ABSTRACT
Secularization of Church lands. A. A. Viazemskii made Procurator-General. Powers of provincial governors increased. They regain police powers. Catherine tours Estonia and Livonia. Murder of Ivan VI. Guberniia governors to redraw uezdy to contain approximately 30,000 inhabitants, and centrally situated
Catherine proclaimed empress. Peter abdicates. Assassination of Peter III at Ropsha, by Guards under Alexei Orl6v. Catherine's manifesto denouncing Peter. Coronation of Catherine. Catherine reaffirms the abolition of the Secret Chancellery (although this probably continues to function unofficially under S. 1. Sheshk6vskii). Manifesto creating the 'Imperial Council'. (Never implemented. ) Grig6rii Orl6v made grand master of the Ordnance. Commission to examine the freedom of the nobility. 'Manifesto of Silence' forbids 'improper discussion and gossip on matters concerning the Government'. Freedom of entry to Russia given to all foreigners, who could choose their place of domicile and practise their own religion. Nikita Panin made senior member of College of Foreign Mfairs (until 1781). Reform of the Senate, whose legislative powers were reduced and duties confined to administrative and judicial. It was divided into six Departments which could issue an ukdz by unanimous vote if it was consistent with existing law: 1. State and Political Affairs; 2. Justice; 3. Territories with their own laws (Livonia, Ukraine, etc.) and Education; 4. Armed forces and New Serbia; 5 & 6 as 1 & 2, but in Moscow. The presidents of the Colleges of War, Navy and Foreign Affairs were given direct access to the empress. Reform of Local Government: imposes greater uniformity of establishment. Salaries and pensions introduced. Offensive against corruption.
