The Administrative Status of Leaders of the Upper Irtysh Fortresses in the First Half of the 18th Century

Abstract

The publication reflects the results of research dedicated to the work of lower strata of Russian fortress administration system of the Upper Irtish area in the first half of the 18^th century. The author proceeds from the proposition of two original constructing local tiers models of administrative hierarchy in the Upper Ob-Irtysh area. Based on the administrative discourse of the relevant period, the definition “Upper Irtysh Fortresses” is introduced in scientific circulation and widely used in the text. Involvement of unpublished documents from central archives allowed identifying the Irtysh fortresses’ garrison’s leaders as key administrative units in the local area; the author considers their institutionalization factors and reconstructs their competence. Defensive, diplomatic and customs functions are singled out and considered . In conclusion, it is emphasized that certain degradation of the architecture of managers’ functional status in the Irtysh fortresses did not reduce the administrational effectiveness, but in many respects corresponded to the realities of territory developmental and the state of the resources basis.

DOI 10.14258/izvasu(2017)5-02