Collegium of Foreign Affairs

Collegium of Foreign Affairs
Коллегия иностранных дел или иностранная коллегия Российской империи
Coat of Arms of the Russian Empire
Ministry overview
Formed1717
Preceding Ministry
Dissolved1832
Superseding Ministry
JurisdictionEmperor of Russia
Headquarters
Ministry executive
Parent Ministry
Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Russian Empire (1802-1832)

The Collegium of Foreign Affairs (Russian: Коллегия иностранных дел или иностранная коллегия Российской империи) was a collegium of the Russian Empire responsible for foreign policy from 1717 to 1832.

Establishment

The Collegium of Foreign Affairs was created by Peter the Great as part of his government reforms to replace the existing posolsky prikaz, with Fyodor Golovin serving as its first president. It functioned as Russia's foreign ministry until it was replaced by the new Ministry of Foreign Affairs Although it continued to operate alongside the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Russian Empire, established in 1802 by Emperor Alexander I, its powers gradually diminished, and in 1832 it was completely abolished, with all of its functions transferred to the ministry.[1]

The College of Foreign Affairs was governed by a board consisting of a president (chancellor[2]), a vice president (vice chancellor[2]), and other members. Important decisions were made through voting within this board.[1]

List of Presidents

No. Name Term of office Reigning monarch
Began Ended
College of Foreign Affairs
16 Golovkin, Gavrila Ivanovich Gavriil Golovkin 1717 1734 Peter I, Catherine I, Peter II, Anna Ioannovna
17 Osterman, Heinrich Johann Friedrich Andrey Osterman 1734 1740 Anna Ioannovna
18 Cherkassky, Alexey Mikhailovich Alexey Cherkassky 1741 1742 Ivan VI
19 Bestuzhev-Ryumin, Alexey Petrovich Aleksey Bestuzhev-Ryumin 1742 1758 Elizabeth Petrovna
20 Vorontsov, Mikhail Illarionovich Mikhail Vorontsov 1758 1763 Elizabeth Petrovna, Peter III
21 Panin, Nikita Ivanovich Nikita Panin 1763 1781 Catherine II
22 Osterman, Ivan Andreyevich Ivan Osterman 1783 1797 Catherine II, Paul I
23 Bezborodko, Alexander Andreyevich Alexander Bezborodko 1797 1799 Paul I
24 Rostopchin, Fyodor Vasilyevich Fyodor Rostopchin 1799 1801 Paul I
25 Alexander Kurakin 1801 1802 Alexander I

References

  1. 1 2 "Коллегия иностранных дел". diplomaticdictionary.com (in Russian). Archived from the original on 2025-01-15. Retrieved 2026-05-27.
  2. 1 2 "Энциклопедический Словарь Ф.А.Брокгауза и И.А.Ефрона". www.vehi.net. Retrieved 2026-05-27.


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