Collegium of Foreign Affairs

(Foreign College), the central state institution in Russia in charge of foreign policy.

The Collegium of Foreign Affairs was established in 1720 to replace the Posol’skii Prikaz (Foreign Office). It was in charge of organizing relations with foreign states and with the Ural Kazaks and the Kalmyks. It also managed the postal system until 1782 and the administration of the Ukraine from 1727 to 1734 and from 1749 to 1756. The presidents of the college during the 18th century included G. I. Golovkin, A. I. Osterman, A. P. Bestuzhev-Riumin, N. I. Panin, and A. A. Bezborodko. The college was subordinate to the emperor, bypassing the Senate; at intervals, however, it was under the authority of the Supreme Privy Council or the Cabinet of Ministers. In 1802 the college was subordinated to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, and in 1832, after the reorganization of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, it was abolished.