Table of ranks before the 1917 revolution. The history of the creation of the table of ranks of the Russian Empire

report card legal rank historical

For the development of the civil service of the Russian Empire, a number of events were especially important, of which it is necessary to highlight the adoption of the “Table of Ranks” law brought from the West on January 24, 1722, which streamlined the hierarchy of positions, made civilian, military and court ranks comparable, and created a coherent system of service to the sovereign , as well as the Peace of Nishtat, according to which the Baltic (Baltic Sea) provinces became part of the Russian Empire, preserving their method of government, which marked the beginning of the formation of federalism in its modern Russian understanding.

The development of the civil service in Russia proceeded with the active use of foreign experience. Actually, in the Western image and likeness, “colleges” were formed, subsequently ministries, management levels and the responsibilities of officials were distributed.

A peculiarity of the organization of the civil service in a class society was that only nobles were accepted into its highest positions (with rare exceptions, which only emphasized this rule), and also, by order of the emperor, foreigners who in their careers reached the highest positions often concentrated in their hands enormous administrative power. There were especially many foreigners, Germans, first of all, in the court service, as well as in the army. Since the middle of the 19th century, more and more people from the German principalities have been occupying civil positions.

The Table of Ranks, published on January 24, 1722, was important in strengthening the legal status of the nobility and strengthening the dictatorship of the nobility. It contained a list of military ranks: naval, land, artillery, guards; as well as civil and courtiers (Appendix 1). The ranks established for different departments were divided into XIV classes. Service had to start from the lower ranks.

Even with the abolition of localism (1682), personal merit and suitability for service were given preference over breed and nobility of origin. Localism, however, lived in the concepts of society, and in practice it continued to be taken into account. But if before it contradicted the interests of the state, now, above all, it sharply diverged from the new view that Peter strenuously instilled in his subjects, namely: the right to first place and honor belongs to those who fulfill their primary duty - zealously serving the state. A decisive blow to localism was dealt by the Table of Ranks (1722, January 24). She created 14 classes - 14 different ranks in the naval, civil and court service, a new ladder of ascension according to merit. From then on, the line between employee and non-employee was defined even more sharply: nobility began to be achieved by length of service, and not by breed. A non-nobleman, having risen to the rank of officer and, therefore, becoming a hereditary nobleman, became superior to a service man who had not received the rank of officer. The new order had the good side that, having made seniority accessible to everyone, it renewed the noble class constantly with fresh forces and did not allow it to become isolated in a separate caste.

The equation according to the Table of Ranks of military service with civilian service led to some strengthening of the state apparatus with more capable personnel. The terms of service in a certain rank were established. Persons who rose to the ranks of the VIII class became hereditary nobles, while the ranks from the XIV to the IX classes gave only personal nobility. The opportunity was created for capable people from other classes to become nobles, which, of course, did not undermine the class noble basis of the state. As a rule, they received estates along with their ranks. In this way, the class of nobles was replenished, whose interests the new nobles defended in every possible way. Instead of the previous division into boyars, okolnichys, stolniks, etc. new things were introduced.

All leading positions in the state apparatus were occupied by nobles.

In the interests of the ruling class and strengthening the state apparatus, Peter I carried out a number of measures that met with opposition from a certain part of the nobility.

Thus, the decrees of Peter I required that nobles undergo military service, starting with the rank of soldier. Later, as is known, nobles circumvented this rule by enrolling their young children in the service. Those found guilty of evading service were severely punished. Periodically, reviews were held at which underage nobles were assigned to schools and enrolled in military and civilian service. They were sent abroad for training. Fines were imposed on parents for failure to educate their children. It was forbidden for a nobleman to marry without studying the principles of geometry, etc. The state had to resort to such measures in order to raise the general cultural level of the nobility.

It should be noted that Anna Ioanovna somewhat eased their situation by limiting their service to 25 years and attributing its beginning to the age of 20. She also allowed one of the sons or brothers in the noble family to stay at home and take care of the house.

