Charters to the Nobility and the Towns

In 1785, Empress Catherine the Great of Russia issued two significant charters: the Charter to the Nobility and the Charter to the Towns. These edicts aimed to reorganize local administration and solidify the rights and privileges of different social classes.

The Charter to the Nobility formalized the provincial nobility as a legal entity, granting them the right to assemble, elect leaders, and petition the autocrat. It also confirmed their exemption from compulsory state service and taxes, while strengthening their power over serfs and their exclusive right to own estates with serf labor.12

The Charter to the Towns provided a framework for municipal self-government, granting limited corporate self-administration to urban dwellers. This contributed to the growth of towns and the emergence of a merchant class. These reforms, while intended to modernize administration, also reinforced existing social hierarchies and the power of the nobility.21