As you know, most people are interested in money. It is especially interesting to calculate how much the neighbors get, and the question of the wages of those in power beats all popularity ratings. At the same time, it is interesting to note that the wages for their hard work received, including the Russian Emperors, starting with Paul I.
Taking care of the family The first emperor, who decided that the work of the rulers in the Russian Empire should be regularly paid, was decided by Paul I. Despite the fact that in modern historiography this person is not represented from the best side, in reality he was an intelligent, calculating person. It was the love of order that made him pay close attention, but the sums he and his relatives received from the treasury. The fact is that before him, the great dukes, kings, and then emperors, if necessary, demanded that they give the necessary amount and that's it. Paul I justly decided that it was too wasteful, and on November 17, 1796, he signed a decree: "On the annual release of money for the Imperial family." From that moment on, the amounts issued to Paul I and his numerous relatives were, although large, but strictly regulated. The emperor and his wife received 500,000 rubles a year. Royal children were allocated amounts depending on seniority. The heir to the throne, Alexander I, who later led the conspiracy against his father, received 200,000 rubles a year, and his wife - 100,000 rubles. According to the decree, the rest of the sons were given 100,000 rubles each, and their spouses 70,000 rubles a year. The emperor's daughters received the least amount of 60,000 rubles each. What could the king's salary buy?What could the king's salary buy?What could the king's salary buy?
To answer the question, did Paul I allocate a lot or little to himself and his family, it is necessary to see what this money could buy in the 18th century? According to historical documents, a stone house in St. Petersburg, consisting of three rooms, a kitchen and a stable could be rented for just 8 rubles a year. The cost of a ram was 1r 70 kopecks. The salaries of ordinary people were also not high. A clerk on state railways, in the modern sense, an office worker earned only 20 rubles a year. In this light, the money allocated by Paul I for the maintenance of himself and his family looks truly colossal! However, the emperor's children could spend their "salary" with big reservations. In the decree of the emperor, it was said that until the age of 16, their parents controlled the money of the heirs to the throne. After the age of majority and under 25,they could receive money from the Treasury in their hands, but spend again, in agreement with their parents. Only when the emperor's children were a quarter of a century old could they spend their wages on their own. Moreover, if the daughter of the emperor got married, she received 1,000,000 rubles and could no longer count on subsequent payments. The budget is not rubber: it must be cut Subsequently, Alexander III decided to change the content of the imperial family because of its large volume. Moreover, in order not to irritate relatives, he was preparing a new document in secret from the family. The fact is that by 1884 the state already had 40 people from the family of the emperor on the salary. Moreover, if the daughter of the emperor got married, she received 1,000,000 rubles and could no longer count on subsequent payments. The budget is not rubber: it must be cut Subsequently, Alexander III decided to change the content of the imperial family due to its large volume. Moreover, in order not to irritate relatives, he was preparing a new document in secret from the family. The fact is that by 1884, the state already had 40 people from the family of the emperor on the salary. Moreover, if the daughter of the emperor got married, she received 1,000,000 rubles and could no longer count on subsequent payments. The budget is not rubber: it must be cut Subsequently, Alexander III decided to change the content of the imperial family due to its large volume. Moreover, in order not to irritate relatives, he was preparing a new document in secret from the family. The fact is that by 1884 the state already had 40 people from the family of the emperor on the salary.that by 1884, the state already had 40 people from the family of the emperor on the salary.that by 1884, the state already had 40 people from the family of the emperor on the salary.
At the same time, Alexander III, in conversations with the officials of the court, complaining about the extravagance of Paul I, noted that the imperial family would soon go "around the world" with such expenses. A new spending plan was formed on July 2, 1886. The document was named "Regulations on the Imperial Family". From that moment on, the payments were tied to the degree of kinship of the "dependent" to the emperor. For himself and the Empress, Alexander III set a salary of 200,000 rubles a year. Until the age of 16, his children began to receive only 33,000 rubles. The heir's allowance of 100,000 rubles was somewhat higher; his own children were entitled to 20,000 rubles. In general, Alexander III reduced the family income by almost three times. Only what was given to the daughters remained at the old level - 1,000,000 rubles. Oddly enough, but a family riot did not happen,the royal relatives agreed with the proposed changes. The salary of the imperial family did not change until the reign of Nicholas II. Only in 1906, the State Duma limited the maintenance of the Ministry of the Imperial Court to the amount of 16,000,000 rubles a year. However, this money was quite enough to pay wages to the royal family in the position of Alexander III.