In the course of the administrative reform carried out in 1708 by Peter the Great, the area was included into Smolensk Governorate and remained there until 1929, with the exception of the brief periods between 1713 and 1726, when it belonged to Riga Governorate, and between 1775 and 1796, when Smolensk Governorate was transformed into Smolensk Viceroyalty.
As a result of the administrative overhaul implemented by Peter the Great in 1708, the region was incorporated into Smolensk Governorate and remained there until 1929, with brief exceptions between 1713 and 1726 when it belonged to Riga Governorate, and between 1775 and 1796 when Smolensk Governorate was reorganized into Smolensk Viceroyalty.