The Baltic German Nobility And Russia's Policies(18th-early 20th Century)

The Baltic German nobility was a privileged political group in the Russian empire,which was very different from Russia in religious belief,language,education and local management system.The political,economic,and social systems of the Baltic German nobility originated in the 13 th century,when the knights of livonia conquered the Baltic region and brought to the region churches,courts,and local administrative systems.During the period of Swedish rule in the 16 th and 17 th centuries,the political organization of the Baltic German nobility was gradually improved.They successively established the posts of chief aristocrat,secretary of the knights' group and adviser,and formulated the duties and membership of the local self-government representative council.Peter I established the general policy of Russia towards the Baltic German nobility,respected the privileged status of the Baltic region,recognized the privileges of the Baltic German nobility,and invited the Baltic German nobility to serve in Russia,they also served as senior officials in the military,civil and diplomatic fields.During the period of the palace coup,the privileged status of the Baltic German nobility reached its peak,which was mainly reflected in the re-registration of the Baltic knights.Catherine ii limited the prerogative status of the Baltic and Baltic German nobility through the provincial reforms of 1775 and the imperial edict of 1785.The early 19 th century was the period when the Baltic German nobility consolidated their status.During the time of Alexander I,he adopted a liberal policy towards the Baltic region.During the time of Nicholas I,the Baltic German nobility developed local law collections and land reform plans,which began to affect the Baltic region in terms of education and religion.The late 19 th century to the early 20 th century was the period of gradual decline of the Baltic German nobility.Starting in the 1860 s,Russia began to russify the Baltic region in order to become a modern nation-state.By the late 1880 s,Russia was not limited to administrative integration in the Baltic,but adopted a policy of cultural russification.After the 1905 year revolution,the Baltic German nobility lost its dominance in the Baltic sea under the impact of russification policies,Estonian and latvian nationalism.