The Imperial Main Headquarters (, ''Imperatorskaya Glavnaya kvartira'') was an organization within the military administration of the

Russian Empire The Russian Empire was an empire that spanned most of northern Eurasia from its establishment in November 1721 until the proclamation of the Russian Republic in September 1917. At its height in the late 19th century, it covered about , roughl ...

that was tasked with carrying out the personal military commands from the

Emperor of All Russia The emperor and autocrat of all Russia (, ), also translated as emperor and autocrat of all the Russias, was the official title of the Russian monarch from 1721 to 1917. The title originated in connection with Russia's victory in the Great Nor ...

History

200px, Tsar Nicholas II in the uniform of the Convoy His Majesty The Main Headquarters was established in early 1813 during the

War of the Sixth Coalition In the War of the Sixth Coalition () (December 1812 – May 1814), sometimes known in Germany as the Wars of Liberation (), a coalition of Austrian Empire, Austria, Kingdom of Prussia, Prussia, Russian Empire, Russia, History of Spain (1808– ...

against

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, in connection with the arrival of

Alexander I Alexander I may refer to: * Alexander I of Macedon, king of Macedon from 495 to 454 BC * Alexander I of Epirus (370–331 BC), king of Epirus * Alexander I Theopator Euergetes, surnamed Balas, ruler of the Seleucid Empire 150-145 BC * Pope Alex ...

at the front. It was tasked with accompanying the emperor on campaigns, the management of the imperial retinue, and presenting reports on the military situation in the absence of the

War Ministry In the United Kingdom, war ministry may refer to the following British wartime ministries of the 20th century: * Lloyd George war ministry (1916–1919) * Chamberlain war ministry (1939–1940) * Churchill war ministry The Churchill w ...

. From 1826 until 1839 the role of commander of the Imperial Main Headquarters was combined with that of the commander of the

Special Corps of Gendarmes The Separate Corps of Gendarmes () was the uniformed security police of the Imperial Russian Army in the Russian Empire during the 19th and early 20th centuries. Its main responsibilities were law enforcement and state security. The responsi ...

. It later became an independent position. In 1832, within the Chancellery of the War Ministry was established the Military Campaign Chancellery of His Imperial Majesty. That organization was the main body of the headquarters. Two years later it was made a completely independent organization, and from 1856 until 1867 the roles of the commanders of the headquarters and of the Military Campaign Chancellery were combined. From 1867 the latter position was abolished and then from 1855 until 1881 within the headquarters there was also a personal chancellery of the

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(crown prince). Commander of Main Headquarters once again became the overall head. In 1883 the Military Campaign Chancellery and the Directorate of the Imperial Main Headquarters were combined in to the Chancellery of the Imperial Main Headquarters, which itself in 1904 was renamed into the Military Campaign Chancellery of His Imperial Majesty, and in 1908—the Military Campaign Chancellery of His Imperial Majesty within the Imperial Main Headquarters. From 1908 until 1909, a separate Naval Campaign Chancellery of His Imperial Majesty existed within the organization. The Imperial Main Headquarters was dissolved in 1917 during the

Russian Revolution The Russian Revolution was a period of Political revolution (Trotskyism), political and social revolution, social change in Russian Empire, Russia, starting in 1917. This period saw Russia Dissolution of the Russian Empire, abolish its mona ...

Rank insignia Imperial Main Headquarter

Examples of rank insignia to the dress uniform of Adjutant generals, 1894-1917Complete Statute-book of the Russian Empire, volume 3, law gazette № 25082, as amended on August 29, 1904.

Structure

*Military Campaign Chancellery *Naval Campaign Chancellery *Chancellery of Appeals *Personal Convoy of His Imperial Majesty

References

{{Russian Empire Ground Forces Joint military headquarters Military units and formations of the Russian Empire Military units and formations established in 1812 Military units and formations disestablished in 1917