Twelve Collegia

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The Twelve Collegia, or Twelve Colleges (1722–1744) (Russian: Двeнaдцaть Коллегий) is the largest edifice from the Petrine era in Saint Petersburg, designed by Domenico Trezzini and Theodor Schwertfeger.^[1]

Contents 1 Description 2 History 3 Modern use 4 Footnotes

[edit] Description

The three-storey, 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 would be connected to form the modern complex.^[4]

[edit] 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] (later called ministries): Foreign Affairs, Revenue Collection, Justice, Expenditure, Financial Control, War, Admiralty, Commerce, Mining and Manufacturing
• Additional, or tenth college/ministry for trade^[2]

[edit] Modern use

Twelve Collegia presently serves as one of three Petrine Baroque structures for Saint Petersburg State University.^[5] The Twelve Collegia are the main complex of the university, which was founded in 1819 (it claims be the successor of the Academy of St. Petersburg, and dates its foundation to 1724), stands along Mendeleevskaya Line on Vasilevsky Island.^[2][3]

[edit] Footnotes

1. ^ ^{a b c} 300 years of Saint Petersburg: Swiss architecture on the Neva. Twelve Colleges Pg. 1.
2. ^ ^{a b c} Saint Petersburg State University (official site)
3. ^ ^{a b c d} Massie, Robert: Peter the Great: His Life and World. Part 5, Chapter 58.
4. ^ University Embankment
5. ^ Wandering Camera... Notes about Saint Petersburg...