Annotation: During the first Russian census of 1897, Tzar Nicholas II, had filled in the "occupation" box with his famous "Master of Mother Russia". The whirlwind-like 19th century, accompanied by the turbulent process of social modernization in Europe, had passed the Russian monarchy by. While Europe was struggling for the enhancement of constitutional rights, the Russian Caesarism struggled for retaining the absoluteness of its power. It is the author's opinion that despite seemingly unlimited amount of power concentrated in the hands of a Russian Tzar, his freedom of action was considerably restricted by the bureaucratic apparatus. In the absenceof respective law institutions capable of restraining it, the Russian bureaucracy became truly omnipotent. The author brings particular focus to the mechanisms of state decision making, conflicts between bureaucracy and society, inter-ministerial plots and intrigues.