Competence Expansion of the Minister’s First Comrade of the Appanage Department in the First Half of the 19th Century

Abstract

   When the position of Minister was established in the Russian Empire, a comrade was appointed as his assistant. Initially, the law did not stipulate the number of comrades or the specific scope of their duties. State institutions themselves created regulatory documents that set up the competence of the Minister's comrades. The general rules describing the functions of the comrade were adopted in 1811. Initially, the competence of the Minister's comrades was insignificant. Moreover, some ministers were not looking for assistants, the positions remained unoccupied. Due to the increase in the Ministers’ clerical correspondence and workload, the number of functions of the Minister’s Comrade increased in the second quarter of the 19th century. Several comrades served in the Appanage Department since its establishment. Each comrade had his own responsibilities. The Minister’s first comrade concentrated the great power in his hand. In 1828, new rules were adopted in the Appanage Department, which significantly expanded the competence of the Minister’s first comrade. The position was renamed Vice-President and moved up to a higher position in the Table of Ranks. The Vice-president of the Appanage Department acted as the head of the Department, especially in the moments of the Minister’s absence. The outstanding position of the Minister’s first comrade unlike the rest of the comrades was determined not only by the need to expand his responsibilities but also by the personal motives of Emperor Nicholas I as well.