General information about ranks. Table of ranks in Tsarist Russia

Table of Ranks (Petrine Table of Ranks) - a document regulating the procedure for performing public and military service in Russian Empire.

The table of ranks was approved on January 24, 1722 by the emperor himself and existed until November 1917, and in some territories until 1922. During its existence, the document was constantly replenished and adjusted in accordance with the realities of the time.

The main idea of ​​the Table of Ranks was to create a document that would contain a single, ordered system of ranks existing in the state. The ranks were classified, described and systematized in accordance with ranks (by seniority).

The history of the creation of the Table of Ranks of the Russian Empire

The idea of ​​​​creating such a document belonged to Peter the Great himself, who took a personal part in its preparation. Similar documents from the leading world powers (France, Sweden, Prussia and Denmark) were taken as a basis. Based on them, the commission created a draft, which was sent to the emperor for signing. Peter personally edited the draft and ordered it to be submitted to the Senate, Military and Admiralty boards for consideration. Certain amendments were made to the document, but during the final consideration Peter the Great did not accept them.

Contents of the Table of Ranks of Tsarist Russia

The table of ranks is a detailed description of all existing ranks. At the beginning there is a table in which all ranks are described and divided according to classes and ranks. After the tables there is a description wages, the procedure for assigning a rank and its inheritance, as well as much more, up to the correct address to an official of a particular rank.

All ranks were divided into three types: court, military and civil - and only then distributed by class. There were 14 classes in total, from highest to lowest. The higher the class (rank), the more privileges the official had. A total of 263 positions were described, but later some of them were abolished.

It is worth noting that the ranks were not simply described, but compared with each other. The state councilor (civil service) was equal in rights to the captain-commander or brigadier ( military service). The remaining ranks were described in a similar way, but military ranks always had a slight superiority over civilian ones, and people occupying these positions were more likely to rise through the ranks. career ladder.

The document also described court ranks that were given not only to men, but also to women.

The meaning of the Table of Ranks

The document was created in order to systematize and streamline the civil service and make the assignment of ranks and titles simpler and clearer.

The appearance of such a document significantly simplified the civil service and made it more transparent. It described the Old Russian ranks, but they stopped giving them, which meant that Russia was finally freed from the structure and order of Muscovite Rus' and switched to new type management.

The main significance of the Table of Ranks of 1722 was that the chances of obtaining a title and promotion no longer depended solely on the nobility of the family. A person’s personal service now stood higher than the nobility of his parents, and this completely changed the usual order adopted in Rus'. Now not only a noble person, but also a commoner could achieve success, and his children and grandchildren had the opportunity to later receive a noble title, especially with regard to military service. Nobles were now divided into hereditary (noble families) and personal (those who rose to the title of nobility).

The table of ranks of Peter the Great finally divided the entire service into military, civil and court, which had not happened before.

IN modern Russia exists similar document. It contains a table of ratios class ranks federal state civil service, military ranks, members of justice and prosecutors.

Quote: “Table of ranks of all ranks, military, civil and courtiers, who are in which rank; and who are in the same class" - Peter I January 24, 1722

History of creation

Peter personally took part in editing the law, which was based on borrowings from the “lists of ranks” of the French, Prussian, Swedish and Danish kingdoms. Having corrected the draft draft with his own hand, Peter signed it on February 1, 1721, but ordered it to be submitted to the Senate for consideration before publication. In addition to the Senate, the table of ranks was considered in the military and in the admiralty board, where a number of comments were made on the placement of ranks by rank, on salaries, on the introduction of ancient Russian ranks into the table, and on the elimination of the clause on fines for taking a place in the church higher than one’s own. rank. All these comments were left without consideration. Senators Golovkin and Bruce and Major Generals Matyushkin and Dmitriev-Mamonov took part in the final edition of the table of ranks.

Rice. 1. Fragment of the document Table of Ranks.

Peter I the Great (Peter Alekseevich; May 30 (June 9) – January 28 (February 8)) is the Tsar of Moscow from the Romanov dynasty (since 1682) and the first All-Russian Emperor (since 1721). In Russian historiography it is considered one of the most outstanding statesmen, which determined the direction of development of Russia in the 18th century.

