Namestnik

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Namestnik (Russian: наме́стник) was an office position in the history of Russia. Its literal translation would be "deputy". The term has two periods of usage, with different meanings.

In the 12th–16th centuries, namestniks (more correctly knyaz namestniks, or "knyaz deputies") were in charge of local administration. In particular, they ruled uyezds.

In the 18th–20th centuries, a namestnik was a person in charge of namestnichestvo, with plenipotentiary powers. The latter has traditionally been translated as viceroyalty and "namestnik" as viceroy or vicegerent (or, as a common blunder, "viceregent"). For example, Mikhail Vorontsov was namestnik of Bessarabia (1823-44) and Caucasus (1844-1854). Sometimes the term is confused with Governor General (генерал-губернатор), which is not correct. For example, it is known that during Voronsov's office in Bessarabia, seven governor-generals have been changed, and at the same time he had a different office of Governor General of New Russia.