 Despite the influx of Greeks, arriving in the Principalities as a new bureaucracy favored by the "hospodars", the traditional Estates of the realm (the "Divan") remained under the tight control of a number of high boyar families, who, while intermarrying with members of newly arrived communities, opposed reformist attempts—and successfully preserved their privileges by appealing against their competitors to both Istanbul and Saint Petersburg.In the last decades of the 18th century, the growing strategic importance of the region brought about the establishment of consulates representing European powers directly interested in observing local developments (Russia, the Austrian Empire, and France; later, British and Prussian ones were opened as well).An additional way for consuls to exercise particular policies was the awarding of a privileged status and protection to various individuals, who were known as "sudiți" ("subjects", in the language of the time) of one or the other of the foreign powers.