Peter was proclaimed king in 1682 at the age of 10, and began to rule independently in 1689. From a young age, showing interest in science and foreign lifestyles, Peter was the first of the Russian tsars to make a long trip to the countries of Western Europe. Upon returning from it in 1698, Peter launched large-scale reforms Russian state and social order."

Rice. 2. Portrait of Peter I. August Tolyander (1835-1910) Oil on canvas. 140 x 115. Museum fine arts Republic of Karelia. Petrozavodsk. In 1703, Peter the Great ordered the construction of a cannon foundry at the mouth of the Lososinka River, which flows into Lake Onega. It was named Petrovsky. Thanks to the plant, the Petrovskaya Sloboda appeared, which in 1777 was transformed into the city of Petrozavodsk.

A COMMENT:

Table 1 shows the names of ranks depending on the rank number in the “Table of Ranks” approved on January 24, 1722 by Tsar Peter I:

Table 1.

Figure 3 shows a graphic analogy of the “Table of Ranks” or “ ladder of ranks"with the location of this staircase in the matrix of the Universe.

Rice. 3. The figure shows a graphic analogy of the “Table of Ranks” or “ ladder of ranks", approved on January 24, 1722 by Tsar Peter I. "Table of Ranks", which is presented in the form of a stepped pyramid combined with " energy matrix of the universe" The pyramid has 14 steps, numerically coinciding with fourteen levels civil and military officials. Generally " ladder of ranks"reflects the idea of ​​subordination from a single " higher principle» all the way down to level 14. This corresponds to the levels - from the first highest - Chancellor (civilian position) or Field Marshal (military position) down to the 14th lowest level - Collegiate Registrar (civilian position) or Fendrick (military position). With increasing " numbers“positions in the “Table of Ranks” - the number of holders of this position is also growing, as well as the number of elements in the matrix of the Universe.

Before today in military positions, a similar order of positions has been largely maintained.

In fact, we looked at a graphical example principle of subordination from highest to lower level, which is present both in the construction of the Universe and, in particular, in our lives.

More detailed information You can learn about the matrix of the Universe by reading the articles on the website in the “Egyptology” section - Secret knowledge of the Egyptian priests about the matrix of the Universe. Part one. Pythagoras, Tetractys and the god Ptah and the Secret knowledge of the Egyptian priests about the matrix of the Universe. Part two. Nomes of Egypt.

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Reference material:

Rice. 4.“New soldiers were recruited every year, or even several times a year. In total, under Peter I, about 300,000 recruits entered the army, that is, every tenth young guy. A recruit had to be at least 2 arshins and 4 vershoks (about 160 centimeters), but during the war the requirements were reduced to 2 arshins 2 vershoks - a little more than one and a half meters. To become real soldiers, they had to learn how to hold formation, shoot and use the bayonet. And also make long marches, besiege and storm fortresses, pour bullets and sew uniforms, build crossings, and finally, “cook porridge from an ax” when there was nothing to eat. And the army solved all these problems by teaching peasant children to a new life. Russian soldiers diligently learned to win. As the dragoon captain Semyon Kurosh describes in his diary, after the battles the warriors trained themselves and forced the captured Swedes to teach themselves: they fought each other with blunt swords, allowing the Russians to study close combat techniques.”

Description of the table of ranks

“All ranks of the “Table of Ranks” were divided into three types: military, state (civilian) and courtiers and were divided into fourteen classes. A rank was assigned to each class, but the concept of “rank” itself was not explained, due to which some historians considered it literally and only in the rank system, while others - as one or another position.

Peter’s “Table of Ranks” numbered 262 positions, but positions were gradually excluded from the “Table of Ranks” and disappeared completely at the end of the 18th century. The names of a number of civil positions turned into civil ranks, regardless of the real responsibilities of their holder. Thus, the names of the ranks “collegiate secretary”, “collegiate assessor”, “collegiate adviser” and “state councilor” originally meant the positions of secretary of the collegium, member of the board of the collegium with an advisory and casting vote, and president of the “state” collegium. "Nadvornyy councilor" meant the chairman of the courthouse court; court courts were abolished already in 1726, and the name of the rank remained until 1917.

