We, Catherine the second, Empress and Autocrat of all the Russians at
Moscow, Kiev, Vladimir, Novgorod, Czarina of Kasan, Czarina of Astrachan,
Czarina of Siberia, Lady of Pleskow and Grand Duchess of Smolensko,
Duchess of Esthonia and Livland, Carelial, Twer, Yugoria, Permia, Viatka
and Bulgaria and others; Lady and Grand Duchess of Novgorod in the
Netherland of Chernigov, Resan, Rostov, Yaroslav,Beloosrial, Udoria,
Obdoria, Condinia, and Ruler of the entire North region and Lady of the
Yurish, of the Cartalinian and Grusinian czars and the Cabardinian land,
of the Cherkessian and Gorsian princes and the lady of the manor and
sovereign of many others. As We are sufficiently aware of the vast
extent of the lands within Our Empire, We perceive, among other things,
that a considerable number of regions are still uncultivated which could
easily and advantageously be made available for productive use of population
and settlement. Most of the lands hold hidden in their depth an
inexhaustible wealth of all kinds of precious ores and metals, and because
they are well provided with forests, rivers and lakes, and located close
to the sea for purpose of trade, they are also most convenient for the
development and growth of many kinds of manufacturing, plants, and various
installations. This induced Us to issue the manifesto which was published
last Dec. 4, 1762, for the benefit of all Our loyal subjects.
However, inasmuch as We made only a summary announcement of Our pleasure
to the foreigners who would like to settle in Our Empire, we now issue for
a better understanding of Our intention the following decree which We hereby
solemnly establish and order to be carried out to the full.
1.
We permit all foreigners to come into Our Empire, in order to settle in all
the governments, just as each one may desire.
2.
After arrival, such foreigners can report for this purpose not only to the
Guardianship Chancellery established for foreigners in Our residence, but
also, if more convenient, to the governor or commanding officer in one of
the border-towns of the Empire.
3.
Since those foreigners who would like to settle in Russia will also include
some who do not have sufficient means to pay the required travel costs,
they can report to our ministers in foreign courts, who will not only
transport them to Russia at Our expense, but also provide them with travel
money.
4.
As soon as these foreigners arrive in Our residence and report at the
Guardianship Chancellery or in the border-town, they shall be required to
state their true decision whether their real desire is to be enrolled in
the guild of merchants or artisans, and become citizens, and in what city;
or if they wish to settle on free, productive land in colonies and rural
areas, to take up agriculture or some other useful occupation. Without
delay, these people will be assigned to their destination, according to
their own wishes and desires. From the following register* it can be seen
in which regions of Our Empire free and suitable lands are still
available. However, besides those listed, there are many more regions
and all kinds of land where We will likewise permit people to settle,
just as each one chooses for his best advantage.
*The register lists the areas where the immigrants can be settled.
5.
Upon arrival in Our Empire, each foreigner who intends to become a settler
and has reported to the Guardianship Chancellery or in other border-towns
of Our Empire and as already prescribed in #4, has declared his decision,
must take the oath of allegiance in accordance with his religious rite.
6.
In order that the foreigners who desire to settle in Our Empire may realize
the extent of Our benevolence to their benefit and advantage, this is
Our will--:
1. We grant to all foreigners coming into Our Empire the free and
unrestricted practice of their religion according to the precepts and
usage of their Church. To those, however, who intend to settle not in
cities but in colonies and villages on uninhabited lands we grant the
freedom to build churches and belltowers, and to maintain the necessary
number o priests and church servants, but not the construction of
monasteries. On the other hand, everyone is hereby warned not to persuade
or induce any of the Christian co-religionists living in Russia to accept
or even assent to his faith or join his religious community, under paid in
incurring the severest punishment of Our law. This prohibition does not
apply to the various nationalities on the borders of Our Empire who are
attached to the Mahometan faith. We permit and allow everyone to win
them over and make them subject to the Christian religion in a decent way.
2. None of the foreigners who have come to settle in Russia shall be
required to pay the slightest taxes to Our treasury, nor be forced to
render regular or extraordinary services, nor to billet troops. Indeed,
everybody shall be exempt from all taxes and tribute in the following
manner: those who have been settled as colonists with their families in
hitherto uninhabited regions will enjoy 30 years of exemption; those who
have established themselves, at their own expense, in cities as merchants
and tradesmen in Our Residence St. Petersburg or in the neighboring cities
of Livland,Esthonia, Ingermanland, Carelia and Finland, as well as in the
Residentail city of Moscow, shall enjoy 5 years of tax-exemption.
