730, Anna Ioannovna received a letter from the nobility, headed by Prince Cherkassky, in which they asked her "to accept autocracy such as your laudable ancestors had." Relying on the support of the middle and small nobility and the guards, Anna publicly tore up the text of the conditions and refused to comply with them; By the Manifesto of March 4, 1730, the Supreme Privy Council was abolished.

Laid commission

Maintaining ties with French philosophers, personally preparing the main acts of her reign, Catherine II followed in the wake of domestic policy, which was simultaneously carried out in Prussia, Austria, Sweden and other European countries by representatives of enlightened absolutism. Within two years, she drew up a program of new legislation in the form of a mandate for the convened commission to draw up a new Code, since the Code of 1649 was outdated. The "mandate" of Catherine II was the result of her previous reflections on enlightenment literature and a peculiar perception of the ideas of the French and German enlighteners. Before the opening of the Legislative Commission, the Nakaz was discussed and criticized by representatives of the large landowning nobility. Much has been corrected and omitted by the author. The "mandate" concerned all the main parts of the state structure, administration, supreme power, the rights and obligations of citizens, estates, and to a greater extent legislation and the court.

The Nakaz substantiated the principle of autocratic rule. A guarantee against despotism, according to Catherine, was the assertion of the principle of strict legality, as well as the separation of the judiciary from the executive and the transformation of the judiciary, which was inextricably linked with it, eliminating obsolete feudal institutions. In the spirit of the Enlighteners, the Nakaz outlined a specific program of economic policy. Catherine II strongly opposed the preservation of monopolies, for freedom of trade and industry. The program of economic policy inevitably brought to the fore the peasant question, which was of great importance under the conditions of serfdom. In the original version, Ekaterina spoke out more boldly than in her final version, since it was here that she gave up a lot under the pressure of criticism from the members of the commission. Thus, she abandoned the demand to establish the protection of serfs from violence and to grant the serfs the right to own property.

Much more resolutely spoke in the "Nakaz" about the reform of the judiciary and legal proceedings. Following Montesquieu and Beccaria, Catherine II spoke out against the use of torture and the death penalty (recognizing the possibility of death sentences only in exceptional cases), proclaimed the principle of a "trial of equals", recommended guarantees of a fair investigation, opposed cruel punishments.

"Order", thus, contained a contradictory combination of progressive bourgeois ideas and conservative feudal views. On the one hand, Catherine II proclaimed the advanced truths of enlightenment philosophy (especially in the chapters on legal proceedings and economics), on the other hand, she confirmed the inviolability of the autocratic-serf system. While strengthening absolutism, it preserved autocracy, introducing only adjustments (greater freedom of economic life, some foundations of the bourgeois legal order, the idea of ​​the need for enlightenment), which contributed to the development of the capitalist way of life.

Meetings of the Legislative Commission, in which 570 deputies from different classes (nobility, clergy, merchants and state peasants) were elected, began in July 1767 and lasted almost a year and a half. They revealed with the utmost clarity the aspirations of various social groups and the contradictions between them on almost all the issues discussed. The laid commission did not solve the problem of legal reform, and the confusing legislation was not put in order. Catherine II failed to create legal foundations for the formation of the urban "third estate", which she rightly considered one of the important social tasks of her reign. The empress's rather modest wishes to alleviate the hardships of forced peasant labor did not meet with the sympathy of the majority of the commission members. The nobility showed itself as a reactionary force (with the exception of individual deputies), ready to defend the feudal order by any means. Merchants and Cossacks thought about acquiring privileges to own serfs, and not about softening serfdom.

In 1768 the Legislative Commission was dissolved. However, its convocation had a certain political significance for Catherine II. Firstly, he not only strengthened her autocratic power and raised her authority in Western Europe, but also helped her, as she herself admitted, to navigate the position of the empire. Secondly, although the "Nakaz" did not receive the force of a positive law and in many respects did not coincide with the opinions of the deputies of the Commission, it formed the basis of subsequent legislation.

