Catherine II signed the Manifesto on permit for foreigners to settle in Russia and free return of Russian people fled abroad

15 December 1762

4 (15) December, 1762 Empress Catherine II signed the manifesto "on permission to foreigners, except for the Jews, to settle in Russia and on free return of Russian people, who have fled abroad, to their homeland". In this document were declared basic principles of policy of the new Russian leader: increase in population of the country by attracting foreigners and amnesty for citizens of Russia, who had left their homeland.

The idea of organizing agricultural colonies occurred at the end of the reign of Elizabeth, but even before that in Russia the attempts had been taken to occupy by force uninhabited Russian territories (such as the Volga region). Serfdom was an obstacle for free movement of peasants into new areas, so the imperial government, not rejecting the use of indigenous population of the country in the settlement of new territories, turned its eyes to the West. Owing to the attraction of foreign colonists during the second half of 18 - early 19 centuries, the south-eastern and southern territories of the European Russia were settled.

Catherine II, who came to power in June 1762, began her colonization policy by a decree to the Senate, in which she reported that she authorized the Senate, together with the College of Foreign Affairs to start registration of all those who wished to settle in Russia. Already in December of the same year was signed an Imperial Manifesto, in which the Empress proclaimed that foreigners of various nationalities, except for Jews, wishing to settle in Russia, "will be given our imperial grace and favor”. The manifesto also allowed repatriation for refugees who fled the country for various reasons.

A hundred copies of the Manifesto of 4 (15) December, 1762, printed in Russian, German, French, English, Polish, Czech and Arabic, were sent by the College for Foreign Affairs to the Russian diplomatic agents abroad. The agents were instructed "not only make print this manifesto in the local newspapers, but also make every possible effort so that it could have its best effect". In order to expedite the process of relocation of foreigners in Russia, it was necessary to accurately determine the guarantees and privileges that were offered to settlers, as well as to establish an allowance for travel costs.

July 22 (August 2), 1763 two legislative acts were promulgated following the Manifesto: the Decree "On establishment of the Custody Office for foreign colonists” and the Manifesto "on permit to all the foreigners, entering Russia, to settle in any province they wish and on the rights granted to them". These documents had been the basis for the development of colonization in Russia up to the reform of 1871.

Lit.: История российских немцев в документах (1763–1992 гг.) / Сост. В. А. Ауман, В. Г. Чеботарёва. М, 1993; Пасько Е. А. Колонизационная политика России (Вторая половина XVIII — первая четверть XIX вв.). Дис. ... канд. ист. наук. Ростов н/Д, 2003.

Based on the Presidential Library’s materials:

Полное собрание законов Российской Империи. Собрание 1-е. СПб., с 28 июня 1762 года по 1764. Т. 16 (1830). № 11720;

Цветаев Д. В. К истории изучения вопроса об иностранцах в России: Из речи, произнесённой в Харьковском университете пред защитою докторской диссертацией «Протестантство и протестанты в России до эпохи преобразований». Варшава, 1891.