Charters of Russian Universities in the 19th Century Viewed by Contemporaries and Historians

Abstract

The article analyzes the opinions expressed in the media and historiography concerning the role of charters in the history of Russian universities in the 19th and early 20th century. The author arrives at the conclusion that in the course of time the charters tended to become symbols rather than to serve as the main legislation of university life. All the time the charters existed, they were considered mostly to be symbols of autonomy. The latter was interpreted differently under different ideologies and in different historical periods. Debates about the role of university charters do not only concern the boundaries of the self-government of universities, they are also related to the image of a particular university that exists or used to exist in the public consciousness.