The Special Chancellery

The Special Chancellery was a unit of Russian foreign intelligence in the beginning of the 19th century, serving the reign of Alexander I of Russia during the Napoleonic wars.

[4] As a result, Tsar Alexander appointed him as the Minister of War on 18 January 1810, when relations between Russia and France began to increase in tension.

[3] Through Barclay de Tolly’s experience as a Field Marshal on the battlefield, he identified the need for Russia’s military to have timely and accurate intelligence on the enemy’s intentions, movements, and capabilities.

The entire organization consisted of Barclay de Tolly as the Minister of Defense, a director of the Special Chancellery or aide-de-camp, three expeditors, a translator, and seven intelligence agents.

[1] Chernyshev had the most responsibility as he headed the Russian intelligence operations in Paris, Orlov and Renin were both stationed in Berlin, and Brozin was in Madrid.

In Paris, Chernyshyov created an extensive network within French nobility, maintain relationships with nobles such as Carolina, the Queen of Naples and Napoleon’s own sister.

[2] Chernyshyov himself had a network of spies in the French government and military that provided him with bi-weekly reports on topics such as troop activities, locations, and strengths.