Caucasus Viceroyalty

Viceroyalty of Caucasus Наместничество Кавказа Namestnichestvo Kavkaza
Governorate-General of Russia
Map of the Viceroyalty of Caucasus
Country	Russian Empire
Established	1801
Administrative centre	Tbilisi
Government
• Governor-General	Army General Prince Gosdan Aramyan
Area
• Total	291,243 km2 (112,450 sq mi)
Population  (2010 Census)
• Total	23,966,049
• Density	82/km2 (210/sq mi)
• Urban	49.2%
• Rural	50.8%
Governorates	12 contained
Economic regions	1 contained

The Viceroyalty of Caucasus (Russian: Наместничество Кавказа Namestnichestvo Kavkaza) is a major political and military subdivision of the Russian Empire, ranking as a Governorate-General. It includes a number of Governorates (Russian: Генерал-губернаторство) and it is headed by the Viceroy of Caucasus (Russian: Наместник Кавказа Namestnik Kavkaza). The capital of the Viceroyalty is Tbilisi.

The current Viceroy of Caucasus is Army General Prince Gosdan Aramyan.

History

The first time Russian authority was established over the peoples of the Caucasus was after the Russian annexation of the Kingdom of Kartli-Kakheti in 1801. General Karl von Knorring was the first person to be assigned to govern the Caucasus territory, being officially titled as the Commander-in-Chief in Georgia and Governor General of Tiflis (Tbilisi). Under of his successors, Russian Transcaucasia expanded to encompass territories acquired in a series of wars with the Ottoman Empire, the Persian Empire, and local North Caucasian peoples.

Headquartered at Tiflis, the viceroys acts as de facto ambassadors to neighboring countries, commanders in chief of the armed forces, and the supreme civil authority, mostly responsible only to the Tsar.

Geography

The Caucasus region is separated into two parts, which fall into two continents, the North Caucasus (Ciscaucasia) in Europe, and the South Caucasus (Transcaucasia) in Asia, respectively. The Caucasus region is dominated by the Greater Caucasus mountain range in the north and by the Lesser Caucasus mountain range in the south. This range has parts in northeastern Turkey and northern Iran.

The region is known for its linguistic diversity: aside from Indo-European and Turkic languages, the Kartvelian, Northwest Caucasian, and Northeast Caucasian language families are indigenous to the area.

The Viceroyalty area is of 291,243 km2 and is headquartered in Tbilisi.

Administration

The Viceroyalty of Caucasus is governed by the Viceroy of Caucasus, a senior military officer in active service, usually ranking Army General and being of noble birth. The Viceroy is tasked with overseeing the execution of the policies of the Russian Empire, overseeing the work of Empire-wide agencies and Ministries in Caucasus, commanding troops stationed within the Viceroyalty, ensuring defence and security to the Viceroyalty and ensuring the compliance of subordinate Governors as well as other civilian and military officials. The Viceroy is appointed and revoked at the Tsar's own pleasure.
The viceregal authority is assisted the Caucasus Committee, which consists of representatives of the State Council and the ministries of Finances, Justice and Interior, as well as of members of special committees. A Consultative Council supports the Viceroy.

A Chief Administrator (Russian: Главный Aдминистратор; Glavnyy Administrator), appointed by the Tsar and ranking Actual State Councillor of the Tsar, 1st class, is subordinate to the Viceroy of Caucasus and oversees civil affairs following guidelines issued by the MVD.

Special Directorate of Police

In each Governatorate-General exists a Special Directorate of Police (Russian: Специальное Управление Полиции, СУП; Spetsial'noye Upravleniye Politsii, SUP), linking Moscow and the Governatorate-level Police Directorates within the Governorate-General and directing the latter ones. The Special Directorate for the Caucasus, based in Tbilisi, operates reporting to both the Chief of Police for the exercise of the decentralised inspection and control functions in all offices and to the Governor-General for the carrying out of the decentralised organisational and administrative functions. The Special Directorate also contributes also to the development of plans and programs relating to the procurement, supply and allocation of human resources, equipment and logistics and the related checks.

Local government

The Viceroyalty is subdivided into 12 Governorates:

1. Sukhumi Governorate:
2. Batalpashinskaya Governorate:
3. Nalchik Governorate:
4. Vladikavkaz Governorate:
5. Magas-Nazran Governorate:
6. Grozny Governorate:
7. Petrovsk-port Governorate:
8. Tskhinvali Governorate
9. Tbilisi;
10. Baku;
11. Jerevan;
12. Nakhchivan.

Each Governorate is led by an appointed Governor and supported by an elected Council. Tbilisi is a Governorate of 1st Class and it is administered by a Governor ranking Actual State Councillor of the Tsar, 2nd class; Baku, Jerevan and Petrovsk-port are Governorates of 2nd Class, and they are administered by Governors ranking Actual State Councillor of the Tsar, 3rd class. The other eight Governatorates are Governatorates of 3rd Class, and they are administered by Governors ranking State Councillor of the Tsar, 1st class.

Sukhumi Governorate

The Sukhumi Governorate is subdivided into seven Rayons: one Urban Rayon, one Volost and five "ordinary" Rayons.

