In 1780, the Archangelgorod Governorate, with its center in Arkhangelsk, was abolished and transformed into the Vologda Viceroyalty. The viceroyalty was subdivided into three oblasts: Vologda, Veliky Ustyug, and Arkhangelsk. On 26 March 1784, the Arkhangelsk Oblast was split off and formed into the Arkhangelsk Viceroyalty. Tsar Paul I on 12 December 1796 issued a decree remaining Arkhangelsk Viceroyalty into Arkhangelsk Governorate. Simultaneously, the Olonets Viceroyalty was abolished, and the Kemsky Uyezd and about a half of the Povenetsky Uyezd were transferred to the Arkhangelsk Governorate. In 1780, the Arkhangelsk Oblast was subdivided into seven uyezds,
Arkhangelsky Uyezd
Kholmogorsky Uyezd
Kolsky Uyezd
Mezensky Uyezd
Onezhsky Uyezd
Pinezhsky Uyezd
Shenkursky Uyezd
Mezen, Onega, and Pinega were incorporated as towns in 1780 just to become the uyezd towns. Kola was incorporated in 1784. In 1801, portions of the Povenetsky Uyezd were transferred to the Olonets Governorate, while the Kemsky Uyezd, with its center in Kem, was left to remain in the Arkhangelsk Governorate. In 1854, the town of Kola was destroyed during the Crimean War, and Kolsky Uyezd was merged into the Kemsky Uyezd. In 1883, the Kolsky Uyezd was restored, but in 1899, the Uyezds center was transferred to Aleksandrovsk, and the uyezd was renamed to become the Aleksandrovsky Uyezd. In 1891, Pechorsky Uyezd with its center in Ust-Tsilma was split off from the Mezensky Uyezd. The governorate's structure remained in place after the 1917 revolution. In 1917, the governorate thus comprised nine uyezds. On 2 March 1918, the Ust-Vashsky Uyezd with its center in Ust-Vashka was split off from the Mezensky Uyezd. Also in 1918, the western part of the Aleksandrovsky Uyezd was transferred to Finland, which became independent, and the rest of the uyezd was incorporated as Murmansk Governorate. In 1920, the Kemsky Uyezd was transferred to the Karel Labour Commune, which later became the Karelian Socialist Soviet Republic. In 1922, the major part of the Pechorsky District was moved to the newly established Komi-Zyryan Autonomous Oblast. On 15 March 1922, the Kholmogorsky Uyezd was renamed into the Yemetsky Uyezd, and the uyezds town was transferred from Kholmogory to Yemetsk. In the following period, administrative changes in the governorate occurred almost on the yearly basis. In 1928, the governorate consisted of five uyezds: Arkhangelsky, Mezensky, Onezhsky, Pechorsky, and Shenkursky. On 14 January 1929, by the order of the All-Russian Central Executive Committee, three governorates and Komi-Zyryan Autonomous Oblast were merged into Northern Krai.
Governors
The administration tasks in the vice-royalty were shared between a governor and a governor general; the governorate had a military governor and a governor; the military governors were not always appointed. Sometimes a governor general was appointed. The governors of Arkhangelogorod Viceroyalty were
After February 1917, the highest authority in the governorate belonged to the Comissar of the Governorate, and after November 1917 – to the Governorate Executive Committee. The governors were not appointed any more. The military governors of Arkhangelsk Governorate were
