Karadeniz Araştırmaları Enstitüsü Dergisi

Öz

It is accepted that the first Russian state in history emerged in Kiev at the end of the 9th century. This state was divided into small principalities called kniazhestvo in the 11th century, and the reunification of the Russians under a single state was only possible in the last quarter of the 15th century. This state became an empire in the first quarter of the 18th century and continued its existence until the revolution that took place in 1917. In the period from the 9th to the 20th centuries, as the Russian state expanded its borders and developed through European-style administrative reforms, the central and local government bodies were transformed within the framework of centralized regulations. One of the institutions that changed in time was namestnichestvo. Regardless of the laws and regulations, the institution of namestnichestvo that appeared in the Russian state organization as a form of local administration since the 12th century, carried out a provincial administration in a primitive structure up to the 16th century. It was abolished within the framework of centralist reforms carried out in this century. Nevertheless, the concept of namestnik has been preserved as a diplomatic title in the state organization. As a result of the reforms carried out in the central and local administrations in the 18th century, namestnichestvo has taken its place in the state organization as the local authority again. Institution of namestnichestvo has been implemented until the beginning of the 20th century with the changes it has made as a result of the reforms carried out in the imperial provincial administration.