The Russian Empire in the Western Caspian Region in 1722—1735: Management Experience

Abstract

Based on documentary data from the funds of federal and state archives and taking into account the modern achievements of Russian historiography, the article examines the experience of the administrative practice of the Russian Empire in the Western Caspian region in 1722—1735. The activity of the commanders-in-chief of the Grassroots Corps of Generals M. A. Matyushkin and V. V. Dolgorukov on the organization of a management system for the southwestern shores of the Caspian Sea, ensuring the security of communications and the loyalty of Caucasian and Persian societies. Strengthening the position of the Russian government included a whole range of measures: punitive expeditions against rebellious rulers, appeals and appeals to the population not to follow the “rioters”, payment of remuneration and the provision of royal favor to loyal rulers, the introduction of the institution of amanity (hostage taking), collection of information with the help of spies , merchants, etc. The unhealthy climate, ethnopolitical disunity of the region, the reluctance of the local population to submit to “alien” power, the confrontation between the Persian and Turkish authorities created serious difficulties in the management of the region. The remoteness of the Western Caspian region from the main part of the Russian Empire, the unprofitability of the presence of imperial troops in the region, large losses among troops from diseases, the lack of reliable communications for replenishing the personnel of the garrisons and their food supply, as well as the radically changed foreign policy situation around the region ultimately led to the return of the Western Caspian region under the Rasht treaty of 1732 and the Ganja treaty of 1735 to Persia.