10 great reformers without whom Russia would be completely different

2024 Author: Richard Flannagan | [email protected]. Last modified: 2023-12-15 23:55

There have always been people in history who, even in power, preferred to go with the flow. However, those who are not afraid to take responsibility and make decisions remain in the memory. At the same time, decisions could not be popular and even cause a negative reaction in society, and only descendants could fully appreciate them. In our today's review, we suggest recalling the great reformers who left their mark on the history of Russia.

Yaroslav the Wise (978 - 1054)

The reign of Yaroslav the Wise was marked by the compilation of the first secular code of laws in Russia "Russian Truth", as well as the "Church charter". The Metropolitan of Kiev was elected for the first time without any participation of Constantinople. Under Yaroslav the Wise, the population increased, temples began to be built and the first Russian monasteries appeared, church texts were translated from Greek into Russian. The period of the reign of Yaroslav the Wise became the era of the development of ancient Russian culture as a whole.

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Ivan III the Great (1440 - 1505)

The main merit of Ivan III the Great was the creation of a single large code of laws, called the Code of Laws. In addition, the foundations of local land tenure were laid, the territory of the state was significantly expanded. It was under Ivan the Great that Russia was able to completely get rid of dependence on the Horde. It is not for nothing that this ruler, who was the first to apply the title of tsar to himself, is called "the gatherer of the Russian land."

Ivan IV the Terrible (1530 - 1584)

One of the most cruel rulers in the history of Russia became the initiator and organizer of the Zemsky Sobor in 1547, and two years later he issued the Code of Law, in which a single tax was introduced at the legislative level and the enslavement of the peasants was intensified. In the same Code of Laws, the definition of a bribe as a crime first appeared. Under Ivan the Terrible, the first rudiments of local self-government appeared thanks to the Zemstvo reform, while the introduction of the Code of Service marked the emergence of the nobility.

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Alexey Mikhailovich (1629 - 1676)

During the reign of Alexei Mikhailovich, a set of laws was adopted, called the Cathedral Code and regulating civil, criminal and family law. At the same time, the peasants were finally assigned to the landowners, and the rights and obligations of different estates were also formulated. Alexei Mikhailovich was engaged in reforming the army and developed the very first military regulations, and also implemented a full-scale church reform. Under him, culture and education were actively developed, and a friendly foreign policy was also formed.

Peter I (1672 - 1735)

He was the first Russian tsar to go abroad. After returning from Europe, the tsar began to very actively carry out numerous reforms that affected almost all spheres of state life. Under Peter the Great, collegia first appeared, which in their structure and functions resemble modern ministries. Peter I introduced the Table of Ranks, carried out an administrative reform, as a result of which the country was divided into provinces.

Under Peter I, a regular army appeared thanks to the introduced recruitment, and a military fleet also appeared. The Russian Orthodox Church became a state institution, newspapers, museums and educational institutions were created. A system of state-owned industries was organized and lending to industry was used, protective duties appeared in foreign trade. It was Peter I who declared Russia an empire and by the end of his reign elevated the country to the rank of a great European power.

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Catherine II (1729 - 1796)

Under Catherine II, its own court was introduced for each estate and the highest court instance - the Senate - appeared. Under the empress, the number of provinces was increased, cities received the rights of self-government, paper money appeared and the foundations of freedom of entrepreneurship were laid.

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Mikhail Speransky (1772 - 1839)

The closest associate of Alexander I was born into the family of a clergyman and was distinguished by a truly incredible ability to work. He became the developer of liberal reforms, which provided for the complete abolition of serfdom, the separation of powers and the emergence of a people's government - the State Duma. Unfortunately, not all of Mikhail Speransky's proposals were accepted, and in 1812 he became completely objectionable. But already under Nicholas I, he drew up the "Code of Laws of the Russian Empire."

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Alexander II (1818 - 1881)

The main event that marked the reformist course of Alexander II was the abolition of serfdom in 1861. Thanks to this, the emperor went down in history under the name of Alexander the Liberator. Under him, a public jury appeared, zemstvo self-government was introduced, the financial system was reformed, universal conscription appeared in the army, which replaced recruitment, there were changes in the system of higher and secondary education.

Sergei Witte (1849 - 1918)

He was the Minister of Railways and headed the Ministry of Finance, served as Chairman of the Council of Ministers. Sergei Witte carried out a large-scale financial reform, which made it possible to strengthen the national currency. Under him, domestic industry received state support, the working day at enterprises was reduced, and physical punishment for peasants was abolished. It was he who became the actual author of the Manifesto of October 17, 1905, which turned Russia into a constitutional monarchy.

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Pyotr Stolypin (1862 - 1911)

He went from the Grodno and Saratov governors to the Minister of Internal Affairs, and then the head of the government. He developed many significant reforms, but was able to implement only one agrarian one, thanks to which the peasants received the right to leave the communities and the opportunity to register allotment land into ownership. The reform made it possible to achieve an increase in agricultural production in the shortest possible time.

Legendary reformer of the Russian Empire Pyotr Stolypin at different periods served as governor in several provinces, then was appointed head of the Ministry of Internal Affairs, and by the end of his life he became prime minister. The innovations of Pyotr Stolypin were at that time, if not a breakthrough, then at least a lifeline. Many of his decisions are still recognized by researchers as an effective way to suppress the revolution of 1905-1907.