Russian Autocracy in 1855: Political Context Flashcards
What type of state was Russia?
Autocratic state
Who were the Holy Synod
A group of bishops, which form the ruling body of the Orthodox church.
What did the Tsar release?
Edicts (Ukazy)
Who were the Tsar’s advisers? (2)
- Imperial Council
- Council of Ministers
Define Imperial Council
35-60 specially picked by the Tsar to advise him personally and provide their ‘expert’ opinion.
Define Council of Ministers
8-14 ministers in charge of different government departments.
Where was the central government based?
St Petersburg
Who was the over-procurator?
Highest church official appointed by the Tsar
How many ranks were in the bureaucracy?
14
who made up the bureaucracy?
civil servants/ paid noble officials selected from a table of ranks
What did each rank have of its own? (3)
- uniform
- form of address
- status
How many conscripted serfs were in the army?
1.5 million
How long did each conscript have to serve?
25 years
What were military colonies
where the conscripts lived ( with their families) and trained, all under strict military discipline.
Who were the Cossacks?
They were from Ukraine and Southern Russia, who acted as both the Tsar’s personal bodyguards and as police reinforcement.