The Secret Chancellery (1718-1801) - an organ of political investigation and court in Russia in the 18th century. In the early years, it existed in parallel with the Preobrazhensky Prikaz, which performed similar functions. Abolished in 1726, restored in 1731 as the Office of Secret and Investigative Affairs; the latter was liquidated in 1762 by Peter III, but instead of it in the same year, Catherine II established the Secret Expedition, which performed the same role. Completely abolished by Alexander I.

Preobrazhensky Prikaz and the Secret Office

The basis of the Preobrazhensky order refers to the beginning of the reign of Peter I (established in 1686 in the village of Preobrazhensky near Moscow); at first he represented the clan of the special office of the sovereign, created to manage the Preobrazhensky and Semyonovsky regiments. It was used by Peter as a political body in the struggle for power with Princess Sophia. Subsequently, the order received the exclusive right to conduct cases of political crimes or, as they were then called, "against the first two points." Since 1725, the secret office also dealt with criminal cases, which were in charge of A. I. Ushakov. But with a small number of people (under his command there were no more than ten people, nicknamed forwarders of the secret office), such a department could not cover all criminal cases. Under the then procedure for investigating these crimes, convicts convicted of any criminal offense could optionally extend their process by saying “word and deed” and making a denunciation; they immediately climbed into the Preobrazhensky order along with the slandered, and very often people were slandered who had not committed any crime, but on whom the scammers had anger. The main activity of the order is the persecution of participants in anti-serfdom demonstrations (about 70% of all cases) and opponents of the political transformations of Peter I.

Established in February 1718 in St. Petersburg and existing until 1726, the Secret Chancellery had the same departmental items as the Preobrazhensky Prikaz in Moscow, and was also managed by I.F. Romodanovsky. The department was created to investigate the case of Tsarevich Alexei Petrovich, then other political cases of extreme importance were transferred to it; the two institutions subsequently merged into one. The leadership of the Secret Chancellery, as well as the Preobrazhensky Prikaz, was carried out by Peter I, who was often present during the interrogations and torture of political criminals. The Secret Chancellery was located in the Peter and Paul Fortress.

At the beginning of the reign of Catherine I, the Preobrazhensky Prikaz, keeping the same range of actions, received the name of the Preobrazhensky Chancellery; the latter existed until 1729, when it was abolished by Peter II upon the dismissal of Prince Romodanovsky; Of the cases subordinated to the chancellery, the more important ones were transferred to the Supreme Privy Council, the less important ones to the Senate.

Office of Secret and Investigative Affairs

Central government agency. After the dissolution of the Secret Office in 1727, it resumed its work as the Office of Secret and Investigative Affairs in 1731. under the leadership of A. I. Ushakov. The competence of the office included the investigation of the crime of the "first two points" of state crimes (they meant "The word and deed of the sovereign." The first point determined, "if someone teaches some fabrications to think of an evil deed or person and honor on the imperial health with evil and harmful words vilify", and the second spoke "of rebellion and treason"). Torture and interrogation with "addiction" were the main weapons of the investigation. It was abolished by the manifesto of Emperor Peter III (1762), at the same time the "Word and deed of the sovereign" was prohibited.

Secret expedition

Secret expedition under the Senate, the central state institution in Russia, the body of political investigation (1762-1801). Established by decree of Empress Catherine II, replaced the Secret Chancellery. She was in St. Petersburg; had a branch in Moscow. The Prosecutor General of the Senate was in charge, his assistant and direct manager of affairs was the Chief Secretary (S. I. Sheshkovsky held this position for over 30 years). The secret expedition carried out investigations and trials on the most important political cases. Catherine II approved some sentences (in the cases of V. Ya. Mirovich, E. I. Pugachev, A. N. Radishchev, and others). During the investigation in the Secret Expedition, torture was often used. In 1774, secret commissions of the Secret Expedition carried out reprisals against the Pugachevites in Kazan, Orenburg, and other cities. After the liquidation of the Secret Expedition, its functions were assigned to the 1st and 5th departments of the Senate.