Isaev I.A. notes that military ranks (there are 14 of them, as well as civilian ones) were preferable to civil and court ranks; The highest military rank of field marshal did not correspond to any civilian rank. Those who rose to the eighth rank were ranked among the hereditary nobility (“pillar”) with the right to pass the rank on to their children. The charter granted to the nobility in 1785 extended this right to personal nobles whose father and grandfather also had personal nobility.

To manage the affairs of the noble class under the Senate in 1722, the position of a herald master was established, who supervised the compilation of noble lists and the training of minor nobles.

According to the Table of Ranks, the title “nobility” was given to all ranks up to chief officer. The entire class was defined as “noble” in 1754 and finally approved in this title in 1762 (Manifesto).

Since 1797, a general code of noble coats of arms began to be compiled.

With the introduction of the Table of Ranks on January 24, 1722, the principle of priority of nobility and birth when occupying positions forever gave way to the principle of personal service, which led to a simplification of the vassalage system and the transformation of nobles into direct subjects of the monarch. The social structure of the upper class was now built not according to the genealogy of family surnames, but in accordance with the ranks and favor of the emperor, who abolished the boyar rank, began to elevate courtiers to princely dignity in his own name, introduced count and baronial titles, streamlined the use of family coats of arms, founded the first Russian Order of St. Andrew the First-Called and ordered “noble nobility to be counted according to suitability.” Rank, as the main indicator of the successful service and favor of the monarch, acquired extreme significance, subordinating to its influence all social spheres of a person’s existence, including even everyday life and private human relationships. The number of horses in the carriage, the liveries of the footmen, a place in the church, an invitation to a public assembly, the outfits of the wife and daughters of a serving nobleman, etc. - everything was determined by his bureaucratic status. The demand for “honor above one’s rank” became the subject of denunciation and was subject to a fine, which stimulated the subjects’ respect for bureaucratic subordination. At the same time, “ambition and vanity” in the struggle for ranks were encouraged in every possible way by promotions, awards, and titles. In conditions of low literacy even among the nobility, Peter I was forced to declare that obtaining an education was also a strict duty and at the same time a privilege of the Russian nobility. The nobility of the upper echelons of the bureaucracy and the army, a certain level of enlightenment, strengthened the social ambition of the upper class, which “is different from meanness for the sake of service.” At the same time, it was the Table of Ranks that gave people from the merchant class, commoners, and townspeople a chance to receive personal or even hereditary nobility, which also greatly increased the prestige of public service.

The meaning of compulsory service and at the same time the privileges of the nobility was associated with the fundamental values ​​of Russian historical consciousness, of which the central image was the monarch, personifying power, the state and its growing foreign policy power.

Murashev G.A. notes that a strict hierarchy was supposed to help strengthen discipline and subordination, on the one hand, and serve as an incentive to create conditions for advancement up the career ladder in accordance with abilities and merits to the Fatherland, on the other. Moreover, during the time of Peter I there was unprecedented democracy in matters of assigning the next title. Thus, the archives tell us that when discussing a candidate for the next military rank, out of two candidates the team chose the wrong one for whom the tsar spoke. Peter I was indignant and nevertheless awarded the title to the very person for whom the team spoke.

In the state, especially in the army, a certain number of high positions were established, and they could only be filled if there was a vacancy. Today, recalling an episode from the recent past, when the President, by one Decree, awarded 500 colonels the rank of generals, one can only shrug. Thousand-year history does not know anything like this. According to the Table of Ranks, military, civil and court ranks were divided into 14 classes. The highest was 1st class. Military ranks consisted of four categories: land, guards, artillery and naval. At the same time, the ranks in the guard were a class higher. For example, the rank of guard colonel was equivalent to the rank of general of infantry, artillery, and later cavalry.

The ranks of the civil service meant positions that were provided for in government institutions, as well as a few honorary titles that were not directly related to positions or specific responsibilities. In particular, we are talking about the titles of secret and actual secret councilor.