Petrovskaya “Table”, determining the place in the hierarchy of the civil service, to some extent provided an opportunity to advance talented people from the lower classes. “So that those who are willing to apply for service and receive honor, and not receive impudent and parasites,” read one of the descriptive articles of the law.

Law of February 4(January 24) consisted of a schedule of new ranks in 14 classes or ranks and from 19 explanatory paragraphs to this schedule. Newly introduced military ranks (in turn subdivided into land, guards, artillery and naval), civil and court ranks were separately assigned to each class. The content of the explanatory paragraphs is as follows:

Influence on society and nobility

With the introduction of the table of ranks, the ancient Russian ranks - boyars, okolnichy, etc. - were not formally abolished, but the awarding of these ranks ceased. The publication of the report card had a significant impact on both the official routine and the historical destinies of the noble class. Personal length of service became the only regulator of service; " fatherly honor», the breed has lost all meaning in this regard . Military service was separated from civil and court service. The acquisition of nobility was legalized by the length of service of a certain rank and the award of the monarch, which influenced the democratization of the noble class, the consolidation of the service character of the nobility and the stratification of the noble mass into new groups - hereditary and personal nobility.

Under Peter I, the rank of the lowest XIV class in military service (Fendrik, ensign from 1730) gave the right to hereditary nobility. Civil service in the rank up to VIII class gave only personal nobility, and the right to hereditary nobility began with the rank of VIII class.

Further development of the idea

Further legislation on rank production somewhat deviated from the original idea of ​​the Table of Ranks. In theory, ranks meant the positions themselves, distributed across 14 classes, but over time, ranks acquired the independent meaning of honorary titles, regardless of positions. On the other hand, shortened deadlines were established for promotion to certain ranks for nobles; then the ranks were raised, giving the right of hereditary nobility. These measures were intended to limit the democratizing effect of the table on the composition of the noble class.

Table of ranks - Statutory address according to class

I - II Your Excellency

III - IV Your Excellency

V - Your Highness

VI - VIII Your Honor

IX - XIV Your Honor

Military ranks above the table of ranks

1. Names of the status (not position) of employees in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Russian Federation - “Envoy of 1, 2, 3 ... rank”

2. Compliance with the protocol of Politeness when contacting:

— Ambassador — Your Excellency (Your Excellency)

— Messenger — Your Highness (Your Highness)

— Advisor — Your Serenity (Your Lordship)

— Consul General — Your Honor (Your Honor)

— First/Second/Third Secretary -Your Worship (Your Grace)

- all lower-level employees - Sir (sir, master, sir)

— employees service personnel dip. corps - Mister (Mr., Mister).

3. In accordance with the table of ranks, a lower rank cannot directly communicate on work issues with representatives of higher ranks if they are not connected by direct service dependencies.

4. In accordance with the table of ranks, a higher rank can give work orders to any lower rank, even if they are not connected by direct service dependencies.

26. Change in the legal status of estates. Table of ranks of Peter I

During this period, the state strives for legal regulation of all classes: nobility, clergy, peasants, urban population.

The basis of the rightful position of the nobles is the monopoly right to land ownership. The Decree (On Single Inheritance" of 1714 not only equalized the rights of estates and patrimony, but also turned estates into the hereditary property of nobles. The Decree on the Poll Census of 1718 secured the right of nobles to pay taxes.

The legal status of the nobility was significantly changed by the adoption of the Decree on Single Inheritance 1714 This act had several consequences: Legal merger such forms of land ownership, as patrimony and estate, led to the emergence of a single concept of “real estate”. On its basis, the consolidation of the class took place. The emergence of this concept led to the development of more precise legal techniques, the development of the powers of the owner, and the stabilization of obligations.

Establishment of the Institute majorate(inheritance of real estate by only one eldest son), the purpose of which was to preserve the landed property of the nobility from fragmentation, was not determined by the traditions of Russian law. The implementation of the new principle led to the emergence of significant groups of landless nobility, forced to take military or civil service. This provision of the Decree caused the greatest discontent on the part of the nobles (it was abolished already in 1731). Having transformed estate into hereditary land tenure, The decree at the same time found new way tie the nobility to public service - limiting the circle of heirs forced the nobles to serve for a salary. A large bureaucratic apparatus and a professional officer corps began to form very quickly.