Synod

The Holy Synod (Greek Σύνοδος - "assembly", "cathedral") is the highest "governing body of the Russian Orthodox Church in the period between Bishops' Councils".

Commissions and departments

The following Synodal departments are accountable to the Holy Synod:

1. Department of External Church Relations;

2. Publishing Council;

3. Study committee;

4. Department of catechesis and religious education;

5. Department of charity and social service;

6. Missionary department;

7. Department for interaction with the Armed Forces and law enforcement agencies;

8. Department of Youth Affairs;

9. Department for Relations between the Church and Society;

10. Information department.

Also under the Synod there are the following institutions:

1. Patriarchal Synodal Biblical Commission;

2. Synodal Theological Commission;

3. Synodal commission for the canonization of saints;

4. Synodal Liturgical Commission;

5. Synodal commission for monasteries;

6. Synodal commission on economic and humanitarian issues;

7. Synodal Library named after His Holiness Patriarch Alexy II.

After the abolition of the patriarchal administration of the Church by Peter I, from 1721 until August 1917, the Most Holy Governing Synod established by him was the highest state body of the church-administrative authority of the Russian Empire, replacing the patriarch in terms of general church functions and external relations.

According to the Fundamental Laws of the Russian Empire, the Synod was defined as “a conciliar government, which has all kinds of supreme power in the Russian Orthodox Church and is in relations with Orthodox churches abroad, through which the supreme autocratic power, which established it, operates in church administration.”

As such, he was recognized by the Eastern Patriarchs and other autocephalous Churches. The members of the Holy Synod were appointed by the emperor; The Emperor's representative in the Holy Synod was the Chief Procurator of the Holy Synod.

Establishment and functions

On October 16, 1700, Patriarch Adrian died. Tsar Peter I appointed the educated Little Russian Metropolitan of Ryazan Stefan (Yavorsky) Exarch, that is, Guardian of the Patriarchal Throne. Peter withdrew personnel and administrative matters from his competence. In 1701, the Monastic Order, which had been abolished in 1667, was restored, and the administration of all church estates was transferred to its jurisdiction.

In 1718, Peter I expressed the opinion that "for better governance in the future, it seems to be convenient for the spiritual college"; Peter instructed Bishop Feofan Prokopovich of Pskov to draw up a charter for the future College, which was called Spiritual Regulation.

During 1720, the signing of the Regulations took place by the bishops and archimandrites of the sedate monasteries; the last, reluctantly, signed the Exarch Metropolitan Stefan (Yavorsky).

On January 25, 1721, a Manifesto was issued on the establishment of the Spiritual College. Stefan Yavorsky became the President of the Synod. In the same year, Peter I appealed to Patriarch Jeremiah III of Constantinople with a petition for the recognition of the Holy Synod by the Eastern Patriarchs. In September 1723, the Patriarchs of Constantinople and Antioch recognized the Holy Synod as their “brother in Christ,” with equal patriarchal dignity, by a special Diploma.

On February 14, 1721, the Theological College, which received the name of the Most Holy Governing Synod, was officially opened.

Until 1901, members of the Synod and those present in the Synod had to take an oath upon taking office.

Until September 1, 1742, the Synod was also the diocesan authority for the former Patriarchal Region, renamed Synodal.

The Patriarchal orders were transferred to the jurisdiction of the Synod: Spiritual, Treasury and Palace, renamed into synodal, the Monastic order, the order of church affairs, the office of schismatic affairs and the printing office. In St. Petersburg, a Tiun office (Tiunskaya Izba) was established; in Moscow - the spiritual dicastery, the office of the synodal government, the synodal office, the order of inquisitorial affairs, the office of schismatic affairs.

All institutions of the Synod were closed during the first two decades of its existence, except for the Synodal Chancellery, the Moscow Synodal Office and the Printing Office, which lasted until 1917.

Chief Prosecutor of the Synod

The Chief Prosecutor of the Holy Governing Synod is a secular official appointed by the Russian Emperor (in 1917 they were appointed by the Provisional Government) and who was his representative in the Holy Synod.

