At the beginning of his reign, Alexander Ι expressed the idea that the state urgently needed radical changes. A personal friend of the emperor, Count Stroganov, put forward a proposal on this occasion that the administration should first be reformed. As a result, in 1801, in May, he presented a draft to the emperor, in which he recommended the creation of a secret committee to develop and discuss a plan for transformation. Ultimately, Alexander Ι approved the creation of this body. In fact, the secret committee is a state advisory institution of an informal nature. At the direction of the autocrat, Count Stroganov himself, as well as Kochubey, Czartorysky and Novosiltsev, who were especially close to the emperor, were included in the structure of the body.

Committee Tasks

It is worth initially dispelling one myth regarding some of the orders of the secret committee. When the tsar approved its composition, only Count Stroganov was in St. Petersburg. In view of this, the start of the body's work was temporarily postponed. Therefore, to say that Alexander Ι approved a number of orders of that time with the help of a newly formed committee would be a mistake. He carried out all the new instructions of that period, as well as the cancellation of some orders, together with the count, without the participation of the newly created body. When the first meeting of the committee was held, the plan of its work was immediately determined, as well as the tasks that it had to perform. This plan included the following items:

Determination of the actual state of affairs;

Carrying out reforms in the governmental mechanism;

Ensuring the independence of the renovated state institutions.

It is worth noting that it was Stroganov who considered these tasks to be priorities. At that time, the emperor was concerned about the issue of creating some kind of demonstrative declaration (for example, such as the Declaration of the Rights of Man and Citizen).

Novosiltsev's plan

Novosiltsev, in turn, proposed a different program of reforms. It included the following questions:

1. About the protection of the state, both from the sea and from the land.

2. On the formation of possible relations with other countries.

3. Solving the issue of the internal statistical and administrative state of the country. Moreover, the statistical state meant not the study of the problems of the people, but the establishment of industry, the establishment of trade routes and the issue of agriculture. To administrative, he attributed the solution of financial and legislative issues, as well as problems of justice. And it was to these questions that he assigned paramount importance.

Discussion of Novosiltsev's plan

To implement the first point of the plan, a special commission was created, which included competent people in the naval sphere. Some difficulties arose with the implementation of the second section. This was due to the fact that Alexander's absolute ignorance in the affairs of the foreign policy of the state was revealed. However, Czartoryski and Kochubey, who were competent in such matters, had definite views on this matter. However, even here difficulties arose, since the emperor suggested that special attention should be paid to drawing up a coalition against England. Moreover, such a proposal caused a storm of bewilderment among the members of the committee, since shortly before this, Alexander signed a friendly convention with this country. This made it possible to extremely successfully resolve the most controversial issues regarding maritime rights. In order to cool the ardor of the autocrat a little, the members of the committee advised him to consult on this issue with old experienced diplomats. Moreover, they strongly recommended the candidacy of A. R. Vorontsov.

Domestic reforms

The secret committee during the following meetings paid special attention to the internal relations of the country. This was due to the fact that the solution of these issues was considered the highest priority. As for the emperor, he was primarily concerned about two main points. This, as mentioned above, is the creation of a special declaration on the protection of rights, as well as the issue of reforming the Senate. It was in him that the emperor saw the defender of the inviolability of citizens.

Project "Charter to the people"

Another development, to which Alexander paid special attention, was compiled by Vorontsov and had nothing to do with the changes in the Senate. However, this project concerned internal changes and responded to the wish of the emperor to create a special declaration. Special acts were developed, outwardly very similar to Catherine's letters of commendation, but with one significant difference. It followed from the content that serious guarantees of the freedom of citizens extended to all segments of the population.

Solution of the peasant question

For the first time, the Committee for Improvement raised this issue during the discussion of the "letters of letters granted to the people." Moreover, this problem was raised for a reason. In the issue of "letters" the point about the possibility of peasants owning their own real estate was especially noted. It is worth noting that at that time, according to the autocrat, this was a rather dangerous right. However, after the coronation (which took place in November 1801), under the influence of La Harpe and Admiral Mordvinov (they declared the need to take some action in favor of the peasants), Alexander slightly retreated from his convictions. For example, Mordvinov proposed extending the right to own real estate to state-owned peasants, philistines and merchants. The members of the committee did not rule out the possibility that over time they would be able to come to a consensus on the abolition of serfdom. However, with the proviso that this issue must take place gradually and slowly, since the course of action remained completely unclear. In fact, the secret committee did not investigate the solution of issues related to trade, agriculture and industry. Although it should be noted that their condition at that time required special attention.

