121 in Sweden, which court had jurisdiction over the general administration of justice in civil and criminal cases,^^^ Pick’s text was incorporated into the General Regulation. The oath of office with which the General Regulation opens presents an interesting example of Swedish legal influence. The oath served an important function in the absolutist state, since it formally established a personal bond of obedience between the military and civil functionaries of the state, on the one hand, and the monarch, on the other. In addition, taking this oath created a legal situation that could not be dissolved unilaterally by the individual official, and if any government officer broke his oath he was severely punished. Thus, the swearing of the oath of office must have had a great psychological effect on the individual officials involved. During the 1680s, Charles XI had introduced a new oath of office which legally personified the Caroline absolutism.^^^ With its markedly absolutist content, the Swedish oath of office could easily be applied to Russian conditions, and it was reproduced almost word for word in the General Regulation. It appears that the direct model for this wording was the wording of the oath of office in the instructions issued by the Swedish government to provincial governors in 1687. While the oath is much too long to quote in its entirety, the following extract illustrates the similarities involved: 332 Swedish text Since His Royal Majesty has most graciously entrusted to and given the provincial governor the administration of the entire province and the lands, provinces, towns, houses, and farms in it: thus he shall be loyal and faithful to His Royal Majesty, his most beloved consort and his heirs; and also in all things just [he shall] seek and promote according to his best ability his benefit and welfare and ward off, and make known in time, harm, ruination, and danger, just as befits a loyal servant and subject, and he can be responsible to God, His Royal Majesty, and every honest man. To which end he shall immediately submit his written oath to His Royal Majesty’s chancelSec p. 309. 2A (no. 400), 508. See RA, Eder 115. RA, Smärre ämncsserier. Instruktioner för lantregeringen, vol. 2 (1661—1837). 2A (no. 400), 414—415. Russian text The members of the state colleges shall all, and each and every one individually, be true, honest, and good men and servants to His Tsarist Majesty, his most beloved consort the Tsaritsa, and his high blood heirs, in every way and according to [his] best ability seek and promote their benefit and good, ward off loss, damage and danger, and in good time make these known, as befits honest men, servants and subjects of His Tsarist Majesty. And in this they may answer to God, His Majesty, their own consciences, and the entire honest world. For this reason each high and low official shall individually, both in writing and orally, commit himself through oath, 832 333 335
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