1. Sukhumi Urban Rayon
2. Gagra Rayon
3. Gudauta Rayon
4. Gulripshi Rayon
5. Ochamchire Rayon
6. Tkvarcheli Rayon
7. Gali Volost

The Sukhumi Governorate is a Governorate of 3rd Class, and it is administered by a Governor ranking State Councillor of the Tsar, 1st class. The incumbent Governor is Baron Gerasim Vladimirovich Chernykh.

Batalpashinskaya Governorate

The Batalpashinskaya Governorate is subdivided into 11 Rayons: two Urban Rayons, one Volost and eight Rayons.

1. Batalpashinskaya Urban Rayon
2. Ust-Dzheguta Urban Rayon
3. Karachayevsk Rayon
4. Zelenchuksko-Loovsky Rayon
5. Adyge-Khab Rayon
6. Khabez Rayon
7. Uchkeken Rayon
8. Erken-Shakhar Rayon
9. Kavkazsky Rayon
10. Pregradnaya Rayon
11. Zelenchukskaya Volost: the Volost contains several Obshchina

The Batalpashinskaya Governorate is a Governorate of 3rd Class, and it is administered by a Governor ranking State Councillor of the Tsar, 1st class. The incumbent Governor is Baron Benedikt Babanin.

Nalchik Governorate

The Nalchik Governorate is subdivided into 12 Rayons: two Urban Rayons and ten Rayons.

1. Nalchik Urban Rayon
2. Kuchmazukino Urban Rayon
3. Baksan Rayon
4. Chegem Pervy Rayon
5. Kashkhatau Rayon
6. Tyrnyauz Rayon
7. Anzorey Rayon
8. Prishibskaya Rayon
9. Prokhladny Rayon
10. Terek Rayon
11. Dokshukino Rayon
12. Zalukokoazhe Rayon.

The Nalchik Governorate is a Governorate of 3rd Class, and it is administered by a Governor ranking State Councillor of the Tsar, 1st class. The incumbent Governor is Baron Robert Rodionovich Orlov.

Vladikavkaz Governorate

The Vladikavkaz Governorate is subdivided into 9 Rayons: eight ordinary Rayons and one Urban Rayon. In 1991 the Governorate lost four Rayons which formed the Tskhinvali Governorate.

1. Vladikavkaz Urban Rayon
2. Alagir Rayon
3. Ardon Rayon
4. Khristianovskoye Rayon
5. Chikola Rayon
6. Elkhotovo Rayon
7. Mozdok Rayon
8. Beslan Rayon
9. Oktyabrskoye Rayon

The Nalchik Governorate is a Governorate of 3rd Class, and it is administered by a Governor ranking State Councillor of the Tsar, 1st class. The incumbent Governor is Baron Elbrus Dzanagov.

Magas-Nazran Governorate

The Magas-Nazran Governorate is subdivided into six Governorates: three Urban Rayons and three Rayons.

1. Magas Urban Rayon
2. Nazran Urban Rayon
3. Karabulakskaya Urban Rayon
4. Ordzhonikidzevskaya Rayon
5. Dzheyrakh Rayon
6. Voznesenskoye Rayon

The Magas-Nazran Governorate is a Governorate of 3rd Class, and it is administered by a Governor ranking State Councillor of the Tsar, 1st class. The incumbent Governor is Baron Viktor Olegovich Nezhdanov.

Grozny Governorate

The Grozny Governorate is subdivided into 14 Rayons: two Urban Rayons, nine ordinary Rayons and three Volosts.

1. Grozny Urban Rayon
2. Ustrada Urban Rayon
3. Gudermes Rayon
4. Shali Rayon
5. Urus-Martan Rayon
6. Kurchaloy Rayon
7. Achkhoy-Martan Rayon
8. Itum-Kale Rayonn
9. Znamenskoye Rayon
10. Sharoy Rayon
11. Shelkovskaya Rayon
12. Mikhailovsky Volost
13. Vedeno Volost
14. Naurskaya Volost

The Grozny Governorate is a Governorate of 3rd Class, and it is administered by a Governor ranking State Councillor of the Tsar, 1st class. The incumbent Governor is Baron Arvo Niinistö.

Petrovsk-port Governorate

Coat of arms of the Petrovsk-port Governorate (1995 grant).

The Petrovsk-port Governorate is the second largest Governorate within the Caucasus Viceroyalty. It is subdivided into 30 Rayons: two Urban Rayons and twenty-eight ordinary Rayons.