Compound

Initially, according to the "Spiritual Regulations", the Holy Synod consisted of 11 members: the president, 2 vice-presidents, 4 advisers and 4 assessors; it included bishops, abbots of monasteries and white clergy.

Since 1726, the president of the Synod was called the first member, and the rest - members of the Holy Synod and simply present.

In later times, the nomenclature of the Holy Synod changed many times. At the beginning of the 20th century, a member of the Synod was a paid title, held for life even if the person was never called to sit in the Synod.

All the time that the monarchy existed in Russia, there was a struggle between the desire of the royal person to single-handedly resolve all issues and the desire of the most noble and high-ranking representatives of the Russian elite to get real powers of state power into their own hands.

This struggle went on with varying success, leading either to bloody repressions against the nobility, or to conspiracies against the monarch.

But after the death of the emperor Peter the Great an attempt was made not only to limit the power of the monarch, but to turn him into a nominal figure, transferring all real powers to the government, consisting of the most influential representatives of the Russian nobility.

Peter the Great, at the end of his life, nurtured the idea of ​​creating a state institution that would be superior to the Senate. According to the emperor's plan, such an institution was to exist in the form of a deliberative and executive body with his person to help in solving state issues.

Peter the Great did not have time to put his idea into practice, just as he did not have time to leave wills in order to resolve the issue of a successor. This provoked a political crisis, culminating in the decision to access the throne of Peter's wife under the name of Empress Catherine I.

Government under the empress

Catherine I, she Marta Samuilovna Skavronskaya, she is Ekaterina Alekseevna Mikhailova, did not have her husband's ability to govern. Moreover, the empress was not eager to take on the entire burden of public affairs.

Therefore, Peter's idea of ​​creating a structure that would become a government under a monarch became relevant again. Now we were talking about a body endowed with real powers.

The new institution was called the Supreme Privy Council. The decree on its creation was signed on February 19, 1726. Its first composition included Field Marshal His Serene Highness Prince Alexander Danilovich Menshikov, Admiral General Count Fyodor Matveevich Apraksin, State Chancellor Count Gavriil Ivanovich Golovkin, graph Pyotr Andreevich Tolstoy, prince Dmitry Mikhailovich Golitsyn, baron Andrey Ivanovich Osterman.

In fact, it was a team assembled by Peter the Great and continued to rule the Russian Empire without its creator.

A month later, the Duke was included among the members of the Supreme Privy Council. Carl Friedrich Holstein, husband Anna Petrovna, daughters of Peter I and Catherine I, father of the future emperor Peter III. Despite such a high honor, the duke could not have a real influence on Russian politics.

Line-up change

There was no unity within the Supreme Privy Council itself. Each struggled to strengthen his own influence, and his Serene Highness Prince Menshikov, who tried to become a man whose word would be decisive in the Russian Empire, advanced further than others.

Menshikov managed to get Peter Tolstoy, whom he considered one of the most dangerous competitors, to leave the Supreme Privy Council.

The triumph of the Most Serene Prince, however, was not long - Catherine I died in 1727, and Menshikov lost the struggle for influence on the young emperor Peter II. He fell into disgrace, lost power, and ended up in exile with his family.

According to the will of Empress Catherine I, due to infancy Peter II, the grandson of Peter the Great, the Supreme Privy Council was temporarily endowed with power equal to that of the sovereign, with the exception of the right to appoint an heir to the throne.

The composition of the Council changed seriously - apart from Tolstoy and Menshikov, the Duke of Holstein no longer appeared in it, and in 1728 Count Apraksin died.

Representatives of princely families were included in their places in the Supreme Privy Council Dolgorukov And Golitsyn who subordinated their own influence to Peter II.

Dynastic crisis

By 1730, the Supreme Privy Council included princes Vasily Lukich, Ivan Alekseevich, Vasily Vladimirovich And Alexei Grigorievich Dolgorukov, and Dmitriy And Mikhail Mikhailovich Golitsyn. In addition to them, only two old members remained in the Council - Osterman and Golovkin.

