It was created after the abolition of Cossack Hetmanate and was governed by Pyotr Rumyantsev.

With another administrative reform of 1781 the governorate and its subdivisions (regiments) were liquidated and replaced with vice-royalties divided into counties (uezds).

The governorate was divided into 10 regiments (polk) which were equivalent to counties (uezd).

Until 1767 the coat of arms for the governorate was Cossack with musket when it was replaced with the Russian double headed eagle.

The Governorate was formed in 1796 under the administrative reforms of Paul I which abolished the viceroyalty (namestnichestvo) system, which in turn replaced the regimental administration of the Cossack Hetmanate in 1781.