Crimea in the projects of collegiate councilor N. Anastasiev and major general Gordlevsky

This article reconstructs two previously unknown projects for the Crimea development drafted by Collegiate Councilor N. Anastasiev and Major General Gordlevsky, which were discovered in the Russian State Historical Archive. This documents were submitted to the Committee on the Novorossiya Province Development and were reviewed by N. N. Novosiltsev, one of the closest associates of Alexander I. The information contained in the papers illustrates the state of affairs in the region and mentions the most painful problems of local administration. The studied projects reflected their authors' vision of the Crimean Peninsula development, as well as general attitudes and approaches of the time. The authors paid most attention to the settlement of the peninsula, reduction of customs duties, and economic development. They described the advantages of the region, but did not say anything about the disadvantages of farming there. In addition, Collegiate Councilor N. Anastasiev and Major General Gordlevsky planned to have their projects implemented at the expense of the Treasury, which was very unlikely under the circumstances of the early XIX century, because the Russian Empire was fighting several wars. Despite all the difficulties, some of the proposals were soon implemented.