Russian military statistical institutions of the second quarter of the XIX century: The results of their practical activities

The article is devoted to the formation and activity of military statistical institutions in the Russian Empire in the first half of the XIX century. The ruling circles faced the task of establishing a serious and permanent organization of administrative and military statistics for the best management of the Russian armed forces, which were the backbone of the autocratic regime. In addition, it was necessary to collect comprehensive military statistical data on the country’s capabilities and on the military systems of leading nations. Respective military statistical bodies had to be established to keep records and compile analytical reporting material, both for the Ministry of War and personally to the head of state, the emperor. This process was underway in the second quarter of the 19th century, during the reign of Nicholas I, until the end of the Crimean War of 1853–1856. A special role in the military statistical study of the Russian Empire was played by the future minister-reformer of the armed forces D. A. Milyutin.