The logical continuation of the Decree on Single Inheritance was Table of ranks. Its adoption (1722) indicated the emergence of a number of new circumstances:

Bureaucratic beginning in the formation of the state apparatus, the aristocratic (associated with the principle of localism) undoubtedly won. Professional qualities, personal dedication and length of service became the determining factors for promotion.

The positive features of the new bureaucratic apparatus were professionalism, specialization, and normativity; the negative features were its complexity, high cost, self-employment, and inflexibility.

Formulated by the Table of Ranks new rank system and positions legally formalized the status of the ruling class. His service qualities were emphasized: any highest rank could be awarded only after passing through the entire chain of lower ranks. Terms of service in certain ranks were established. Upon reaching the ranks of the eighth class, the official was awarded the title of hereditary nobleman, and he could pass on the title by inheritance; from the fourteenth to the seventh grade, the official received personal nobility. The principle of seniority thereby subordinated the aristocratic principle.

Table of ranks equalized military service with civilian service: ranks and titles were awarded in both areas, the principles of promotion were similar. Practice has developed a way to move up the ladder of official ranks in an accelerated manner (this mainly applied only to nobles): after birth, the children of aristocratic nobles were registered for office and, upon reaching the age of 15, had a fairly important rank. Such a legal fiction was due to remnants of the old principles of service and was based on the actual dominance of the noble aristocracy in the apparatus.

Personnel training for the new state apparatus began to be carried out in special schools and academies in Russia and abroad. The degree of qualification was determined not only in rank, but also education, special training. The education of noble minors was often carried out compulsorily (penalties were imposed for evasion of studies). Children of nobles were assigned to study; many personal rights (for example, the right to marry) depended on their level of training.

During the period of absolutism, the process of nationalization of the church took place. The clergy was an important political force in the country. It was divided into black (monastic) and white (serving in churches). The church reform begun by Peter I did not live up to his expectations. In the first quarter of the 18th century. transformations were carried out, indicating the initial phase of secularization. Since 1722, strict rules for entering the clergy have been established.

The bulk of the population were feudal-dependent peasants. They were divided into landowner, state, possession and palace.

Economic development contributed to the separation of traders and moneylenders from among the peasantry. But the bulk of the peasants bore duties in favor of the owner in the form of corvee or quitrent. Every year the peasants sent one recruit from 20 households. In addition, they worked on the construction of cities and shipyards. In 1718, the poll tax was introduced, which eliminated such a category of the population as free and walking people.

The distinction between serfs and peasants is erased. The landowners had broad powers in relation to the peasants; moreover, they disposed of them as their own property. By decree of 1767, peasants were forbidden to complain about their landowners under threat of corporal punishment and hard labor. The state was also feudally dependent. peasants.

In 1721, merchants were allowed to buy villages (with peasants) and assign them to manufactories; This is how possessional peasants appeared. As a result of the secularization of church lands, state lands arose. peasants who paid rent to the state. Palace (from 1797 - appanage) peasants belonged to the imperial family.

Cities developed as centers of trade and industrial production. The state, interested in overcoming the economic backwardness of the country, provided various benefits. Owners of manufactories received a particularly privileged position.

The townspeople elected their own bodies of self-government - magistrates. In addition, there was a town meeting (population meeting). According to the regulations of the Chief Magistrate of 1721, the townspeople were divided into noble, regular citizens (who were divided into 2 guilds) and “vile people.”

Leading positions were occupied by large merchants.

Published in 1785, “The Charter on the Rights and Benefits of the Cities of the Russian Empire” divided the urban population into 6 categories: “real” urban inhabitants, merchants of all 3 guilds, artisans enrolled in guilds, foreigners and nonresidents enrolled in the burghers, eminent townspeople, the rest of the townspeople.

The burghers made up the majority of the urban population and were a tax-paying class. The townspeople had their own class court and local government bodies - a common city duma.