Each class was required to serve a certain minimum period of time. In the lower classes - 3-4 years. At the same time, for special merits, as well as in the presence of a vacancy, the service life could be shortened. Since there were always much fewer senior positions than lower ones, it was allowed, after the expiration of the term, to assign the next title with retention in the previous position. At all times and in all states, the concept of patronage existed, when an influential person helped a relative or good friend to take a higher position or sought to assign him another rank, be it in the army or in the civil service. However, during the times of Peter I and Catherine II, responsible bosses ensured that appointments and assignments were carried out fairly. On this occasion, on February 15, 1742, a law was even passed obliging “...promotion to ranks according to seniority and merit.” On January 13, 1753, this law was updated and confirmed. Apparently, the situation with the assignment of titles was not always normal, if in a decade and a half the law on justice was adopted twice. True, in both cases a reservation was made in the sense that persons who had exceptional services to the Fatherland could receive another rank, bypassing those who had served their term. This law, by the way, is still in effect today. And today, and this is fair, for military merits an officer can receive an extraordinary military rank or promotion. This is done, as in ancient times, at the “highest” discretion. Peter I was faced with the fact that with the introduction of reforms he was forced to appoint people to positions who did not have time to serve their term. But, when appointing to a high position, he nevertheless did not provide the benefits that a person who served the established term received.

Persons of non-noble origin promoted to class XIV received personal nobility; those promoted to class VIII received hereditary nobility.

Gradually, a title system developed. Thus, persons of classes IX-XIV were called “your honor”, ​​persons of classes VI-VIII - “your honor”, ​​persons of class V - “your honor”, ​​classes III-IV - “your excellency”, classes I-II - “your Your Excellency."

Rank in Russia, be it military, civil or spiritual, over time became the basis of success. Receiving the next rank allowed one to count on promotion and receiving an order. This especially became widely applicable under Paul I. The magazine “Russian Antiquity” for 1899 directly says that during the reign of Paul I “...everything depended on rank...”. It did not ask what a person could do or what he had already done. The main thing is what his rank is. What is the rank - such is the position in society. Moreover, if from service, meaning civilian, the boss could dismiss a subordinate without giving a reason, then the rank could only be selected by court.

Let's consider some of the norms enshrined in the Table of Ranks of 1722.

“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” (Article 2).

“The military ranks who rise to the rank of chief officer are not from the nobility; then when someone receives the above rank, it is the Nobleman and his children who will be born in the Chief Officership; and if at that time there are no children, but there were before, and the father beats him with his forehead, then the nobility should be given to those, only one son, for whom the father asks. Other ranks, both civil and courtiers, who are not from the Nobles in the Ranks, their children are not Nobles” (Article 15).

Thus, the Table of Ranks established a strict hierarchy of civil service ranks, which promoted discipline and organization.

Let us consider in more detail the civil, court, and military ranks.

The introduction of the “Table of Ranks” was a progressive measure, creating an incentive for officials to perform exemplary service and opening up the opportunity for promotion for people from unprivileged classes. In general, the “Table of Ranks” was of a class nature; it contributed to the strengthening of the feudal-serf system in Russia, and met the interests of the nobility and the emerging bourgeoisie in the country. The “Table of Ranks” reveals to us a system of not only ranks, but also titles. There is a difference between them. Chin comes from the word “repair” - to do. The title was awarded to members of the Emperor's Retinue. And although rank and title are close in themselves, they are still not the same thing, so let’s talk a little more about ranks and separately about titles. It should be noted that the “Table of Ranks” was not born out of nowhere. When Peter was abroad, he looked closely and studied the organization of troops, the peculiarities of the structure of units, the system of subordination of juniors to seniors. By 1672, some ranks had already been introduced in the Russian army for all branches of the military, namely: colonel, lieutenant colonel (assistant colonel), captain (company commander), lieutenant (mission officer, assistant captain), ensign (standard bearer, from the word "ensign" banner) and sub-ensign (assistant ensign, not an officer).