Central Government Reforms

The secret committee set itself the most important task of resolving issues on the transformation of the central authorities. Moreover, these changes began during the reign of Catherine - she managed to transform local institutions. However, the queue did not reach the central ones. The only thing she managed to do was to abolish the main part of the colleges. As can be seen from history, already under her rule, there was great confusion in the implementation of these reforms. That is why the members of the committee decided that the transformation of the central government is a paramount issue. Starting from February 1802, all the work of the committee was aimed precisely at the realization of this idea.

ministries

Approximately six months later, the members of the committee developed and approved a project for the formation of these bodies. As part of this proposal ministries of foreign, internal affairs and public education, justice, military and naval ministries were created. At the suggestion of Alexander, this list also included the Department of Commerce, which was created specifically for N. P. Rumyantsev. It is worth noting that the only completed work of the secret committee was the establishment of the ministries.

The secret committee is an unofficial advisory body in Russia under Emperor Alexander I. It operated from June 1801 to September 1803.

The young emperor Alexander I gradually removed the murderers of his father Paul I from the court and surrounded himself with his "young friends". They became members of the Unspoken Committee. These were Count P. A. Stroganov, Prince A. A. Czartorysky, Count V. P. Kochubey and N. N. Novosiltsev.

It was assumed that the Unspoken Committee would develop state reforms and even prepare a constitution. The Unspoken Committee discussed many government measures early. 19th century - the reform of the Senate, the establishment of ministries in 1802, etc. Close attention was paid to the private committee of the peasant question and prepared some measures to solve it - decrees on allowing merchants and petty bourgeois to buy land as property (1801), on free cultivators (1803 .). N. P. .

Novosiltsev Nikolai Nikolaevich (1768 - 04/08/1838) - Russian statesman, President of the St. Petersburg Academy of Sciences in 1803-1810, Count (1833).

N. N. Novosiltsev was from the ancient noble family. He was brought up in the house of his uncle, Count A. S. Stroganov. Recorded from childhood as a page, from 1783 to 1796. was on military service. He distinguished himself in the Russo-Swedish War of 1788-1790. and for his bravery he was promoted to lieutenant colonel. After the end of the war, he was presented to Grand Duke Alexander I Pavlovich.

In 1794-1795. he distinguished himself in the battles during the suppression of the Polish uprising, showed administrative and diplomatic skills. In the first years of the reign of Alexander I, he enjoyed his special confidence, was a member of the Private Committee, which united his closest friends. Novosiltsev was engaged in projects of reforms in agriculture, trade, crafts and arts. He proposed to replace collegiums with ministries. He held a number of senior government positions: he was president of the Academy of Sciences and at the same time a trustee of the St. Petersburg educational district, as well as a friend (deputy) of the Minister of Justice.

From the end of 1804 to 1809, he carried out a number of diplomatic missions in Western Europe and concluded an alliance with Great Britain. Since 1813 - Vice-President of the Provisional Council of the Duchy of Warsaw. When it was renamed the Kingdom of Poland, Novosiltsev was the chief imperial delegate to his government and commander-in-chief of the Polish army under Konstantin Pavlovich. In 1819 he drafted a constitution. In 1813-1831. pursued a harsh Russophile policy in the Kingdom of Poland. His arrogance and cruelty angered the Poles. From 1834 until the end of his life he was chairman of the State Council and the Committee of Ministers. According to contemporaries, N. N. Novosiltsev was a man of extraordinary mind, but power-hungry and cruel. N. P. .

Czartorysky Adam Adamovich (Adam Jerzy (Yuri)) (01/14/1770 - 07/15/1861) - prince, Polish and Russian statesman.

A. A. Czartoryski came from a noble Polish-Lithuanian aristocratic family. His father, Field Marshal of the Austrian troops Adam Kazimierz, claimed the Polish throne, but refused in favor of his cousin E. A. Poniatowski.

