Establishment of the Supreme Privy Council in Russia
- When
- 1726–1730
- Where
- Imperial Russia
- Episodes
- 2
The Supreme Privy Council was established in Imperial Russia on 19 February 1726 as an advisory body to Empress Catherine I. It initially comprised six senior officials, including Alexander Menshikov, and operated until 1730. The collegia and Senate were held accountable before the Council rather than to the young Emperor.
Episodes
- Accountability of Governing Bodies
The Senate and collegia were held accountable to the Supreme Privy Council rather than directly to the Emperor.
- Founding of the Supreme Privy Council
The Supreme Privy Council was founded on 19 February 1726 as an advisory body to Empress Catherine I, comprising six initial members.
Background and detail
Founding and Composition. Founded on 19 February 1726, the Supreme Privy Council originated as a body of advisors to Empress Catherine I. The initial membership consisted of six individuals: Alexander Menshikov, Fyodor Apraksin, Gavriil Golovkin, Andrey Osterman, Peter Tolstoy, and Dmitry Mikhaylovich Golitsyn. This body was operative until 1730.
Political Role and Accountability. The collegia and the Senate, instituted by Peter the Great as supreme governing bodies, were held accountable before the Council rather than to the young Emperor. During Catherine's reign, her favorite, Prince Menshikov, dominated the council.
People involved
- Catherine I · Empress and recipient of the Council's advice
- Alexander Menshikov · Initial member and dominant figure
- Fyodor Apraksin · Initial member
- Gavriil Golovkin · Initial member
- Andrey Osterman · Initial member
- Peter Tolstoy · Initial member
- Dmitry Mikhaylovich Golitsyn · Initial member
Sources
- Supreme Privy Council Wikipedia, revision of 2026-01-17
Machine-drafted from the cited Wikipedia passages and checked by a reviewing model, not by a human editor. Every passage cites the revision it was written from; dates and places follow those passages.