Provintsiia

(“subprovince”), an 18th-century administrative territorial unit in Russia. Some provintsii came into being in 1711 and 1712; provintsii were universally established in 1719. There were about 45 in all. Each gubernia (province) was subdivided into provintsii: the St. Petersburg gubernia into 11, the Moscow into nine, Kiev into four, Riga into two, and so on. Each provintsiia was divided into uezdy (districts) and was headed by a voevoda (military governor) or, in gubernia capitals, by a gubernator (governor), who was assisted by a provincial office. The provintsii were abolished by the Statutes on Gubernii of 1775. There were 66 provintsii at the time of abolishment.