Table of ranks

List of ranks on January 24, 1722, table of ranks, introduced new classification servant people. All the newly established positions - all with foreign names, Latin and German, except for a very few - are arranged according to the table in three parallel rows: military, civil and courtier, with each divided into 14 ranks, or classes. A similar ladder with 14 levels of ranks was introduced in the navy and court service. This founding act of the reformed Russian bureaucracy put the bureaucratic hierarchy, merit and length of service, in the place of the aristocratic hierarchy of breed, pedigree book. In one of the articles attached to the table, it is emphasized with emphasis that the nobility of the family in itself, without service, means nothing, does not create any position for a person, people of a noble breed are not given any position until they show merit to the sovereign and the fatherland.

The introduction of a table of ranks was one of the most important government reforms. This innovation radically undermined the importance of nobility in the civil service. Since the introduction of the table of ranks, civil servants achieved high ranks only through personal merit, and not through birth into a noble family.

TYPES OF OFFICES: military, naval, courtier, civilian (civilian). “It is by no means a nobleman to become an officer” from the 8th rank of civil service and from the 14th military rank hereditary nobility was given.

The topic of nobility and belonging to this category of residents in the Russian Empire has always been considered one of the most important in society and at the legislative level. For many years, it was the nobility that provided the support for power and was considered the social elite, and therefore a lot of attention was paid to status. The nobility has always been regulated, but for the first time in the Russian Empire the issue was raised by Peter I. By force of law, he decided to streamline relationships in different spheres of life. The ruler issued a Table of Ranks.

How the table of ranks was created (briefly)

Since Peter the Great was inspired by the idea of ​​creation, he took part in its formation. Similar documents from the world's leading powers were taken as a basis: Denmark, Sweden, France, Prussia. After studying them, the commission created a draft signed by the Emperor.

Peter himself edited the draft, and then handed it over to the Admiralty and Military Collegiums together with the Senate. However, even after the edits, the document was not immediately accepted.

In 1722, the Emperor finally approved the table. Civil ranks were divided into three groups:

• military;
• civilian;
• courtiers.

All of them are included in 14 classes and represented 263 positions. Later, some of them were abolished, and towards the end of the 18th century they completely disappeared.

The table of ranks is detailed description civil officials. At first it was a table describing and dividing positions according to classes . Then came the description salaries, the nature of the assignment of the title and its inheritance. The characteristics of the Table of Ranks even describe the rules for addressing officials.

Possession of hereditary nobility of the 14th class provided the right to receive hereditary nobility, acquired in the civil service with the presence of the eighth class, and the 14th (collegiate registrar) class provided the right to nobility of the bearer.

According to the Manifesto published in 1845, hereditary nobility was awarded along with the assignment of the eighth class. Everyone who was born before receiving the nobility had a separate category - officer's children. It was customary to call them chief officer's children. At the request of the father, one of the children was granted a rank.

In the table, the ranks were not simply described, but compared with each other. The state councilor for rights was equal to a brigadier or captain-commander in military service. The remaining ranks were described similarly, but the military always outnumbered the civilians. At the same time, a military person climbed the career ladder faster.

In the future, the report card about ranks has undergone changes. In 1856, Ruler Alexander II limited the right to receive nobility to the rank of colonel at the 6th class, and civilians to the 4th class.

As you can see, the Table of Ranks constantly underwent changes in the Russian Empire. A number of civil ranks were separated, regardless of the duties of the representatives.

What names were eliminated?

After the establishment of the document, titles such as collegiate secretary, assessor, adviser and state councilor initially meant positions performed by council members. They had the casting vote. The chairman of the court court was called court councilor.

All listed positions abolished in 1726, but the names of the titles remained until 1917. The famous Table of Ranks and its importance for employees cannot be overestimated, since it allowed people from the lower classes to become nobility if they had talent.

Principles of separation of ranks

The titles were divided into:

• staff officers;
• chief officers;
• general's

The first two categories related to the highest generals were separately distinguished. They were treated differently.

The first five classes of ranks were separately distinguished, since these categories were not classified as either officers or generals. You should address such people: “Your Highness.”

