nobility

Heads of local authorities in central Russia from the regional reform of Peter I to the administrative transformations of Catherine II: “Local history” opus

. The review is devoted to the first monographic study about the leaders of the Vladimir province – an administrative unit in central Russia,formed duringthe Petrine reforms and abolished under Catherine II. It was found that the book by L. A. Mogilnaya meets the criteria inherent in modern researching with the “local history” methodology. The book is also a serious contribution to the study of the history of local government and its leaders, traditional for Russian science, and an example for carrying out similar works in other regions.

The Imperial Court of Catherine the Great as an Instrument of State Elite Formation

Authors: Oksamitnaya D. A.

The article is devoted to the role of the imperial court in the «personnel reserve» formation for high governmental and military posts during the reign period of Catherine the Great. Comparative study of courtier’s and Page Corps graduates career development was held for this research by the means of two specially created prosopographical databases. The obtained results give us an opportunity to evaluate the impact of a court rank granting on the nobles career development and on receiving an appointment to the important governmental and military posts.

Anthony before Cleopatra: Some Remarks about the Political Role of M. Antonius before 41 BC

Authors: Smykov E. V.

The article examines the political role of Mark Antony before he became one of the leaders who fought for power in the Roman Republic. It is stressed that he came from a family that did not have any political influence or connections, a family whose members were involved in a number of scandals. Until the death of Caesar Anthony was only the performer of his orders. After the death of Caesar, he became one of the leaders of the Caesarians, but he had no other support than the army.