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Kharkov and Sloboda Ukraine
In 1765, Catherine issued an imperial manifesto that ended the semi-autonomy of the Cossack regions, including Kharkov, and by doing so, officially integrated these territories into the Russian Empire. Before Catherine’s efforts, Empress Anna (r. 1730-1740) attempted to end the semi-autonomy of the Cossack regions, but ultimately failed. Anna conducted a census in 1732 of the Cossack regions in the effort to create a taxing system that would result in the inclusion of the regions in the larger Empire. However, protests following the attempts of the census ended Anna’s efforts. Catherine’s manifesto set up provinces in the Empire and established administration in the area. Not only did this introduce uniform administrative systems across the Empire, but it also allowed for taxing systems to be created which brought in revenue for the Empire. Furthermore, pertaining to the Cossack regions in the South, the reforms aimed to turn the Cossacks into formal Russian subjects; the proximity to the Crimean Khanate threatened to destabilize the alliance between the Cossacks and the Empire. This manifesto abolished the five Cossack regiments in the southern territory of the Empire, one of which was Kharkov. Catherine united these five regions into Sloboda Ukraine and appointed a governor-general of the province who reported directly to St. Petersburg.