I.A. Tarasenko-Otreshkov and N. Yu. Shilder-Shuldner: factors of career failure of vice-governors in the Russian Empire of the early XX century

Scientific article

doi 10.28995/2073-0101-2025-1-186-203

For citation

Lyamin, S. K., Lovtsov, V. A. (2025). I. A. Tarasenko-Otreshkov and N. Yu. Shilder-Shuldner: factors of career failure of vice-governors in the Russian Empire of the early XX century, Herald of an Archivist. № 1, pp. 186-203, doi 10.28995/2073-0101-2025-1-186-203

Lyamin, S. K., Lovtsov, V. A., G. R. Derzhavin Tambov State University, Tambov, Russia

I.A. Tarasenko-Otreshkov and N. Yu. Shilder-Shuldner: factors of career failure of vice-governors in the Russian Empire of the early XX century

Abstract

The relevance of the article is due to the need to generalize the experience of personnel policy of the highest provincial administration during the period of management of the Ministry of Internal Affairs by P. A. Stolypin. The article analyzes the career factors that prevented Tambov vice-governors I. A. Tarasenko-Otreshkov and N. Yu. Shilder-Shuldner from receiving an independent gubernatorial appointment. The source base of the study was made up of personal files and form lists of officials, as well as memoirs of governors and vice-governors. In the case of N. Yu. Shilder-Shuldner, despite his outstanding business qualities, a negative career factor was his addiction to gambling, and in the case of I. A. Tarasenko-Otreshkov, intrigues against the Tambov governor N. P. Muratov manifested themselves. The negative impact of conflicts with the incumbent governor on the subsequent independent gubernatorial appointment was revealed, but in some cases such behavior of the governor can be considered as an element of career strategy - as in the case of the future Minister of Internal Affairs A. N. Khvostov during his conflict with Tula Governor M. M. Osorgin, associated with the revolutionary events of 1905-1907. The personal influence of P. A. Stolypin on personnel policy and individual appointments is noted, the role of his patronage is emphasized. It is established that the position of vice-governor was of an intermediate nature before an independent gubernatorial appointment. It made it possible to detect the lack of professional qualities necessary for independent administrative activity in candidates for governor. These qualities included a lack of initiative, a tendency to conflict, and low professional preparation for office. In the era of P. A. Stolypin it was especially important, because after the events of 1905-1907 the authority of the central government required special support, so the requirements for candidates for the highest administrative positions in the province increased. In the practice of personnel policy, an important criterion for selecting candidates for governor was administrative experience, which the vice-governor position allowed to obtain. A favorable review of the incumbent governor was of great importance. The practice of selecting candidates for governor was formed, but it was quite often violated due to protectionism, which allowed officials with insufficient business qualities to occupy positions in the highest provincial administration. We can say that the personnel policy of the Ministry of Internal Affairs in this period was affected by the general processes of modernization of society that characterized the Russian Empire in the early 20th century.

Keywords

Vice-governor, personnel policy, P. A. Stolypin, Russian Empire, historical sources, sources of personal origin, conflicts in the provincial administration.

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About authors

Lyamin Sergey K., PhD in History, Associate Professor, G. R. Derzhavin Tambov State University, Department of History, World Politics and Sociology, Tambov, Russia, 8-909-2-295-97-97, This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it

Lovtsov Vladimir A., PhD in History, G. R. Derzhavin, Faculty of History, World Politics and Sociology, Department of History and Philosophy, Associate Professor, Tambov, Russia, 8-953-707-66-78, This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it

Grant information

This article was financially supported by the Russian Science Foundation, Project No. 24-28-00698 “Personnel Policy of the Ministry of Internal Affairs of the Russian Empire with regard to Governors and Vice-Governors of European Russia in the second half of the XIX-beginning of the XX centuries”, https://rscf.ru/project/24-28-00698/

The article was received in the editorial office on 04.05.2024, recommended for publication on 20.12.2024