“...As long as Saint Petersburg politicians do not interfere with me”: Governor-General of the Grand Duchy of Finland N.I. Bobrikov between the official institutions of Saint Petersburg and Finland

Abstract

On the basis of the unpublished documents from the funds of the National Archives of the Russian Federation and the Manuscript Department of the National Library of Russia, the article considers the interaction on the issue of administrative reforms of Finnish Governor-General N.I. Bobrikov with Emperor Nicholas II and with Minister and State Secretary for the Grand Duchy of Finland V.K. Plehve. It analyzes the positions of the official St. Petersburg and the Finnish Governor-General on the Finnish issue. There is also a reconstruction for the process of interaction between Nicholas II and N.I. Bobrikov on the development of a government policy in Finland. N.I. Bobrikov’s desire to develop and pursue an independent policy in Finland faced cautious opposition from the supreme authorities, who sought to stabilize the situation after the publication of the unpopular manifesto on February 3, 1899, which narrowed Finland’s autonomy in the field of legislation. But, at the same time, Nicholas II and V.K. Plehve took an ambivalent position: impressing upon Bobrikov the need for careful action, they supported some his proposals. It is concluded that Bobrikov’s lack of experience in civil administration has negatively affected his relations with the Finnish institutions and socio-political circles. The inability to manage by command put Bobrikov in a deadlock and pushed him to request in St. Petersburg the permission to expand powers and use emergency methods.