1680s to 1700
Prince Fyodor was given the post of the head of the Preobrazhensky prikaz in 1686, when its functions involved the administration of the Preobrazhensky and Semyonovsky units. His integrity and resolution won him the admiration of young Tsar Peter (r. 1682–1725), who made him "Generalissimo" of his toy army.
During Peter’s prolonged absences from Moscow, Romodanovsky acted as one of the principal guardians of the Tsar’s authority governing Russia, most notably during the Grand Embassy of 1697–1698. Although routine government was formally entrusted to a council of senior boyars, Romodanovsky was placed in charge of internal security and was reportedly instructed to suppress any disorder without hesitation. His control of the Preobrazhensky Prikaz gave him authority over Peter’s guards, the administration of the royal establishments at Preobrazhenskoye and investigations concerning political opposition. Foreign diplomats consequently regarded him as the equivalent of a viceroy whenever the Tsar was absent.
Peter reflected this combination of genuine power and courtly theatre by styling Romodanovsky the “Prince Caesar”, addressing him as “Your Majesty” and presenting himself in correspondence as Romodanovsky’s obedient subject (кесарское величество and князь-кесарь). During the Streltsy uprising of 1698, Romodanovsky informed Peter of the developing unrest, while government forces defeated the mutineers near the New Jerusalem Monastery; he then participated in the initial investigation, suppressment and punishment of the rebels before Peter returned and ordered a much broader and more severe inquiry. Romodanovsky also had the right to keep his own court at Ropsha (south of Peterhof) and to promote officers. The Tsar addressed him in German as "Min Herr Koenig" ("My Lord King") and signed his own letters "Your Majesty's humblest servant Piter".
Following the outbreak of the Great Northern War in 1700, Romodanovsky’s principal contribution to Peter’s government was domestic administration and security rather than active military command. As Peter travelled between the war fronts, Moscow and the developing center of government at Saint Petersburg, Romodanovsky routinely presided over the central government during the Tsar’s absences from the capital. His position reflected Peter’s continued reliance upon members of the established Muscovite aristocracy, even while the tsar was introducing new institutions and administrative practices derived from western Europe. Romodanovsky’s most important continuing responsibility was his direction of the Preobrazhensky Prikaz which obtained almost exclusive jurisdiction over political cases and could question subjects regardless of their age, sex or social rank when they were suspected of treason or opposition to the sovereign. Romodanovsky demanded assistance from other government departments, summoned officials for interrogation and punished those who obstructed his investigations. Although the permanent staff of the office consisted of only a few clerks and assistants, he employed officers and soldiers of the Preobrazhensky and Semyonovsky Guards to deliver orders, make arrests and escort prisoners.
