In the wake of the critical months after his return from Europe in 1698, Peter changed his manner of ruling Russia entirely. The formerly most powerful ministers, Naryshkin and Prince Boris Golitsyn, remained in office, but no longer exercised important influence. Lefort died early in 1699, and Gordon at the end of the year, but neither had much impact on policy after Peter's return. The Boyar Duma had little role in legislation after 1698, and nothing emerged in its place. Though the boyars remained in charge of the main chancelleries, Peter made all crucial decisions alone with the aid only of a small number of close confidants, primarily his new favorites F. A. Golovin and Menshikov. The closest to a central coordinating office was the Privy Chancellery (Blizhnaia kantseliariia). Headed by Nikita Zotov and composed of the heads of the main chancelleries, it seems primarily to have exercised oversight over financial issues, though its decisions were still called “boyar decisions” (boiarskie prigovory). The result of the informal centralization of the government and court was to shift the rivalries to the army command, which was the setting for most of the intrigues of the next few years. This manner of operation lasted until 1708, when the establishment of the “large gubernias” introduced more orderly procedures into government, and gave a major role not only to the favorites like Menshikov but also to scions of the great families.