General Aleksei Arakcheev (1769–1834) occupied the unofficial position of prime minister during the second part of Alexander’s reign. The "military colonies," which Arakcheev oversaw at the behest of the sovereign, were intended to lessen the costs of maintaining a standing army by allowing soldiers to farm, have a family, and practice drills at the same time. The rules for the regimented life style were partially based on the order at Arakcheev's own estate, where women were required to bear children annually. The colonies bred constant revolts and were eventually abolished.