Moreover, each one who comes to Russia, not just for a short while but
to establish permanent domicile, shall be granted free living quarters
for half a year.
3. All foreigners who settle in Russia either to engage in agriculture
and some trade, or to undertake to build factories and plants will be
offered a helping hand and the necessary loans required for the construction
of factories useful for the future,, especially of such as have not yet
been built in Russia.
4. For the building of dwellings, the purchase of livestock needed for
the farmstead, the necessary equipment, material, and tools for agriculture
and industry, each settler will receive the necessary money from Our
treasury in the form of an advance loan without any interest. The capital
sum has to be repaid only after ten years, in equal annual installments
in the following three years.br>
5. We leave to the discretion of the established colonies and village
the internal constitution and jurisdiction, in such a way that the persons
placed in authority by US will not interfere with the internal affairs
and institutions. In other respects the colonists will be liable to Our
civil laws. However, in the event that the people would wish to have a
special guardian or even an officer with a detachment of disciplined
soldiers for the sake of security and defense, this wish would also be
granted.
6. To every foreigner who wants to settle in Russia We grant complete
duty-free import of his property, no matter what it is, provided, however,
that such property is for personal use and need, and not intended for sale.
However, any family that also brings in unneeded goods for sale will be
granted free import on goods valued up to 300 rubles, provided that the
family remains in Russia for at least 10 years. Failing which, it be
required, upon its departure, to pay the duty both on the incoming
outgoing goods.
7 The foreigners who have settled in Russia shall not be drafted against
their will into the military or the civil service during their entire stay
here. Only after the lapse of the years of tax-exemption can they be
required to provide labor service for the country. Whoever wished to
enter military service will receive, besides his regular pay, a gratuity
of 30 rubles at the time he enrolls in the regiment.
8. As soon as the foreigners have reported to the Guardianship Chancellery
or to our border towns and declared their decision to travel to the interior
of the Empire and establish domicile there, they will forthwith receive food
rations and free transportation to their destination.
9. Those among the foreigners in Russia who establish factories, plants,
or firms, and produce goods never before manufactured in Russia, will be
permitted to sell and export freely for ten years, without paying export
duty or excise tax.
10.Foreign capitalists who build factories, plants, and concerns in Russia
at their own expense are permitted to purchase serfs and peasants needed
for the operation of the factories.
11. We also permit all foreigners who have settled in colonies or villages
to establish market days and annual market fairs as they see fit, without
having to pay any dues or taxes to Our treasury.
7.
All the afore-mentioned privileges shall be enjoyed not only by those who
have come into Our country to settle there, but also their children and
descendants, even though these are born in Russia, with the provision that
their years of exemption will be reckoned from the day their forebears
arrived in Russia.
8.
After the lapse of the stipulated years of exemption, all the foreigners
who have settled in Russia are required to pay the ordinary moderate
contributions and, like our other subjects, provide labor-service for
their country. Finally, in the event that any foreigner who has settled
in Our Empire and has become subject to Our authority should desire to
leave this country, We shall grant him the liberty to do so, provided,
however, that he is obligated to remit to Our treasury a portion of the
assets he has gained in this country; that is, those who have been here
from one to five years will pay one-fifth, whole those who have been
here for five or more years will pay one-tenth. Thereafter each one
will be permitted to depart unhindered anywhere he pleases to go.
10.
If any foreigner desiring to settle in Russia wishes for certain reasons
to secure other privileges or conditions besides those already stated,
he can apply in writing or in person to our Guardianship Chancellery,
which will report the petition to Us. After examining the circumstances,
We shall not hesitate to resolve the matter in such a way that the
petitioner's confidence in Our love of justice will not be disappointed.
Given at the Court of Peter, July 22, 1763
in the Second Year of Our Reign.
The original was signed by Her Imperial Supreme Majesty's own hand.
This manifesto was very soon followed by many supplementary stipulations, for instance
the enactment of March 19, 1764, concerning the right to own land. In 1871 all privileges
were revoked; from then on the Germans became subject to military service. Return to Index