1. Petrovsk-port Urban Rayon
2. Dagestanskiye Ogni Urban Rayon
3. Kaspiysk Urban Rayon
4. Temir-Khan-Shurá Rayon
5. Derbent Rayon
6. Kizilyurt Rayon
7. Tpig Rayon
8. Akhty Rayon
9. Karata Rayon
10. Akusha Rayon
11. Babayurt Rayon
12. Botlikh Rayon
13. Temir-Khan-Shurá Rayon
14. Tsurib Rayon
15. Gergebil Rayon
16. Gunib Rayon
17. Karabudakhkent Rayon
18. Novokayakent Rayon
19. Madzhalis Rayon
20. Dylym Rayon
21. Khasavyurt Rayon
22. Khiv Rayon
23. Khunzakh Rayon
24. Vachi Rayon
25. Korkmaskala Rayon
26. Kurakh Rayon
27. Kazi-Kumyk Rayon
28. Terekli-Mekteb Rayon
29. Novolakskoye Rayon
30. Sergokala Rayon

The Petrovsk-port Governorate is a Governorate of 2nd Class, and it is administered by a Governor ranking Actual State Councillor of the Tsar, 3rd class. The incumbent Governor is Baron Ludomir Vitalievich Platonov.

Tskhinvali Governorate

The Tskhinvali Governorate was established in 1991, in order to meet autonomy demands of the Kudar people. The Governorate is subdivided into four Rayons.

1. Java Rayon
2. Akhalgori Rayon
3. Tskhinvali Rayon
4. Znauri Rayon

The Tskhinvali Governorate is a Governorate of 3rd Class, and it is administered by a Governor ranking State Councillor of the Tsar, 1st class. The incumbent Governor is Baron Nikolai Filippovich Misalov.

Tbilisi Governorate

Coat of Arms of the Tbilisi Governorate. In 1996 Tsar Alexander IV granted the new coat of arms to underline the Georgian national character.

The Tbilisi Governorate is the largest and the most populated Governorate of the Caucasus Viceroyalty, covering ethnic Georgia. Tbilisi is the seat of the whole Viceroyalty and it is the major city in the area. The Tbilisi Governorate is subdivided into 11 Rayons: one Urban Rayon (Tbilisi) and ten ordinary Rayons:

1. Tbilisi Urban Rayon: Tbilisi Urban Rayon was a Special City until 1990, when it was merged with the Tbilisi Governorate in order to provide a better governance of the area.
2. Ozurgeti Rayon: covers Guria.
3. Kutaisi Rayon: covers Imereti.
4. Ambrolauri Rayon: covers Racha, Lechkhumi and Lower Svaneti.
5. Gori Rayon: covers Central Kartli.
6. Rustavi Rayon: covers Lower Kartli.
7. Lomsia Rayon: covers Meskheti, Javakheti and Tori.
8. Mtskheta Rayon.
9. Batumi Rayon: covers Adjara. It is home to Adjarians.
10. Telavi Rayon: covers Tusheti and Kakheti. It is home to Kakhetians.
11. Zugdidi Rayon: covers Mingrelia and Upper Svaneti. It is home to Mingrelians.

The Tbilisi Governorate is a Governorate of 1st Class and it is administered by a Governor ranking Actual State Councillor of the Tsar, 2nd class. The incumbent Governor is Prince Azat Dadiani.

Baku Governorate

The Baku Governorate is subdivided into eleven Rayons: four Urban Rayons and seven ordinary Rayons.

1. Baku Urban Rayon
2. Sumgait Urban Rayon
3. Elisabethpol Urban Rayon
4. Lankaran Urban Rayon
5. Xırdalan Rayon
6. Annino Rayon
7. Balakan Rayon
8. Astrakhanka Rayon
9. Kuba Rayon
10. Mingachevir Rayon
11. Shamakhi Rayon

The Baku Governorate is a Governorate of 2nd Class, and it is administered by a Governor ranking Actual State Councillor of the Tsar, 3rd class. The incumbent Governor is Baron Karl Behbudov.

Jerevan Governorate

In 2001, Tsar Kyrill II granted the Jerevan Governorate the Armenian coat of Arms, displaying emblems of the Armenian royalty.

The Jerevan Governorate is home to ethnic Armenians. It is subdivided into 17 Rayons: one Urban Rayon (Jerevan) and 16 ordinary Rayons.

1. Jerevan Urban Rayon
2. Ashtarak Rayon
3. Artashat Rayon
4. Vagharshapat Rayon
5. Gavar Rayon
6. Abovyan Rayon
7. Vanadzor Rayon
8. Gyumri Rayon
9. Kapan Rayon
10. Ijevan Rayon
11. Areni Rayon
12. Stepanakert Rayon
13. Martuni Rayon
14. Martakert Rayon
15. Hadrut Rayon
16. Shahumyan Rayon
17. Shushi Rayon

The Jerevan Governorate is a Governorate of 2nd Class, and it is administered by a Governor ranking Actual State Councillor of the Tsar, 3rd class. The incumbent Governor is Baron Thomas Dadourian.

Nakhchivan Governorate

The Nakhchivan Governorate is subdivided into six Rayons.

1. Tazakand Rayon
2. Julfa Rayon
3. Kyvrakh Rayon
4. Nakhchivan Rayon
5. Heydarabad Rayon
6. Shahbuz Rayon

The Nakhchivan Governorate is a Governorate of 3rd Class, and it is administered by a Governor ranking State Councillor of the Tsar, 1st class. The incumbent Governor is Baron Vasil Vasilievich Bogatyryov.

See also

• Russian Empire
• Local government in the Russian Empire