The article explores the history of subject matter jurisdiction in Russian civil proceedings. It traces the development of this institution from pre-revolutionary times to the post-Soviet era. Initially, concepts like "exclusive jurisdiction" and "establishment" were used to define jurisdictional boundaries. In the Soviet period, subject matter jurisdiction was introduced into legislation for the first time. The main focus was on dividing responsibilities between general courts and state arbitration. After the Soviet era, the judiciary gained independence from the executive branch, leading to a clearer separation of court jurisdiction. This evolution has highlighted the importance of subject matter jurisdiction in resolving legal disputes. The study concludes that there has been a consistent progression in the development of subject matter jurisdiction over time.