Parents tried to give their son the best education, which he completed in England. In 1792

Czartoryski took part in hostilities against Russian troops, and this forced him to emigrate to England. He wanted to return to his homeland, having learned about the uprising of T. Kosciuszko, but Catherine II arrested the Czartoryski estates and promised to return them if Adam and his brother Konstantin lived at the court as if as hostages. In 1795, he lived in St. Petersburg, where he became friends with Grand Duke Alexander I Pavlovich, but this friendship aroused suspicion, and Paul I sent him as an envoy to the court of the Sardinian king.

In 1801, Emperor Alexander I summoned Czartoryski to St. Petersburg and appointed him a member of the Unspoken Committee. He enjoyed the unlimited confidence of the emperor, who from 1802 appointed him as a comrade (deputy) minister of foreign affairs, from 1804 - minister of foreign affairs, at the same time a senator and a member of the State Council. In this post, Czartoryski was concerned primarily with the revival of an independent Polish state through the conclusion of a military alliance between Russia and England and Austria against France. But the defeat at Austerlitz, the rapprochement between Russia and Prussia caused the emperor to cool down to Czartoryski's plan. In June 1806 he was dismissed from his post as Minister of Foreign Affairs. However, Alexander I continued to listen to his advice, and he participated in Congress of Vienna 1814 Czartoryski managed to convince the Russian tsar to create the Kingdom of Poland within Russia and grant it a constitution. Alexander I appointed Czartoryski senator-voivode and the Administrative Council (government) of the Kingdom of Poland. However, in 1816 he had to resign for spreading the idea of ​​joining the Lithuanian provinces into the Kingdom of Poland.

Until 1830 Czartoryski was engaged in science and literature. In con. In 1830, the Polish rebels, who had captured Warsaw, elected Czartoryski as President of the Senate and head of the National Government. After the suppression of the uprising in 1831, Czartoryski emigrated to France, where he remained until the end of his life, heading the aristocratic camp of the Polish emigration. Czartoryski advocated the restoration of Polish independence through a military action by the Western powers against Russia. Emperor Nicholas I in 1831 expelled him from service and deprived him of his princely title and dignity of nobility.

Kochubey Viktor Pavlovich (11/11/1768 06/03/1834) - prince, statesman.

V. P. Kochubey was a descendant of V. L. Kochubey, who was executed in 1708 by Hetman I. Mazepa, and the nephew of A. A. Bezborodko, State Chancellor during the reign of Catherine II. Kochubey was brought up in the house of his uncle, who foretold him a career as a diplomat. He began his service in the Preobrazhensky Regiment, then was appointed adjutant to Prince G. A. Potemkin. In 1784 1786. was assigned to a mission in Stockholm. In Sweden he continued his education.

Thanks to the influence of his uncle, in 1792 he was appointed envoy to Constantinople. Kochubey wanted all the powers to value the friendship of Russia. In 1798 he became a member of the College of Foreign Affairs and assistant to his uncle. But after the death of A. A. Bezborodko in 1799, he fell out of favor, and Paul I dismissed him.

Under Alexander I, Kochubey was a member of the Unspoken Committee, which was involved in the preparation of state reforms, from 1801 - a senator, the initiator of the creation of ministries, in 1802-1807. and 1819 1823 - First Minister of the Interior Russian Empire, since 1827 - Chairman of the Council of State and the Committee of Ministers, since 1834 - Chancellor.

Kochubey considered serfdom"giant evil", but was afraid of "shocks". He developed a project of state reforms, partially implemented in the 1830s-1840s, was a supporter of the separation of powers while maintaining the supremacy of autocratic power. HE .

The Secret Committee, formed informally in the middle of 1801. All four closest associates of Alexander I were found in the Secret Committee - Adam Czartoryski, Viktor Kochubey, Pavel Stroganov and Nikolai Novosiltsev. Its meetings were held very often and always with the participation of Alexander - until November 1803 when the committee dissolved, although the friendship between its members remained strong. The first decrees reflecting the work of the Secret Committee began to appear already in the autumn of 1801: On September 27 (October 9), a decree was issued prohibiting the use of torture during investigations, and on December 12 (24) a decree was issued according to which merchants, philistines and state peasants received the right to purchase land, but without serfs. The initiative for such an important decision belonged to the outstanding economist of that time, Admiral Nikolai Mordvinov.

