The history and meaning of the concept "Preobrazhensky order"

The history of Russia has many terms and events, the characteristics of which cause difficulties for schoolchildren. One such notion is the Transfiguration Order, which in the 17th and 18th centuries fulfilled the role of a detective and governing body.

The complexity of the issue lies in the fact that the term "order" over the past centuries has changed its meaning. For this reason, many schoolchildren are lost, having received the task: "Uncover the meaning of concepts. Preobrazhensky order - what is it? "In this situation, the grossest mistake is an attempt to answer the question, relying on modern language.

The term "order" is a requirement or authority?

To learn the meaning of the concept of the "Transfiguration Order" and find out the role that he played in the formation of the Russian Empire, one must understand the origin of the very term "order". The modern explanatory dictionary explains this word as follows: "an order that must be strictly enforced." However, such a formulation has come into use relatively recently. In Russia, beginning with the end of the XV century, the order was called the central authorities responsible for a certain part of public concerns. Thus, Prince Ivan III, having completed the unification of the scattered Slavic principalities, transformed the system of government of Russia, transferring executive powers to orders - prototypes of modern ministries. The ambassador's order, the Local, Yamskoy, Pushkarskii ... With each new prince or tsar the system was supplemented, but right up until Peter I never ceased to exist.

The appearance of the Preobrazhensky order

This authority is due to the appearance of two small villages near Moscow - Semenovsky and Preobrazhensky, where in 1682 the young tsar Peter was exiled with his mother. All power was concentrated in the hands of the regent - the princess Sophia, and for the amusement of Peter, two "amusing" regiments were singled out. Management of all economic and other issues of these regiments was transferred to the specially created for this purpose Preobrazhensky order.

However, over time, as young Peter began to participate in the government of the country, this "amusing" order changed its meaning. Around him rally supporters of the young Peter, he drafted plans for the first serious reforms, discussed the need for military campaigns against Turkey. To lead the order, Peter Alekseevich put one of his closest friends - Prince Fedor Yurievich Romodanovsky.

The first serious cases of the Preobrazhensky Order

In 1689, Princess Sophia made an attempt to take full control of her hands and become a queen. She was supported by the streltsy regiments stationed in Moscow. Funny regiments, led by Prince Romodanovsky, were forced to enter into their first serious battle and won. Sophia was exiled to Novodevichy Convent, and the Transfiguration Order from a small economic organization turned into one of the most important organs of state power. In his charge was the protection of order in Moscow, the investigation of political crimes, in 1698 he was granted the exclusive right of the court of any crimes against the tsar or the tsarist authorities.

It is this powerful organization that the reign of Peter I owes to several depressed riots, the persecution of Peter's political opponents and the bloody executions. The very notion of "transfiguration order" became a household name, for many years associated with people with terrible torture chambers and cruel reprisals.

However, in fact, the functions of this order were much wider: until the creation of the Senate in 1711, it was the main governing body of the country for the time of the Tsar's absence. For example, during the participation of Peter I in the Great Embassy in Europe, it was the Preobrazhensky Order that dealt with all internal problems.

The role of the Preobrazhensky order in suppressing the Strelka uprising

One of the most serious cases in which the subordinate prince Romodanovsky was involved was the Strelets' uprising of 1698. Sent (instead of the promised rest) to serve in Velikiye Luki, the regiments refused to follow orders. And they moved to free Tsarevna Sophia - which, unlike Peter, "was with them tenderly." The Strelets' uprising was brutally suppressed. At the behest of Peter, more than 300 musketeers were arrested and taken to the Preobrazhensky Prison for interrogation. The significance of this event for the development of Russia was enormous: it was after the rebellion of 1698 that the army of the Strelets was disbanded and ceased to exist forever.

Throughout the country there was a search for sympathizers archers. Many of the participants in this insurrection perished in the dungeons of the Preobrazhensky Order, more was publicly executed on Red Square for the edification of the rest. This tragic event was captured by Vasily Surikov in his film "Morning of the Strelets Execution".

The Age of Empire Formation

In subsequent years, the Preobrazhensky Order increasingly became the central detective and judicial body. Since 1702, all those who "spoke for themselves the word of the sovereign" (that is, they had information about the plot or seditious conversations) began to be interrogated here.

In 1718, the Secret Chancellery was created in St. Petersburg, which received the functions of the Preobrazhensky Order in the north of the country, and in a few years these two organizations merged into one. It was here, in the Peter and Paul Fortress, where the Secret Chancery was, the case of Tsarevich Alexei, the son of Peter I, accused of high treason, was being conducted. Interrogation methods involving torture were not changed even for Aleksei Petrovich, and a guilty verdict was soon issued. However, the heir to the throne did not live to death: on June 26 he was found dead in his cell.

The last years of the Preobrazhensky order

Throughout the Petrine era, the Transfiguration order was the main support of the tsarist power. His powers were expanded, the name changed: so, in 1702 the organization was temporarily called the "General Yard". By the end of the reign of Peter I, this order had the power to search and judge political criminals, investigate criminal cases, carry out executions and even control the sale of tobacco. Fyodor Romodanovsky was replaced by his son, Ivan Romodanovsky, Andrei Ushakov was appointed to supervise the criminal investigation.

Peter's offspring began to lose his meaning only after his death. Catherine I renamed the organization into the Transfiguration Chancellery, retaining most of her powers. And in 1729, Emperor Peter II finally abolished this authority, sending his chief to resign and handing all the cases to the Senate and the Supreme Council.