The Dolgorukovs were preparing the wedding of Peter II with the princess Ekaterina Dolgorukova, which was to finally consolidate their dominant position in the empire.

However, in January 1730, the 14-year-old emperor fell ill with smallpox and died. The Dolgorukovs, in despair at the destruction of their plans, tried to forge the will of Peter II in favor of Ekaterina Dolgorukova, but this idea failed.

With the death of Peter II, the male line of the family was cut short Romanovs. A similar situation occurred with Rurikovich, plunged Russia into Troubles, the repetition of which no one wanted. Representatives of the Russian elite agreed that if a man from the Romanov family cannot be a monarch, then a woman should become one.

Among the candidates considered were the daughter of Peter I Elizaveta Petrovna, daughter John V Anna Ioannovna, and even the first wife of Peter the Great Evdokia Lopukhina released from prison by Peter II.

As a result, the Supreme Privy Council agreed on the candidacy of the daughter of the co-ruler and brother of Peter I, John V, Anna Ioannovna.

"Conditions" for Anna Ioannovna

At the age of 17, Anna Ioannovna was married to the Duke of Courland Friedrich Wilhelm. Three months later, Anna became a widow, returned to her homeland, but at the behest of Peter was again sent to Courland, where she lived in the not very prestigious status of a dowager duchess.

In Courland, Anna Ioannovna lived for 19 years in an environment that was more hostile than friendly, constrained by means. Due to the fact that she was removed from her homeland, she did not have any connections in Russia, which most of all suited the members of the Supreme Privy Council.

Prince Dmitry Golitsyn, taking into account the position of Anna Ioannovna, proposed to condition her accession to the throne with restrictions that would secure power not for her, but for the Supreme Privy Council. Most of the "supervisors" supported this idea.

Unknown artist. Portrait of Prince Dmitry Mikhailovich Golitsyn. Source: Public Domain

The conditions put forward by Anna Ioannovna were enshrined in the "Conditions" compiled by Dmitry Golitsyn. According to them, the empress could not independently declare war or conclude peace, introduce new taxes and taxes, spend the treasury at her own discretion, promote to the ranks above the colonel, grant estates, deprive the nobleman of life and property without trial, marry, appoint the heir to the throne.

Such restrictions actually deprived the monarch of autocratic power, transferring it to the Supreme Privy Council. The implementation of these plans could direct the development of Russian statehood along a completely different path.

All the secret becomes clear

The “Verkhovniks”, who sent the “Conditions” to Anna Ioannovna, reasoned simply - a woman constrained by means without a family and support would agree to anything for the sake of the empress's crown.

And so it happened - on February 8, 1730, Anna Ioannovna signed the "Conditions", and the next day went to Moscow, where members of the Supreme Privy Council were waiting for her.

Meanwhile, the "supervisors" did not agree on the "Conditions" with anyone, although they gave them to Anna Ioannovna as the demand of the whole people. Their calculation was that first the new empress would approve the conditions, and only then all the other Russians would be presented with a fait accompli.

However, it was not possible to conceal the “Conditions”. The news that the Dolgorukovs and Golitsyns intended to seize state power caused sharp discontent among other members of the nobility. In Moscow fermentation began.

Anna Ioannovna, after entering Russia, was carefully protected from communication in order not to give her additional information. However, to forbid her from meeting with the sisters, the Duchess of Mecklenburg Ekaterina Ioannovna and princess Praskovya Ioannovna, was impossible. They explained to Anna that the situation was developing in such a way that there was no point in yielding to the “supervisors” and limiting their own power.

On February 26, 1730, Anna Ioannovna arrived in Moscow, where the troops and the highest state officials swore allegiance to her. In the new form of the oath, some of the old expressions that meant autocracy were excluded, but there were no expressions that would mean a new form of government, and, most importantly, there was no mention of the rights of the Supreme Privy Council and the conditions confirmed by the Empress.