Accepted ranks were given strictly to men, and their wives entered into the rank of their husbands. Single girls held a rank one lower than their father. There was also such a rule: for demanding honors and a place above one’s rank at an official meeting and public celebration, a fine was imposed (2 months’ salary of this person), while 2/3 of it was given to the informer. A similar punishment was for one who lost rank to a person of lower class.

The ranks preferred by Peter

Since the Ruler of the Russian Empire preferred the military, he did not want to establish first class ranks for civilians. However, after Osterman's persuasion to maintain diplomatic prestige, the rank of chancellor was equated to first class. Rank of Privy Councilor the first class was created subsequently.

Among Peter’s other preferences, one can highlight the fact that in the army, along with the rank of the 14th class, nobility was appointed, and when civilian form service only with the title of assessor. Since 1856, to obtain the same rank it was required to have the rank of general (state councilor). The low rank of the president of the state college, who by European standards is considered a minister, is considered quite indicative. Later, ministers of the Russian Empire were given the rank of secret and actual privy councilor.

How the document influenced society and the nobility

The adoption of the Table of Ranks did not formally abolish the ancient ranks, however, they ceased to exist. He had a huge influence on the historical fate of the nobility and the routine of service. The regulating factor for changing one's official position was personal merit.

Main historical meaning The table of ranks is in the loss of the breed's "fatherly honor" in relation to promotion. Also, military service was separated from civil and court service. This had an impact on the process of democratization of the nobility. When it was consolidated, they created a division of the class into groups: personal and local. By holding the rank of the lower military class, a person could acquire nobility for all his descendants.

“Talking” names

In Russia it was not customary to use titles of nobility. There were no special prefix particles for surnames either. Despite this, a person’s initials sometimes contained affiliation with the nobility.

Patronymic originated in Rus' only in the 16th century and then it was perceived as a reward, and therefore not everyone could use it. Only the sovereign was allowed to specify who should write the ending “-vich”. in 1697, Peter the Great allowed Yakov Fedorovich Dolgorukov to use his patronymic. During the time of Catherine the First, a list of people reflected in Government documents with patronymic names was compiled.

Surnames also arose immediately and not for everyone. Last names were added to princes in the 15th and 16th centuries, and by the beginning of the 18th century every nobleman already had surnames. Usually, they were created according to the father's surname and the name of the property. In principle, there were many methods for forming surnames of a noble family. A separate category constituted the surnames of the ancient princely families descended from Rurik. Until the end of the 19th century, five of them survived:

1. Yeletskys.
2. Mosalskie.
3. Zvenigorodsky.
4. Vyazemsky.
5. Rostov.

Last names were assigned randomly and were not introduced by law. If there were doubts when choosing a surname, they chose double ones, which are still relevant today.

Document meaning

The adopted document was intended to streamline and systematize the civil service, as well as make the assignment of ranks clear. After the appearance of this Table civil service became more transparent. It described the created Old Russian titles, which were no longer given in the future. This meant that the power was liberated from the orders and structure of Moscow Rus' and became new way board.

The key significance of the Table of Ranks is that the chances of receiving a title and moving up the career ladder became much greater, and they were independent of the level of nobility of the family. This change led to the fact that personal merit and success mattered more than parental honors. Now a commoner can also have the title of nobility, and the nobility itself was divided into personal and noble.

Document, approved by Peter the Great, divided the service into civil, court and military, and this did not exist before.

A similar document also exists today. It presents in the form of a table the ratio of ranks of the state federal civil service, ranks of members of justice and military, as well as prosecutors.

These points are attached to the table of ranks established above and how everyone should deal with these ranks.

1. Princes who come from our blood, and those who are combined with our princesses: in all cases have chairmanship and rank over all princes and high servants of the Russian state.

2. The sea and land in command are determined as follows: whoever is of the same rank with whom, although older in rank, at sea commands the sea over the land, and on land the land over the sea.

