Count Fyodor Golovin was a trustee of Peter the Great and the head of the Foreign Affairs Department of the Russian Empire. He was responsible for establishing relations with neighboring countries, including China, and for solving border issues in Transbaikalia. A photocopy of his portrait is displayed at the Transbaikal Regional Museum.
Fyodor Golovin was born in 1650 into a boyar family. In his youth he received an excellent education and fluently spoke English and Latin. Golovin started his service as a pantler — an official who was responsible for court dinners and royal banquets.
In 1686, Golovin was sent to the Amur River, “for treaties and to calm the quarrels with the Chinese emperor”. At that time military clashes often occurred on the Russian-Chinese border. Irkutsk governors reported to the Russian government that the situation in the region was tense, and the Mongol khans threatened “to come to your, our great sovereign, Selenginsky ostrog, and the good Selenginsky people who pay yasak in the Selenginsky district live in great fear…” Golovin had to resolve the conflict.
In 1689, he signed the Treaty of Nerchinsk with the Chinese side. Russia secured the Siberian lands and a state border along the Argun River was established. The document gave start to the Russian-Chinese relations.
On the way back Golovin ordered to build the Transbaikal towns of Nerchinsk and Udinsk in place of border fortresses, and strengthen them with additional artillery. For the successful mission in the east of the country, Fyodor Golovin was granted the position of Governor-General of Siberia.
From 1699 until his death, Golovin was the second person in the state after the Emperor Peter the Great. He was in charge of foreign policy of the country and defended Russian interests in international affairs, especially in the diplomatic war with Sweden.
During his leadership, Russia opened several permanent embassies abroad. Fyodor Golovin managed the Diplomatic, Military Sea and Yamsky Prikazi (departments), and headed the Armory, the Golden and Silver Chambers. He organized the work of Nerchinsk silver mines and increased the production of silver coins in the country.
Fyodor Golovin was born in 1650 into a boyar family. In his youth he received an excellent education and fluently spoke English and Latin. Golovin started his service as a pantler — an official who was responsible for court dinners and royal banquets.
In 1686, Golovin was sent to the Amur River, “for treaties and to calm the quarrels with the Chinese emperor”. At that time military clashes often occurred on the Russian-Chinese border. Irkutsk governors reported to the Russian government that the situation in the region was tense, and the Mongol khans threatened “to come to your, our great sovereign, Selenginsky ostrog, and the good Selenginsky people who pay yasak in the Selenginsky district live in great fear…” Golovin had to resolve the conflict.
In 1689, he signed the Treaty of Nerchinsk with the Chinese side. Russia secured the Siberian lands and a state border along the Argun River was established. The document gave start to the Russian-Chinese relations.
On the way back Golovin ordered to build the Transbaikal towns of Nerchinsk and Udinsk in place of border fortresses, and strengthen them with additional artillery. For the successful mission in the east of the country, Fyodor Golovin was granted the position of Governor-General of Siberia.
From 1699 until his death, Golovin was the second person in the state after the Emperor Peter the Great. He was in charge of foreign policy of the country and defended Russian interests in international affairs, especially in the diplomatic war with Sweden.
During his leadership, Russia opened several permanent embassies abroad. Fyodor Golovin managed the Diplomatic, Military Sea and Yamsky Prikazi (departments), and headed the Armory, the Golden and Silver Chambers. He organized the work of Nerchinsk silver mines and increased the production of silver coins in the country.