The rank of general in the Russian army was first awarded in 1667 to the commander of the Moscow elective regiment A.A. Shepelev. And in 1698, with the division of regiments into battalions, a new position and a new rank appeared - battalion commander, major. This rank was consolidated in 1711. Peter I already had an idea about ranks and their benefits in the army.

Let's move on to consider the court ranks enshrined in the Table of Ranks of 1722.

Court officials, both military and civilian, were divided into 14 classes. The most important advantage of court ranks was considered to be that their holders had the opportunity for constant and close communication with representatives of the royal family and often had friendly relations with them. They took part in all court ceremonies, they were given special elegant uniforms, and some ranks were also given special insignia. Thus, chief chamberlains and mergers received keys: the first of them were gold, studded with diamonds, which were worn on the side - “on the right side, on a gold cord”, the second were gold, worn on the Andreevsky blue lek, tied with a bow on the left side near the valve .

Let us consider the organization of civil ranks according to the Table of Ranks of 1722.

With the publication of the Table of Ranks on January 24, 1722, complications arose in the civil service. There were many positions, but there were few people who managed to serve the established terms by the time they were awarded the rank. In addition, it was believed that a civil service official should serve longer than a military official, which is fair. But what to do in a situation where, due to a significant expansion of the civil department, many officials were needed? And Peter I allowed the assignment of ranks to those who deserved them. And even for those who had no rank before. It was a real revolution, but Peter boldly went for it, realizing that otherwise the reforms would drag on for many years. He was aware that in this case, by hook or by crook, mediocre individuals could slip into high positions. But the time required a bold decision, and he made it. And I must say that basically the decision justified itself. Talented young leaders took up official positions and significantly advanced the entire state.

Naturally, the new matter did not stand still, and Peter, on May 7, 1724, made changes to the corresponding regulations on the civil service. Thus, he orders privy councilors to be promoted to class III, and class V to be promoted to rank. Empress Elizabeth, by Decree of June 23, 1745, legitimizes the ranks of collegiate councilor, court councilor, and collegiate assessor; transfers the rank of court councilor from class VI to class VII; confirms the sequence of service in each rank. On September 13, 1760, it was decided to assign regular ranks to those for whom there was no vacancy based on length of service. And it was wise. A civilian could remain in the same position for decades. To spend decades in the lowest rank until old age was simply indecent. But having received the next rank, the person calmed down and continued to work just as conscientiously in his previous position.

Before the Decree of Catherine II of December 16, 1790, in order to receive a rank, persons of non-noble origin were required to serve from 10 to 12 years. And only then, and even with certain merits, could a non-nobleman receive the rank of XIV class. Catherine allowed the conferment of rank after three years, and subsequently also every three years up to and including VIII class. VIII class, as stated earlier, gave the right to hereditary nobility. Under Paul I, high ranks were assigned at the discretion of the emperor. But, of course, still for special merits. Although let’s say frankly that special merits could have been eavesdropping, snooping, etc. But. own hand lord. I turn what I want. Under Paul I, and even under Catherine II, the Senate often intervened in the matter of assigning the next rank. When it was necessary to appoint a person to a higher position who had a rank two or three classes lower than the new position, the decision of the Senate assigned the corresponding rank. And it turned out that a person, having, for example, the rank of VIII class, received the rank of V class. Nevertheless, on June 2, 1808, this practice was put to an end. The Emperor saw in the decisions of the Senate an attack on his monarchical power. But in order not to completely block the promotion of talented leaders beyond the established deadlines, he allowed the submission of petitions for awarding ranks, again for special merits, at his discretion.

Over time, the question arose about the names of the ranks. Civil ranks were called Unterstättälter, Ekonomicaltälter, Regirungsrät, Ober-Directors and the like. These ranks resembled military ones. And the population willingly used them, because the authority of the army official was high at all times. Looking ahead, I will say that subsequently individual civil officials demanded to call themselves generals, although in the civil department they were listed as advisers. For example, an actual privy councilor, a privy councilor, an actual state councilor. This was especially true for those who transferred to the civil service from officers.