3. Whoever demands honors above his rank, or takes a position higher than the rank given to him, will pay a fine of 2 months’ salary for each case. And if someone serves without a salary, then pay him the same fine as the salaries of those ranks who are of equal rank with him and actually receive a salary. Of the fine money, the person declaring a third share is to receive it, and the remainder is to be used in the hospital. But this examination of each rank is not required in such situations, when some, like good friends and neighbors, come together, or in public assemblies, but only in churches during the service of God, at courtyard ceremonies, such as at an audience of ambassadors, at ceremonial tables, at official congresses, at marriages, baptisms, and similar public celebrations and burials. An equal fine should be given to those who give up a place to someone below their rank, which the fiscal must diligently observe, so that they are willing to serve, and receive honor, and not receive impudence and parasites. The above fine as a man,
so and female necessary for crimes due.

4. Under an equal fine, no one has a rank to claim for himself until he has a proper patent to show for his rank.

5. Likewise, no one can take the rank based on the character that he received in other people’s services until we have confirmed that character to him, which confirmation we will gladly grant to everyone based on the state of his merits.

6. Without a patent, an apsite does not give rank to anyone, unless it is given by our hand.

7. All married wives enter in ranks according to the ranks of their husbands. And when they act contrary to this, they have to pay the same fine as her husband would have to pay for his crime.

8. The sons of the Russian state of princes, counts, barons, the noblest nobility, and also servants of the noblest rank, although we allow for their noble breed or their fathers of noble ranks in the public assembly where the court is located, free access over others of lower rank, and willingly wish to see so that they are distinguished from others in every case by dignity; However, for this reason, we do not allow anyone of any rank until they show us and the fatherland any services and receive character for them.

9. On the contrary, all the girls whose fathers are in the 1st rank, until they are married off, have a rank above all the wives who are in the 5th rank, namely, below the major-general, and above the brigadier. And girls whose fathers are in the 2nd rank, above the wives who are in the 6th rank, that is, below the brigadier, and above the colonel. And girls whose fathers are in the 3rd rank are above the wives of the 7th rank, that is, below the colonel, and above the lieutenant colonel. And others, against the way the ranks follow.

10. Ladies and maidens at court have, while they are actually in their ranks, the following ranks:

The Chief Chamberlain of Her Majesty the Empress has rank above all ladies.

The actual ladies of Her Majesty the Empress follow the wives of the actual privy councilors.

The actual girls of the chambers have a rank with the wives of presidents from the college.

Gough ladies - with the wives of the raiders.

Gough girls - with the wives of colonels.

Master Gough and our crown princesses- with real stats ladies who were with Her Majesty the Empress.

The chamber maidens under the crown princesses follow the goff ladies under Her Majesty the empress.

The Gough maidens of the crown princesses follow the Gough maidens of Her Majesty the Empress.

11. All servants, Russian or foreign, who are, or actually were, of the first ranks, have their legitimate children and descendants in eternal times, the best senior nobility in all dignities and avantages are equally respected to be, even if they were of low breed, and before from The crowned heads were never promoted to the dignity of nobility or provided with a coat of arms.

12. When one of our high and low servants actually has two ranks, or has received a higher rank than the rank that he actually controls, then in all cases he has the rank of his highest rank. But when he sends his work at a lower rank, then he cannot then have his highest rank or title in that place, but according to that rank to which he actually sends.

13. Since the civil ranks were not previously disposed of, and for this reason, no one respects it, or it is very little for someone to earn his rank as a top nobleman in the proper order from below, but now the necessary need also requires the higher ranks: for the sake of taking whoever is suitable, even if she didn’t have any rank. But even then, this rank will be offensive to military people who have received it for many years, and through what cruel service, and will see without merit an equal or higher: for the sake of whoever is elevated to the rank in which he is elevated, then he will deserve the rank for years, like follows. What for the Senate, who will be granted what rank in the civil service out of order from below, will be given the names of their duties to the fiscal from now on, so that the fiscals can see that they carry out the ranks according to this decree. And so that henceforth, for vacancies, not to grab the side, but in order, as in the military ranks of a producer. For this reason, it is now necessary to have 6 or 7 members of the college of cadets, or less, in the state colleges. And if more necessary, then with a report.

14. It is necessary to produce noble children in colleges from below: namely, first in the college, cadets, if scientists, have been certified by the college, and have been represented in the Senate, and have received patents. And those who did not study, but for the sake of need and because of the impoverishment of scientists, were accepted first into the titular colleges of the Junkars, and to be them for those years without ranks, who have no ranks before the actual college of the Junkars.