Anna Ioannovna and her retinue. Photo: www.globallookpress.com

The Empress Strikes Back

On March 6, opponents of the Supreme Privy Council filed a petition to the Empress demanding the liquidation of the Council, the restoration of autocracy, the abolition of the Conditions and the restoration of the power of the Senate.

Everything was decided on March 8, 1730. On this day, the petition was submitted to Anna Ioannovna in the presence of members of the Supreme Privy Council in the Lefortovo Palace. The Empress accepted the petition, and immediately invited the "supreme leaders" to dinner, thus isolating them from the opportunity to take any action.

The palace where the events took place was surrounded by the imperial guard, whose commanders advocated the preservation of autocratic power.

The final discussion of the question ended at four o'clock in the afternoon, when the State Councilor Maslov brought Anna Ioannovna "Conditions" and she publicly tore them up.

The new empress remained an autocratic ruler, and for the Supreme Privy Council and its members it was a disaster.

On March 12, 1730, a new oath to Anna Ioannovna took place, this time on the terms of autocracy, and three days later the Supreme Privy Council was abolished by the imperial manifesto.

Anna Ioannovna breaks "Conditions".

After the enthronement after the death of Peter I, his wife Catherine I, power was concentrated in the hands of Prince AD ​​Menshikov. The latter tried in every possible way to reduce the role of the Senate, and on the other hand, he was forced to make an agreement with other "chicks of Petrov's nest."

By the decree of Catherine I of February 8, 1726, the Supreme Privy Council was established, which actually assumed the functions of the Senate, which, according to Peter I, exercised the supreme leadership of the country during his absence. The members of the Council formally had to give the Empress "secret advice on political and other important state affairs." The Senate, which was no longer called the Governing, but the High, as well as the colleges, were placed in a subordinate position to the Council, in which all the main levers of power in the empire were now concentrated. All decrees were sealed not only by the signature of the Empress, but also by the members of the Council.

Menshikov obtained from Catherine I that before her death she made a clause in her will that during the infancy of Peter II the Council received the same power as the reigning monarch (in fact, a collective regency was established), while the Council was forbidden to make any changes in the order of succession to the throne .

In the field of domestic policy, the activities of the Council were focused on solving, first of all, financial, economic and social problems related to the crisis in which Russia was in the last years of the reign of Peter I. The Council considered it a consequence of Peter's reforms, and therefore intended to correct them in a more traditional way for Russia (for example, the capital of the country was returned to Moscow). In current practice, the Council tried to streamline the system of accounting and control of public finances, as well as cut costs and find additional ways to replenish the state budget, including cutting spending on the army, reducing the officer corps, etc. At the same time, the row established by Peter was liquidated, the number of officials was reduced. At the same time, a number of restrictions on trade were lifted to attract foreign merchants, incl. revised protectionist customs tariff of 1724

Composition of the Council

The empress took over the chairmanship of the Council, and its members were appointed:

Field Marshal General His Serene Highness Prince Alexander Danilovich Menshikov,

Admiral General Count Fyodor Matveyevich Apraksin,

State Chancellor Count Gavriil Ivanovich Golovkin,

Active Privy Councilor Count Pyotr Andreyevich Tolstoy,

Acting Privy Councilor Prince Dmitry Mikhailovich Golitsyn

Vice-Chancellor Baron Andrey Ivanovich Osterman.

The composition of the Council changed: in March 1726, Duke Karl Friedrich of Holstein-Gottorp, married to the daughter of the Empress, Princess Anna Petrovna, was introduced into its composition.

The most serious changes in the composition of the Council occurred in connection with the death of Catherine I. Due to disagreements over her heir, Count Tolstoy was sentenced to death in May 1727 (with the replacement of exile), and after the accession to the presto of Peter II, the Duke of Holstein- Gottorpsky withdrew from participation in the Council.

In 1727, Princes Alexei Grigoryevich and Vasily Lukich Dolgorukov, who enjoyed the support of Peter II, Prince Mikhail Mikhailovich Golitsyn, Field Marshal and President of the Military Collegium, were introduced to the Council in 1727, and Field Marshal General Prince Vasily Vladimirovich Dolgorukov in 1828. Thanks to the intrigues of the Dolgorukovs and Osterman, Menshikov was sent into exile on September 7, 1727, and Peter II announced that from now on all instructions would come only from him. In November 1828 Count Apraksin died.

