Twelve Collegia
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The Twelve Collegia or Twelve Colleges (Russian: Двeнaдцaть Коллегий) is the largest edifice from the Petrine era remaining in Saint Petersburg. It was designed by Domenico Trezzini and Theodor Schwertfeger and built from 1722 to 1744.[1]
Description
The three-story, red-brick complex of 12 buildings is 400–440 meters long,[2][3] giving an illusion of one enormous edifice.[1] The result is an "austerely structured" complex with a "rustic style".[1] The original design separated the 12 individual buildings. In subsequent restructuring, they were connected to form the modern complex.[4]
History
The Twelve Collegia was commissioned by Peter the Great, who wanted a place for the Russian government, at the time divided into 12 branches:
- The Senate (created in February 1711, eventually renamed "Council of the Empire")[3]
- The Synod
- Nine colleges,[3] which replaced the old prikazy system (subsequently replaced by Ministries in 1802 under the rule of Alexander I): Foreign Affairs, Revenue Collection, Justice, Expenditure, Financial Control, War, Admiralty, Commerce, Mining and Manufacturing
- Additional, or tenth college/ministry for trade[2]
Modern use
Twelve Collegia presently serves as one of three
Footnotes
- ^ a b c 300 years of Saint Petersburg: Swiss architecture on the Neva. Twelve Colleges Archived 2007-09-27 at the Wayback Machine Pg. 1.
- ^ a b c Saint Petersburg State University (official site)
- ^ a b c d Massie, Robert: Peter the Great: His Life and World. Part 5, Chapter 58.
- ^ University Embankment Archived 2006-05-17 at the Wayback Machine
- ^ Wandering Camera... Notes about Saint Petersburg...
External links
Media related to Building of Twelve Collegiums at Wikimedia Commons
