NOBLE GUARDIANSHIP: IN LEGISLATION AND REAL PRACTICE

Abstract

The article examines one of the activities of noble estate institutions – the noble guardianship, created by Catherine II as part of the provincial reform of 1775. Catherine II, who shared the views of the French enlightenment philosophers, sought to take care of her people, and especially of the nobility, which throughout the history of the Russian Empire was the main pillar of power. The paper shows the differences that existed between what was prescribed in the legislation on noble guardianship and the implementation of these provisions directly on the ground (in provinces and counties), as well as the nature of the violations that existed. An attempt has also been made to identify the reasons for this discrepancy. The author uses a comparative research method. There were many violations in the activities of the noble opec, among which were the illegal use of the funds of the ward, neglect of their duties, which often led to the fact that the estates either ceased to generate income at all, or brought too little and insignificant. The reasons for all this were the underdevelopment of legal culture, nihilism, not only ignorance of the laws, but also disregard for them, as well as irresponsible attitude to their duties, self-confidence and faith in their own exclusivity and impunity, greed.