by the most important result activities of the Secret Committee in 1802 were fundamental changes in the activities of the executive branch. Existing since the time of Peter I collegiums were abolished on September 8 (20), and ministries were created in their place. New organization did not limit itself only to an external change in the nomenclature to a more modern one, but also transformed the clerical work itself in areas subordinate to individual ministers, who made decisions individually and answered only to the tsar. Thus, ministries were created in Russia without a cabinet of ministers and without the post of prime minister or chairman of the council of ministers. Instead it was created the Committee of Ministers, at first under the control of the king. However, the Committee did not have any formal organization and although it dealt with many important matters, it was not a "government". Over time, in the second half of the XIX century. and in 1905 it underwent various more or less significant changes. September Decree established eight ministries: military affairs, maritime affairs, foreign affairs, internal affairs, justice, public education, finance (state treasury) and commerce (trade). Mordvinov became the first minister of maritime affairs, Count Pyotr Zavadovsky became the minister of public education, and the famous Russian poet Gavrila Derzhavin became the minister of justice. Count Alexander Vorontsov became the head of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs; Ministers of Foreign Affairs, as a rule, received upon appointment the highest civil title according to Tables of ranks- chancellor. Members of the Unspoken Committee also received appointments to the new ministries, although only Kochubey became Minister (of Internal Affairs; before that he had been at the head of the Collegium of Foreign Affairs). Czartorysky became Vorontsov's deputy, Stroganov - Kochubey, and Novosiltsev - Derzhavin. Count Nikolai Rumyantsev, the son of the famous commander Peter Rumyantsev-Zadunaisky, became Minister of Commerce.

Simultaneously with the September Decree, on September 8 (20), 1802, a decree was published About the rights and duties of the Senate. He solemnly declared the Senate the guardian of laws, the supreme seat of the empire, whose decrees must be executed by all organs and officials as proper imperial ones. In practice, the Senate never acquired its formal significance; its main powers were reduced to the supreme judicial power.

The Unspoken Committee also to some extent took up the position of the serfs, although this interest was caused by external circumstances, and practical results were quite modest. So on February 20 (March 4), 1803, a decree was published About free ploughmen, which gave the landowners the right to free the peasants from corvée and to allocate land plots to them on terms agreed between both parties. The decree itself did not contain detailed and understandable paragraphs, but at the same time introduced many formal restrictions. Thus decree About free ploughmen did not undermine the order of "possession of souls" that existed in Russia, just as the decree issued later forbidding landowners to exile their peasants to hard labor did not undermine it.

Or by 1805. It included the closest associates of the king: Count P. A. Stroganov, Count V. P. Kochubey, Prince A. Czartorysky and N. N. Novosiltsev. The task of this committee was to help the emperor " in the systematic work on the reform of the formless building of the administration of the empire". It was supposed to first study the current state of the empire, then transform individual parts of the administration and complete these individual reforms. code established on the basis of the true national spirit».

Links

• // Encyclopedic Dictionary of Brockhaus and Efron: In 86 volumes (82 volumes and 4 additional). - St. Petersburg. , 1890-1907.
• The secret committee- article from the Great Soviet Encyclopedia

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An unofficial body under Emperor Alexander I from his associates (P. A. Stroganov, A. A. Chartorysky (Chartorysky), V. P. Kochubey and N. N. Novosiltsev) in 1801 1803. The basis of the activities of the Private Committee was the reform program ... ... Political science. Dictionary.

PRIVATE COMMITTEE, an informal advisory body under Emperor Alexander I in 1801 03. Consisted of his closest associates (PA Stroganov, AA Czartorysky, VP Kochubey, NN Novosiltsev). Prepared projects for the establishment of ministries, ... ... Modern Encyclopedia

Unofficial organ under Emperor Alexander I from his associates NEGLIGE (French neglige) morning light home clothes. In the 18th century this was also the name of a comfortable suit (both male and female) for traveling and walking ... Big Encyclopedic Dictionary

TASK COMMITTEE, an informal advisory body under Alexander I in 1801 03 (P. A. Stroganov, A. A. Czartorysky, V. P. Kochubey and N. N. Novosiltsev), prepared projects for the establishment of ministries, the transformation of the Senate and other reforms. Source ... Russian history

The secret committee- PRIVATE COMMITTEE, an informal advisory body under Emperor Alexander I in 1801 - 03. Consisted of his closest associates (P.A. Stroganov, A.A. Czartorysky, V.P. Kochubey, N.N. Novosiltsev). Prepared projects for the establishment of ministries, ... ... Illustrated Encyclopedic Dictionary

