The Collegium of Foreign Affairs () 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.
The College of Foreign Affairs was governed by a board consisting of a president (chancellor), a vice president (vice chancellor), and other members. Important decisions were made through voting within this board.
List of Presidents
No. Name Term of office Reigning monarch Began Ended College of Foreign Affairs 16 Gavriil Golovkin 1717 1734 Peter I, Catherine I, Peter II, Anna Ioannovna 17 Andrey Osterman 1734 1740 Anna Ioannovna 18 Alexey Cherkassky 1741 1742 Ivan VI 19 Aleksey Bestuzhev-Ryumin 1742 1758 Elizabeth Petrovna 20 Mikhail Vorontsov 1758 1763 Elizabeth Petrovna, Peter III 21 Nikita Panin 1763 1781 Catherine II 22 Ivan Osterman 1783 1797 Catherine II, Paul I 23 Alexander Bezborodko 1797 1799 Paul I 24 Fyodor Rostopchin 1799 1801 Paul I 25 Alexander Kurakin 1801 1802 Alexander I
References