Yushkov S.V. notes that transformations within the nobility influenced changes in genealogy and the system of social etiquette. Genealogy before 1682 was based on localism. Instead of old titles (princes), new ones are introduced. Counts and barons were added to the illustrious princes and dukes. The system of social etiquette established by Peter I lasted in Russia until the end of 1917.

Thus, in the 1st quarter of the 18th century. The social support of absolutism was formed, which predetermined the irreversibility of Peter’s transformations. A single Russian nobility was formed - a privileged class, which differed qualitatively and quantitatively from the service people of the late 17th century. (after the death of Peter 1, there were over 100 thousand noble families). A professional officer corps and bureaucracy were formed.

Thus, the Table of Ranks of 1722 played an important role in the development of the state and law. It should be noted that the Table of Ranks established military, court and civil ranks and classes. Each rank and class had its own characteristics, which affected both the employee himself and his family. It should be noted that the legal status of the employee depended directly on the class and rank of the civil servant.

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.

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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 a detailed description of civilian ranks. 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 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. Unmarried girls held a rank one below 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 14th class, nobility was appointed, and in civilian service only with the rank 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.

Major historical significance 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 last names. 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 was made up of the names of 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 Report Card, the civil service became more transparent. It described the created Old Russian titles, which were no longer given in the future. This meant that the state was freed from the orders and structure of Moscow Rus' and took a new path of government.

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.

A legislative act in Russia in the 18th and 20th centuries that determined the procedure for performing public service. Published by Peter I in 1722. At the royal court and in civil government institutions until 1722 there were traditional Russian ranks (boyars, ... ... Political science. Dictionary.

List of ranks (in order of importance) of the military, civil and court departments. Established by decree (1722) of the Russian Emperor Peter 1 on the procedure for public service. Allegorically: a comparative assessment of merit in a certain area... ... Dictionary of popular words and expressions

List of ranks that are successively awarded to persons in public service, military or civil; The table of ranks initially established 14 classes of seniority, but over time some were destroyed. Full… … Dictionary of foreign words of the Russian language

A legislative act in Russia in the 18th and 20th centuries that determined the procedure for serving as officials. Published by Peter I in 1722. The Table of Ranks established 14 ranks (classes, class ranks, 1st highest) in three types: military (army and naval), ... ... Big Encyclopedic Dictionary

A legislative act in Russia in the 18th and 20th centuries that determined the procedure for serving as officials. Published by Peter I in 1722. Established 14 ranks (classes, class ranks, 1st highest) in three types: military (army and naval), civilian and... ... Legal Dictionary

Modern encyclopedia

TABLE, I, plural. and, to her and (colloquial) I, to her, m. and (obsolete) TABLE, and, w. Ozhegov's explanatory dictionary. S.I. Ozhegov, N.Yu. Shvedova. 1949 1992 … Ozhegov's Explanatory Dictionary

TABLE OF RANKS, a legislative act that determined the order of service for officials. Published by Peter I in 1722. Established 14 ranks (classes, class ranks, 1st highest) in three types: military (army and naval), civilian and court.... ... Russian history

Noun, number of synonyms: 2 hierarchy (7) system of subordination (1) Dictionary of synonyms ASIS. V.N. Trishin. 2013… Synonym dictionary

Table of ranks- in Russia in the 18th-1st half of the 19th century. a law that determined the procedure for serving as officials. Published on January 24, 1722 by the government of Peter I. Introduction T.o.r. was one of the most important reforms of Peter I, aimed at further strengthening the nobility... ... Encyclopedia of Law

Table of ranks- TABLE OF RANKS, in Russia a legislative act that determined the order of service for officials and military personnel. Published by Peter I in 1722. Established 14 ranks (1st highest) in three types: military (army and naval), civil and court... ... Illustrated Encyclopedic Dictionary

Books

• Table of ranks
• Table of ranks. With replenishment, which ranks are composed according to special personalized highest decrees and according to articles in excess of those stipulated in the Table of Ranks in the classes of ranks. Reproduced in the author's original spelling…

Every person is responsible to all people for all people and for everything.

