Принципы функционирования герольдмейстерской конторы в 1720-е годы

Новое прошлое. 2025. № 4. С. 140–156.

Всеволожский Г. К.

The present article delves into the clerical work of the Heraldmaster's Office, an institution created by Peter the Great in 1721 in order to maintain records of the serving population. The topic is examined through the internal organizational aspects of the institution that influenced the outcome of its work. In particular, such factors as material support, personnel, distribution of powers among employees and the volume and nature of the cases under consideration are emphasized. The purpose of the article is to study the main elements influencing the management efficiency of the Petrine-era state institution. The research methodology is based on the combination of methods related to classical source studies and life history studies, which makes it possible to see the reasons for the failure of Peter the Great's initiatives through everyday practice. The underinvestigated materials of the Heraldmaster's Office were used as a basis for the research. The results of the study demonstrate the complex situations the Heraldmaster's Office faced. It is suggested that the identified problems were not unique to the Heraldmaster's Office, and might characterize the entire Petrine state system. The main issue was the discrepancy between the ambitious tasks that Peter the Great assigned to new institutions and the conditions in which these institutions were supposed to function. Peter's successors, faced with a budget deficit, sought to reduce government spending. As a result, many of the institutions were abolished, as their value seemed questionable; however, the Heraldmaster's Office continued its activity.

Keywords: Петр I, Peter I, Герольдмейстерская контора, история государственного управления, российская бюрократия, Heraldmaster's Office, history of Government, Russian bureaucracy, Account of the serving population, учет служилого населения