| Council at the Highest Court | |
| Native Name: | Совет при высочайшем дворе |
| Seal: | Coat of arms of the Russian Empire.svg |
| Formed: | November 28, 1768 |
| Preceding1: | Imperial Council |
| Preceding6: | --> |
| Dissolved: | April 7, 1801 |
| Superseding1: | Permanent Council |
| Superseding6: | --> |
| Minister8 Name: | --> |
| Deputyminister8 Name: | --> |
| Chief9 Name: | --> |
| Child25 Agency: | --> |
| Keydocument6: | --> |
The Council at the Highest Court was the highest advisory institution in the Russian Empire that existed from 1768 to 1801.
It was created on November 28, 1768 by Catherine the Great as an emergency body to discuss issues related to the conduct of the war with the Ottoman Empire. Initially, it was going irregularly, but after the publication of a special decree on January 28, 1769, discussions were happening 1–2 times a week.
After the conclusion of the Treaty of Küçük Kaynarca, the basis for the work of the council ceased, but it continued to act as an advisory institution not only on matters of military and foreign, but also domestic policy (among others, it heard questions about the reform of the local government system and class structure, measures to suppress Pugachev's Rebellion). Under Paul I, the council lost any meaning, and at the end of 1800 it stopped its meetings. It was abolished on April 7, 1801 by Alexander I.[1]
It was a deliberative body that did not have established powers and carried out office work through the private office of the secretaries of the empress or emperor. All proposals developed by the council, if adopted, were drawn up in the form of decrees and manifestos of the sovereign.
When the council at the Highest Court was formed, it included:
In subsequent years, new members were introduced to the council.
In 1770, the General-in-chief, vice-president of the Admiralty Board, Count Ivan Chernyshyov (died in 1797) entered the council.
in 1770, First Admiral and General Intendant of the Fleet, Admiral Sir Charles Knowles, 1st Baronet, (returned to England in 1774, died 1777)[2]
In 1771, the General-in-chief, Commander-in-Chief in the capital city of Moscow, Prince Mikhail Volkonsky (retired in 1780) entered the council.
In 1774, Adjutant general, Governor of Novorossiya Governorate, Grigory Potemkin (died in 1791), entered the council.
In 1775, the council included:
In 1786, a senior member of the Collegium of Foreign Affairs, Count Alexander Bezborodko (died in 1799) entered the council.
In 1787, the council included:
In 1792, the Senate Prosecutor General Alexander Samoylov entered the council.