Dostoevsky F.M.

The table of ranks was adopted by Peter 1 in January 1722. This document actually put an end to localism, streamlined the class hierarchy in Russia and allowed ordinary people to advance in their careers and receive “high” titles. For example, Menshikov, Apraksin, Tolstoy - all this is the new elite of the Peter the Great era.

The Table of Ranks introduced 14 ranks (ranks, levels) for military and civilian service in the Russian Empire. Initially, everyone (including nobles) had to begin service in a lower position, without privileges and rights. These were simple positions that did not provide privileges and were not reflected in the report card. In the future, based on their achievements and skills, everyone could rise to the 14th level, and after that gradually rise higher and higher, receiving a new rank. The timesheet itself is shown below.

Table 1: Table of ranks from 1722 to 1917

	Military ranks			Civil	Appeal
	Land	Marine	Guards
1	Field Marshal	Admiral General		Chancellor	Yours high- excellent management
2	General-in-Chief, generals from the military branches	Admiral		Actual Privy Councilor
3	Lieutenant General	Vice Admiral		Privy Councilor	Yours excellent management
4	Major General	Schoutbenacht (until 1740), Rear Admiral (after 1740)	Colonel	Actual State Councilor, Chief Prosecutor, Master of Arms
5	Brigadier	Captain Commander	Lieutenant colonel	State Councillor	Your Highness
6	Colonel	Captain 1st rank	Major	Collegiate Advisor	Yours highly nobility
7	Lieutenant colonel	Captain 2nd rank	Captain	Court Councilor
8	Major	Captain 3rd rank	Lieutenant Commander	Collegiate Assessor
9	Captain (cavalry) Captain, Esaul (among the Cossacks)	Lieutenant Commander (until 1884), Lieutenant (after 1884)	Lieutenant	Titular Councilor	Yours nobility
10	Staff Captain, Staff captain (cavalry)	Lieutenant (until 1885), Midshipman (after 1885)	Non-Commissioned Lieutenant	Collegiate Secretary
11		Ship's Secretary		Ship's Secretary
12	Lieutenant (cavalry) Lieutenant (infantry)	Non-commissioned lieutenant (until 1732), Midshipman (1796-1885)	Fendrick	Provincial Secretary
13	Second Lieutenant	Midshipman (1732-1796)		Provincial Secretary
14	Fendrick (until 1731), Cornet (cavalry) Ensign (infantry)			Collegiate Registrar

All types of services were divided into 2 categories:

1. Military service. Included land, sea and guards corps. Everyone began to serve with the rank of private, and it was possible to receive a junior rank (14th rank) no earlier than after 15 years. All military ranks were given the right to an inherited estate.
2. Civil service. Only officials from the 8th rank (collegiate assessor) and above received the right to inherited estate. The lower ranks received the estate, but could not pass it on by inheritance.

These conditions were valid until 1856. After this, new rules were introduced regarding the acquisition of nobility. Personal nobility was received from the 12th rank (Lieutenant), and hereditary nobility from the 6th rank (Colonel). In the civil service, the right to personal nobility was given by rank 9 (Titular Councilor), and hereditary - by rank 4 (Actual State Councilor).

Features of the Report Card

Under Peter, the following formula was in effect: every educated person is obliged to serve, and any educated person can serve. Since the era of Peter the Great, career advancement has been based on knowledge and skills, and not on the basis of origin. A soldier could become an officer, an ordinary citizen could become a high-ranking official. Everything depended on skills. But there is an important limitation - the table of ranks did not apply to serfs.

We talk about the Table of Contents that it gave way to educated people, but what was education in the 16th and 17th centuries? There were big problems with her, especially among the nobles. As a result, Peter 1 formulated the minimum that all nobles had to know: 4 operations of arithmetic, be able to read and write, understand a foreign language. And even with such demands the nobles had big problems. They did not want to study, so Peter introduced a system of examinations (often the king personally took them), where the knowledge of the nobles was tested, and their suitability for a certain service and place in the Report Card was checked.

