Siberian General-Governors: a social portrait

The general transformation of the governmental system and the first regional reorganization by Peter the Great in particular led to the establishment of the Governor-General power as a political force. Being established in the capitals, within the first decades it was already spread to remote areas populated largely by non-Russians. This governmental system was based on the rationalist ideology of the police state which required a regulation of all aspects of public life. The further institutionalization of Governor-Generals’ power was accomplished in the second half of the XVIIIth century within the framework of the province reorganization by the Empress Catherine the Great. To govern the provinces, the corps of State Governors or Governors-General was established to whom the governors of the provinces, i. e. Governors, reported directly. 2 or 3 provinces were under the State Governor’s jurisdiction whereas the whole territory of the country was divided into 20 regions ruled by Governors-General. Under Governor-General’s authority were the most important institutions of the governorship: criminal, civil, treasury chambers. He was responsible for the arrangement of state taxes, recruitment, etc. The Governor-General of a boundary territory was held responsible for frontier problems. A candidate for the Governor-General’s position was usually well known to the Emperor personally, he had to prove his political loyalty and dedication to the ideals of the monarchy. Priority was assigned to the candidate’s service record. The Governor-General was none other than a representative of the Emperor in a particular area, who carried on the Emperor’s policy and ideology. This state of affairs did not change for two hundred years of the Governor-Generals’ power. Once the institute of Governors (later Governors-General) was established, the Governors-General of boundary territories performed some specific duties caused by peculiarities of economic development and geopolitical situation. The power of Governors-General was administrative during the reformations by Peter the Great whereas at the beginning of the period of "great reforms" it was politicized. From 1822 to 1887 in the Governorates General of Eastern Siberia (from 1887 to 1917 in Irkutsk) 19 candidates were appointed to the position of Governor-General and in the Governorates General of Western Siberia (1822-1882) 9 candidates were appointed to the position of Governor-General.

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