The Participation of the Third Department of His Imperial Majesty's Own Chancellery in Preparations for Emancipation Reform (1857–1861)

Student: Leontev Aleksandr

Educational Programme: History (Bachelor)

Final Grade: 7

Year of Graduation: 2017

When the abolition of serfdom in Russia became imminent, the patriarchal majority of nobles were still reluctant to give in their patrimonial privileges. For that reason, the emperor relied on the data provided by 3rd Department in matters of monitoring the provincial gentry’s attitude towards abolition like never before. Together with governors, who themselves must have needed a stricter control, gendarme staff officers became the most valuable governmental agents in the provinces. This work explores the role and the mechanism of state supervision in the prereform period, which was carried out by special political service. In this research it is argued that the 3rd Department increased its administrative power during preparations for the emancipation reform due to necessity of restraining the public opinion.

Full text (added May 17, 2017)

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