The table of ranks is an attempt to systematize the public service, giving all gifted people the opportunity to prove themselves. This system had its pros and cons, but the system worked. As an example of how old noble families bypassed the Report Card, I can give the example of military service. Nobles served in the army. The service was lifelong, but after 1722 everyone started as a simple soldier and only after 15 years could they move to an officer position. Noble people then began to enroll their children in the guard immediately after birth. As a result, when the child turned 15 years old and went to the army, he already had an officer position, although he had not spent a day in the army. But this is rather an exception, since there were not many who did this. On the whole, the system worked.

On January 24 (February 2), 1722, Peter I approved the Law on the procedure for civil service in the Russian Empire, that is, ranks by seniority and the sequence of ranks. The “Table of Ranks” introduced a new classification of serving people: the place of the aristocratic hierarchy, breed and pedigree books was taken by the bureaucratic hierarchy, merit and length of service. In one of the articles attached to the report card, it was explained that the nobility of the family in itself, without service, means nothing: people of noble birth are not given any position until they show merit to the sovereign and the fatherland and for these “honors and ranks” will receive. The most important thing is that Peter’s “Table”, defining a place in the hierarchy of the civil service, gave the opportunity to advance to talented people from the lower classes: “So that they would be willing to apply for service and honor them, and not impudent and parasites would receive.” The “report card,” in addition to the table itself, had 19 more points of explanatory text, including fines for violating it.

The preparation of this law (“Table of Ranks”) began back in 1719 and was a natural continuation of the reforms, as a result of which the number of positions in the army and state apparatus increased. The “Table” was based on similar acts that already existed in Western European countries (France, Sweden and, especially, Denmark and Prussia). When developing the law, the ranks that already existed in Russia were also taken into account. Having corrected the draft draft with his own hand and signed it, the Tsar submitted it for consideration by the Senate, Military and Admiralty Collegiums. Despite the fact that the boards made a number of comments about the placement of ranks by rank and salary, the introduction of ancient Russian ranks into the table and the elimination of the clause on fines for occupying a place in the church above one’s rank, all these comments were left without consideration. Although with the introduction of the “Table of Ranks” the ancient Russian ranks (boyars, okolnichy, etc.) were not abolished, the granting of these ranks ceased.

All newly established positions were arranged according to the table in three rows: military, civilian and court, with each divided into 14 ranks (classes): 6 chief officer ranks (from ensign to captain in the army and from collegiate registrar to titular councilor in the civil service ); 5 staff officers (from major to brigadier and from collegiate assessor to state councilor, respectively); 3 generals (from major general to field marshal and from actual state councilor to actual privy councilor). A similar ladder with 14 levels of ranks was introduced in the navy and for court service.

It is interesting that the law did not explain in any way the concept of “rank” itself, due to which some historians considered the latter only in the system of rank production, others - as one or another position (Petrine’s “Table of Ranks” numbered 263 positions). Most likely, the “Table” included both concepts. But positions were gradually excluded from it at the end of the 18th century. disappear completely. The names of a number of civil positions became civil ranks, regardless of the responsibilities of their holders. For example, the titles of the ranks “collegiate secretary”, “collegiate assessor”, “collegiate councilor” and “state councilor” initially meant the positions of secretary of the collegium, member of the collegium council with an advisory and casting vote, and president of the “state” collegium. The rank of court councilor, which meant the chairman of the court court, did not disappear with the abolition of court courts in 1726.

Despite the principle of bureaucratic seniority, the comments to the Table provided for an exception to the rule: the princes of the imperial blood had in all cases the presidency over the other princes and “high servants.” According to the Table, military ranks were declared superior to their corresponding civilian and even courtiers. Only later did they lose the right of seniority in the 1st and 2nd grades. Such seniority gave advantages to military ranks in the main thing - the transition to the upper nobility. Already the 14th class of the “Table” (Fendrik, ensign from 1730) gave the right to hereditary nobility. Whereas in the civil service, hereditary nobility was acquired by the rank of 8th class (collegiate assessor).

