Imperial Council of the Russian Empire

The Imperial Council was the highest state institution under Emperor Peter III. It was created by decree of May 29, 1762 in place of the abolished Conference at the Highest Court. The council had the right to issue decrees signed by the emperor, and, in part of the cases, to make decisions without his participation (signed by Council members on behalf of the sovereign). The council's focus was on the war with Denmark conceived by the emperor. During the palace coup on June 28, 1762, members of the Council Alexander Vilboa, Mikhail Volkonsky, Mikhail Vorontsov, Alexey Melgunov, and Nikita Trubetskoy supported Catherine the Great, but the empress who ascended the throne dissolved the Imperial Council, soon establishing its own advisory body – the Council at the Highest Court.