The Karporal and Sergeants' Summers should be read to those who have studied and truly learned what college boards should do. Namely, as regards the right court, also external and internal trades to the profit of the Empire and economy, which must be evidenced by them.

Those who teach the above-mentioned sciences, those from the college, are sent to foreign lands several at a time, to practice that science.

And those who show noble services can receive higher ranks for their labors as a manufacturer, such as repairmen and in military service, whoever shows their service. But this can only be done in the Senate, and only with our signature.

15. Military ranks who rise to the rank of chief officer not from the nobles, then when someone receives the above-described rank, they are a nobleman, and his children, who were born in the military officers, and if there are no children at that time, but there were before, the father will be beaten, then nobility will be given to only one son for whom the father asks. Other ranks, both civil and courtiers, who are not of noble rank, their children are not nobles.

16. And yet it belongs to no one except us and other crowned heads who are granted noble dignity with a coat of arms and a seal, and on the contrary, it has repeatedly turned out that some call themselves nobles, but in reality are not nobles, while others willfully accepted the coat of arms whose ancestors they were not given to them by our ancestors, or by foreign crowned heads, and at the same time they sometimes take the courage to choose such a coat of arms, which the owning sovereigns and other noble families actually have. For this reason, we kindly remind those to whom this concerns us that everyone should beware of such an indecent act, and of the subsequent dishonor and fines in the future. It is announced to everyone that we have appointed a king of arms for this matter. And so everyone must come to him for this matter, and submit a report, and demand a decision, as it should: who has nobility, and coats of arms on it, so as to prove that they or their ancestors had it from what inheritance, or through our ancestors or ours by grace they are brought in this honor. If someone cannot really prove it soon, then they will be given a sentence of one and a half years. And then demand that he truly prove it. And if he does not prove it (and declares it for what reason), report it to the Senate; and in the Senate, having examined this, report to us.

If anyone asks for an additional payment for obvious services, then the person will ask for the services. And if any of these appear truly meritorious, report this to the Senate, and present it to us to the Senate. And those who have risen to the rank of officer, Russian or foreigner, both from the nobility and not from the nobility, are given coats of arms, depending on their merits. And those who, although they were not in military service and did not deserve anything, can prove that they are at least a hundred years old: and give such coats of arms.

In our service, foreigners who find themselves have either their diplomas or public certificates from the government of their fatherland to prove their nobility and coat of arms.

17. Also the following ranks, namely: presidents and vice-presidents in court courts, chief landrichters in residence, president in the magistrate in residence, chief commissars in colleges, governors, chief rentmeisters and landrichters in provinces and provinces, treasurers in the money business, directors over duties in the ports, chief economy kamsars in the provinces, chief kamsars in the provinces, assessors in court courts in the provinces, chamberlains at the colleges, ratmans in residence, postmasters, kamsars at the colleges, chamberlains in the provinces, zemstvo kamsars, assessors in provincial courts, Zemstvo rent masters should not be considered an eternal rank, but a rank, both those described above and similar ones: for they are not ranks: for this reason they should have a rank while they are actually engaged in their work. And when they change or leave, then they don’t have that rank.

18. Those who were dismissed for serious crimes, publicly punished in the square, or even though they were naked, or were tortured, they are deprived of their title and rank, unless they are from us for some service, back with our own hand and seal in their perfect honor erected, and this will be publicly announced.

Interpretation of the Tortured

In torture, it happens that many villains, out of malice, bring others: for the sake of which he was tortured in vain, he cannot be considered dishonest, but he must be given our letter with the circumstance of his innocence.

19. Because of this, the nobility and dignity of a person’s rank is often diminished when the attire and other actions do not match, just as on the contrary, many are ruined when they act in attire above their rank and property: for this reason, we kindly remind that everyone is he had an outfit, a crew, and a librey, as his rank and character required.

Accordingly, they must act and beware of the announced fine and greater punishment.

Given with the signature of our own hand, and our state seal at our residence.

Peter