County marshal of nobility in the system of local government and self-government in Belarus (1861–1914)

The article discusses the role and place of the marshal of nobility in the system of county administration and self-government in the post-reform period. The object of the study is the institute of county marshals of nobility in the Belarusian provinces in the second half of the 19th – early 20th century. The study deterncines the changes in the government policy of the Russian autocracy related to the noble elections in Belarus after the 1863–1864 uprising. The main functions of County leaders in the sphere of class self-government are revealed. The main directions of activity of local heads of nobility in management of administrative district institutions are shown. The characteristics of the functioning of the institute of county marshals of nobility on the territory of Belarus are given. As a result of analysis of the laws the conclusion is made that the marshal of the nobility took the place of a full head of county, and during the period under review, the trend of expanding the powers of the marshals of nobility, testified to their transformation from in-class bodies in administrative, public bodies.