Estate representation and absolutism in Russia of the 17th century in the formation of the empire

The article is devoted to Russian statehood transformation beginning from the Time of Troubles of the late 16th - early 17th century to the late 17th century. The author considers power evolution in the context of Russia as an empire consisting of the peoples with a different level of political culture and different self-government traditions. The problem of close connection of Russia as a composite state with reinforcement of central power role is discussed. The article shows central power as a regulator of region adaptation to the empire conditions. The author presents three main stages in the framework of the historical period considered. The article considers the model of an absolutist state, corresponding to the time of the first Romanovs; the role in the system of power and management of the throne and the Boyar Duma; a combination of absolutist tendencies with continuing representative institutions at the local level. The evolution of state power is considered in the context of the development of Russia as an empire. The author shows changing the local bodies of self-government in Russian regions for the bodies typical of the central one.