Enthronement of Anna Ioannovna

After the death in January 1730 of Emperor Peter II in Russia, where power was completely controlled by the "supreme leaders", a succession crisis arose. Seven members of the Council, as well as the favorite of Peter II, Prince Ivan Alekseevich Dolgorukov (son of a member of the Council Alexei Grigorievich), took part in deciding on the succession to the throne.

On 18 (29) January, meetings of the Council began to determine the heir. The candidacy of the eldest daughter of Tsar John Alekseevich Catherine, who was married to the Duke of Mecklenburg-Schwerin. Her younger sister Anna Ioanovna, the Dowager Duchess of Courland, who did not have strong support at court, or even in Courland, became a compromise candidate. By 8 o'clock in the morning on January 19 (30), the decision was made, only Prince A.G. Dolgorukov opposed her election. Simultaneously with the proposal elected Duchess Anna, Prince D.M. Golitsyn suggested that her power be limited by a number of conditions written in the "Condition". In accordance with them, the empress, upon accession to the throne, had to undertake to maintain the Supreme Privy Council, which consisted of 8 people, and at the same time in the future without its consent: not to start a war; do not make peace; not introduce new taxes; not to promote to ranks (to the court, civil and military) older than the colonel, and to transfer the guards and the army under the control of the Council; do not favor estates and estates. In addition, the Council had to approve all sentences to deprive the nobles of life, property or dignity, and also received full control over state revenues and expenditures. Later, Prince D.M. Golitsyn wrote a draft constitution, according to which the rule of the highest aristocracy was established in Russia with the limited power of the monarch, which provided for the creation, incl. representative institutions. This plan, however, was not approved by the Council, without reaching an agreement, the “supervisors” decided to submit the issue for consideration by the nobility gathered in Moscow (the future Legislative Commission). Various groups came up with their own projects (all implied the restriction of the monarchy), but not a single one was supported by the Council.

Prince V.V. opposed the "Conditions". Dolgorukov, Baron A.I. Osterman and Count G.I. Golovkin. However, their opinion was not taken into account and Prince V.L. Dolgorukov with "Conditions" on January 20 (31) left for Mitava to the Duchess Anna. On January 28 (February 8), Anna Ioanovna signed the "Conditions", after which she left for Moscow.

She arrived in the capital on February 15 (26), where she took the oath of high officials and troops in the Assumption Cathedral. swore allegiance to the sovereign. The struggle between the factions entered a new stage: the “supreme” tried to achieve official confirmation (“Conditions” were only a preliminary document, “an agreement of intent”), and the group opposing them (A. I. Osterman, P. I. Yaguzhinsky and others) ), which enjoyed the support of the ordinary nobility, spoke in favor of a return to an autocratic monarchy.

On February 25 (March 7), a large group of nobles submitted a petition to Anna Ioannovna with a request to reconsider - together with the nobility - the future structure of the country. Anna Ioanovna signed the petition, after which, after a 4-hour meeting, the nobility filed a new one, in which they advocated the restoration of autocracy. The “Supreme” who did not expect such a turn of events were forced to agree, and Anna Ioanovna publicly tore up the “Conditions” and her letter in which she had previously agreed to their adoption.

Liquidation of the Council

By the Manifesto of March 4 (15), 1730, the Council was abolished, and the Senate was restored to its former rights. Representatives of the Dolgorukov family, as the most actively involved in the conspiracy, were arrested: I.A. and A.G. The Dolgorukovs were sent into exile, V.L. Dolgorukov - executed. The remaining members of the Council formally did not suffer, Prince V.V. Dolgorukov was arrested only in 1731, Prince D.M. Golitsyn - in 1736; Prince M.M. Golitsyn died in December 1730. G.I. Golovkin and A.I. Osterman not only retained their posts, but began to enjoy the favor of the new empress.