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:
- Sukhumi Governorate:
- Batalpashinskaya Governorate:
- Nalchik Governorate:
- Vladikavkaz Governorate:
- Magas-Nazran Governorate:
- Grozny Governorate:
- Petrovsk-port Governorate:
- Tskhinvali Governorate
- Tbilisi;
- Baku;
- Jerevan;
- 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.
- Sukhumi Urban Rayon
- Gagra Rayon
- Gudauta Rayon
- Gulripshi Rayon
- Ochamchire Rayon
- Tkvarcheli Rayon
- 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.
- Batalpashinskaya Urban Rayon
- Ust-Dzheguta Urban Rayon
- Karachayevsk Rayon
- Zelenchuksko-Loovsky Rayon
- Adyge-Khab Rayon
- Khabez Rayon
- Uchkeken Rayon
- Erken-Shakhar Rayon
- Kavkazsky Rayon
- Pregradnaya Rayon
- 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.
- Nalchik Urban Rayon
- Kuchmazukino Urban Rayon
- Baksan Rayon
- Chegem Pervy Rayon
- Kashkhatau Rayon
- Tyrnyauz Rayon
- Anzorey Rayon
- Prishibskaya Rayon
- Prokhladny Rayon
- Terek Rayon
- Dokshukino Rayon
- 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.
- Vladikavkaz Urban Rayon
- Alagir Rayon
- Ardon Rayon
- Khristianovskoye Rayon
- Chikola Rayon
- Elkhotovo Rayon
- Mozdok Rayon
- Beslan Rayon
- 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.
- Magas Urban Rayon
- Nazran Urban Rayon
- Karabulakskaya Urban Rayon
- Ordzhonikidzevskaya Rayon
- Dzheyrakh Rayon
- 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.
- Grozny Urban Rayon
- Ustrada Urban Rayon
- Gudermes Rayon
- Shali Rayon
- Urus-Martan Rayon
- Kurchaloy Rayon
- Achkhoy-Martan Rayon
- Itum-Kale Rayonn
- Znamenskoye Rayon
- Sharoy Rayon
- Shelkovskaya Rayon
- Mikhailovsky Volost
- Vedeno Volost
- 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
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.
- Petrovsk-port Urban Rayon
- Dagestanskiye Ogni Urban Rayon
- Kaspiysk Urban Rayon
- Temir-Khan-Shurá Rayon
- Derbent Rayon
- Kizilyurt Rayon
- Tpig Rayon
- Akhty Rayon
- Karata Rayon
- Akusha Rayon
- Babayurt Rayon
- Botlikh Rayon
- Temir-Khan-Shurá Rayon
- Tsurib Rayon
- Gergebil Rayon
- Gunib Rayon
- Karabudakhkent Rayon
- Novokayakent Rayon
- Madzhalis Rayon
- Dylym Rayon
- Khasavyurt Rayon
- Khiv Rayon
- Khunzakh Rayon
- Vachi Rayon
- Korkmaskala Rayon
- Kurakh Rayon
- Kazi-Kumyk Rayon
- Terekli-Mekteb Rayon
- Novolakskoye Rayon
- 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.
- Java Rayon
- Akhalgori Rayon
- Tskhinvali Rayon
- 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
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:
- 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.
- Ozurgeti Rayon: covers Guria.
- Kutaisi Rayon: covers Imereti.
- Ambrolauri Rayon: covers Racha, Lechkhumi and Lower Svaneti.
- Gori Rayon: covers Central Kartli.
- Rustavi Rayon: covers Lower Kartli.
- Lomsia Rayon: covers Meskheti, Javakheti and Tori.
- Mtskheta Rayon.
- Batumi Rayon: covers Adjara. It is home to Adjarians.
- Telavi Rayon: covers Tusheti and Kakheti. It is home to Kakhetians.
- 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.
- Baku Urban Rayon
- Sumgait Urban Rayon
- Elisabethpol Urban Rayon
- Lankaran Urban Rayon
- Xırdalan Rayon
- Annino Rayon
- Balakan Rayon
- Astrakhanka Rayon
- Kuba Rayon
- Mingachevir Rayon
- 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
The Jerevan Governorate is home to ethnic Armenians. It is subdivided into 17 Rayons: one Urban Rayon (Jerevan) and 16 ordinary Rayons.
- Jerevan Urban Rayon
- Ashtarak Rayon
- Artashat Rayon
- Vagharshapat Rayon
- Gavar Rayon
- Abovyan Rayon
- Vanadzor Rayon
- Gyumri Rayon
- Kapan Rayon
- Ijevan Rayon
- Areni Rayon
- Stepanakert Rayon
- Martuni Rayon
- Martakert Rayon
- Hadrut Rayon
- Shahumyan Rayon
- 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.
- Tazakand Rayon
- Julfa Rayon
- Kyvrakh Rayon
- Nakhchivan Rayon
- Heydarabad Rayon
- 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.