Nikita Panin and Catherine II: Conceptual aspect of political relations

The article is devoted to the problems of political relations between Catherine II and one of her most influential statesmen, Nikita Panin. It is based on research of conceptual apparatus which was used by both Catherine and Panin to analyze the character of supreme Imperial power, as well as the principles of its functioning, legitimation and preserving. The main conclusion is that the conflict between these political actors was not of an ideological original, but of personal kind. The failure of Panin's reform program was connected mainly with the specific nature of legitimation of the palace coup that raise Catherine II to the throne in 1762.

N.I. Panin, Catherine II, Montesquieu, The Imperial Council, fundamental laws, political lexicon of 18th century Russia, palace coups in Russia