The Tsarist system of government

The Tsarist System of Government

By 1855 in Western Europe constitutional government had taken hold in most countries. This means that the powers of monarchs, where they existed, were constrained by a framework of law and also often by representative institutions, such as the Parliament in Britain. The Russia rulers, however, were absolute monarchs and despised the notion of constitutional government. Tsar Ivan the Terrible wrote to England’s Elizabeth I in 1570:

“In your land people rule beside you, and not only people but trading peasants”.

The last Tsars of Russia were members of the Romanov dynasty. They were autocrats and ruled by divine right. They did not have to share power and could make new laws, increase taxes, do exactly as they wished, without consulting anyone. There was no parliament to limit their power and they could sack any minister or advisor who disagreed with them. They were answerable to no one other than God. They expected and demanded the unquestioning loyalty and devotion of all their subjects.

In practice, of course, it was impossible for the Tsar to rule over a state as huge as Russia alone. When Nicholas II came to the throne in 1894, he had the task of governing 125 million people. The Tsar’s power was therefore exercised by others acting on his behalf. Thousands of civil servants were organised like an army into fourteen ranks. At the top of the ‘Table of Ranks’ were ministers in charge of government departments. At the bottom were minor officials such as post office clerks and customs inspectors. The Imperial Council of State also met regularly to advise the Tsar on policy matters and discuss proposed new laws, though in practice the Tsar often ignored it.  The legal system was overseen by the Senate which, for example, tried serious political offences. The army and secret police (Okhrana or ‘Protective Section’) crushed any opposition or perceived threat to the Tsar and his authority.

The role of the local gentry proved vital to the tsarist system of government as these were the people who actually met the Tsar’s subjects. Provincial governors were the key figures away from the capital. Russia was divided into provinces and each province was sub-divided into districts. Within each province the gentry had their own assemblies and elected judges and police to maintain law and order. The local gentry therefore grew very powerful.

The Russian Orthodox Church also helped maintain the authority of the Tsar. By preaching blinding obedience to God, it encouraged blind obedience to social superiors and ultimately the Tsars. Loyalty to God and loyalty to the Tsar were one in the same. The Church was not independent of the state, but was controlled by the Holy Synod, chaired by a government minister, chosen by the Tsar. Bishops took their orders from him and priests took their orders from the bishops. In this way the government had control over the minds and souls of Russia’s churchgoers.