Elections of the nobility in the St. Petersburg province in the last third of the 18th century

Abstract

This article attempts to investigate the practice of holding the first noble elections in the St. Petersburg province in the last third of the 18th century. First held in 1867, the noble elections over time acquired enormous importance for this class. In the years noted, the practice of their conduct was perfected, which underwent a certain evolution from the election of only the district leaders of the nobility and deputies of the Legislative Commission, to the election of a number of positions of judicial and police bodies of the St. Petersburg provinces. During these years, bodies of noble self-government, institutions of public charity were formed, the regularity and timing of class elections, as well as the main prerogatives of noble assemblies, were formed. Many traditions of the last third of the 18th century in the electoral practice of the nobles persisted for many years, and some were not lost at all during the entire period of the convocation of noble assemblies. In particular, the tradition of listening to the liturgy in the church of the Kazan Icon of the Mother of God survived until the beginning of the 20th century. There, the nobles took the oath before the opening of the meeting. In the same years, a tradition has developed to invite noblemen to the festive table, which was arranged at the expense of the Court.