An unofficial body under Emperor Alexander I from among his associates [P. A. Stroganov, A. A. Czartorysky (Czartorysky), V. P. Kochubey and N. N. Novosiltsev] in 1801 1803, prepared projects for the establishment of ministries, transformations of the Senate and others ... ... encyclopedic Dictionary

Unofficial advisory body in Russia under Alexander I (See Alexander I). He acted from June 1801 to the end of 1803. The closest employees of the tsar, the so-called "young friends", Count P. A. Stroganov, Prince A. ... ... Great Soviet Encyclopedia

Unofficial consult. organ in Russia under Alexander I. Operated from June 1801 to September. 1803. The closest employees of the tsar, the so-called. young friends gr. P. A. Stroganov, Prince. A. Czartoryski, c. V. P. Kochubey and N. N. Novosiltsev. ... ... Soviet historical encyclopedia

TASK COMMITTEE- in 1801–1803 unofficial advisory body under Emperor Alexander I ... Russian statehood in terms. IX - beginning of XX century

"Unspoken Committee"- PRIVATE COMMITTEE a kind of informal supreme. state an institution that existed in Russia in 1801 03. In essence, it was a meeting of Alexander I with the so-called. young friends of the emperor P. A. Stroganov, V. P. Kochubey, N. N. ... ... Russian humanitarian encyclopedic dictionary

Neglige) - morning light home wear. In the 18th century this was also the name of a comfortable suit (both male and female) for traveling and walking.

Big Encyclopedic Dictionary. 2000 .

See what the "TASKED COMMITTEE" is in other dictionaries:

An unofficial body under Emperor Alexander I from his associates (P. A. Stroganov, A. A. Chartorysky (Chartorysky), V. P. Kochubey and N. N. Novosiltsev) in 1801 1803. The basis of the activities of the Private Committee was the reform program ... ... Political science. Dictionary.

PRIVATE COMMITTEE, an informal advisory body under Emperor Alexander I in 1801 03. Consisted of his closest associates (PA Stroganov, AA Czartorysky, VP Kochubey, NN Novosiltsev). Prepared projects for the establishment of ministries, ... ... Modern Encyclopedia

TASK COMMITTEE, an informal advisory body under Alexander I in 1801 03 (P. A. Stroganov, A. A. Czartorysky, V. P. Kochubey and N. N. Novosiltsev), prepared projects for the establishment of ministries, the transformation of the Senate and other reforms. Source ... Russian history

The secret committee- PRIVATE COMMITTEE, an informal advisory body under Emperor Alexander I in 1801 - 03. Consisted of his closest associates (P.A. Stroganov, A.A. Czartorysky, V.P. Kochubey, N.N. Novosiltsev). Prepared projects for the establishment of ministries, ... ... Illustrated Encyclopedic Dictionary

An unofficial body under Emperor Alexander I from among his associates [P. A. Stroganov, A. A. Czartorysky (Czartorysky), V. P. Kochubey and N. N. Novosiltsev] in 1801 1803, prepared projects for the establishment of ministries, transformations of the Senate and others ... ... encyclopedic Dictionary

The secret committee is an unofficial advisory body that worked at the beginning of the reign of Alexander I. It arose on the basis of the “Grand Duke’s circle”, which was formed back in 1797, but usually the period from 1801 to 1803 is considered to be the time of its work or ... ... Wikipedia

Unofficial advisory body in Russia under Alexander I (See Alexander I). He acted from June 1801 to the end of 1803. The closest employees of the tsar, the so-called "young friends", Count P. A. Stroganov, Prince A. ... ... Great Soviet Encyclopedia

Unofficial consult. organ in Russia under Alexander I. Operated from June 1801 to September. 1803. The closest employees of the tsar, the so-called. young friends gr. P. A. Stroganov, Prince. A. Czartoryski, c. V. P. Kochubey and N. N. Novosiltsev. ... ... Soviet historical encyclopedia

TASK COMMITTEE- in 1801–1803 unofficial advisory body under Emperor Alexander I ... Russian statehood in terms. IX - beginning of XX century

"Unspoken Committee"- PRIVATE COMMITTEE a kind of informal supreme. state an institution that existed in Russia in 1801 03. In essence, it was a meeting of Alexander I with the so-called. young friends of the emperor P. A. Stroganov, V. P. Kochubey, N. N. ... ... Russian humanitarian encyclopedic dictionary