Uyezd or
uezd (, ) was an administrative subdivision of
Rus',
Muscovy, and
Russian Empire used from the
13th century, originally describing groups of several
volosts formed around the most important cities. Uyezds were ruled by the representatives (
namestniks) of
knyaz and, starting from the
17th century, by
voyevodas.
In 1708, an
administrative reform was carried out by
Peter the Great, dividing Russia into
governorates (, guberniya). The subdivision into uyezds was abolished at that time and was only reinstated in 1727, as a result of
Catherine I's
administrative reform.
By the
Soviet administrative reform of 1923–1929, uyezds were transformed into
raions (districts).
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