Gendarmerie officers' view on commerce and commercial strata in Siberia in the pre-reform period

This study aims to explore the view of gendarmerie officers on trade in Siberia during the first half of the 19th century, examining both its general state and specific aspects. To achieve this aim, the following objectives were set: to identify reports by gendarmerie officers concerning trade and its labour force in Siberia; to determine the range of issues and problems in Siberian trade that these officers highlighted; and to monitor the reaction of government representatives to their reports. The primary sources for this article are gendarmerie documents, namely reports intended for the leadership of the Gendarmerie Corps and the Siberian gendarmerie district. The methodology is based on historical analysis, incorporating the historical-comparative, historical-narrative, and historical-systemic methods. The study concludes that gendarmerie officers in Siberia devoted significant attention to various aspects of commercial activity in their professional duties. A substantial body of documents has survived in which gendarmes provided information on the development of Siberian trade. These reports characterized individuals engaged in commerce, outlining the primary occupations and interests of the local merchant class. The gendarmes considered commerce a vital sector with a significant impact on the entire regional economy. They advocated for the expansion of trade with neighbouring countries, believing it would greatly benefit the entire Russian state. The officers understood that the welfare of the Siberian population depended heavily on the state of trade. They documented instances of malpractice in trade between the Russian population and indigenous Siberian peoples and argued for the necessity of rectifying these abuses in commercial relations. In their reports, the gendarmes did not merely list facts; they also investigated the causes and circumstances behind trade declines and even served as commandants at various fairs. Furthermore, they proposed measures intended to foster the development of trade in Siberia. Some of these proposals were implemented by local authorities and yielded positive results for regional commerce. Thus, this research supports the conclusion that the gendarmes' duties were multifaceted, extending beyond defending the political order and conducting investigations The author declares no conflicts of interests.

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