The rank of collegiate registrar (14th grade) gave the right only to personal nobility. In this regard, the relatively low rank that the president of the “state” college was entitled to is indicative. However, Peter, under the influence of Osterman and for reasons of diplomatic prestige, equated the rank of chancellor as the head of the diplomatic department to first class.

As for the guards regiments, here the senior rank was the 4th - colonel, and the junior (12th) - fendrik. That is, the ranks in the guard were initially two ranks ahead of the army. In addition to the seniority of ranks, there was a seniority among holders of the same rank based on the time of award to it.

Due to the fact that the service opened up access to the nobility to wide sections of the population, the genealogical composition of the class changed. Although the hereditary title of nobility extended only to children born after the father received the rank. In another case, a nobleman could ask for the grant of nobility to one of the children born before receiving the corresponding rank.

A statutory address was also developed according to the class: Your Excellency for grades 1 and 2, Your Excellency for grades 3 and 4, Your Excellency for grades 5, Your Excellency for grades 6-8, Your Excellency for grades 9-14. Each must have a crew and livery appropriate to his rank. Married wives were considered equal in rank to their husbands, while girls were considered several ranks lower than their fathers. For demanding honors and places above rank at public celebrations and official meetings, a fine equal to two months' salary of the person being fined was imposed. At the same time, a third went to the benefit of the informer, and the rest - for the maintenance of hospitals. Public punishment in the square and torture entailed the loss of rank, which could be returned only for special merits publicly announced by personal decree.

The legislation of Peter the Great's time was characterized by the desire to form a noble bureaucracy and to deny access to the upper layers of the bureaucracy to people from unprivileged classes. It was these tasks that were met by the new principles of organizing the civil service, enshrined in the decrees of 1720-1722. and, among other things, in the “Table of Ranks”. First of all, for the nobles, civil service was recognized as compulsory as military service, which was unpleasant news for them. In 1722, nobles were summoned to the capital for a review to staff new institutions. For refusal to serve, nobles were deprived of their estates.

To train experienced officials at collegiums and other institutions, the position of a cadet collegium was introduced. That is, the nobles were required to go through all levels of the civil service, starting from the 14th grade of the Table. As the “General Regulations” stated: “... other than this path, no one can be promoted to the highest degree and to the ministerial rank.” While the lowest level of civil administration (clerical positions) were transferred beyond the boundaries of the nobility class. With a well-functioning system of training officials from the cadet college, the possibility of clerical employees receiving nobility was reduced to a minimum.

But given the rejection of the order service by the nobles and the constant lack of orders, class restrictions on entry into the civil service were no longer in effect under Peter I. Because of this, the system of organizing the civil service, aimed at creating a noble bureaucracy, in practice turned out to be ineffective, despite all the government measures, in including forced ones. For example, in 1724, 100 people were selected from the noble children who studied at the Academy of Sciences to join the college. Already the decree of January 31, 1724 “On the non-promotion of secretaries to those who are not nobles” violated the monopoly of the nobles on secretarial positions, allowing the Senate to promote as secretaries those clerks “who show a noble deed”, rewarding them with the nobility. However, this should not be considered as a retreat of the emperor from the principles of public administration reform. This decree can be regarded as a concession to the non-noble strata of the bureaucracy to encourage its most experienced and worthy representatives. Another thing is that the law turned out to be a time bomb embedded in the foundation of the civil service.

Public administration reforms under Peter I ensured, instead of the traditional organization, the creation in Russia of bureaucratic higher, central and local bodies based on the principles of rationalism, uniformity of organizational structure and office work. The political elite in Russia received a dichotomous structure characteristic of the mobilization type of development - the supreme power and the ruling class. A layer of people was formed who were permanently in the public service, as well as the administrative elite of Russia, which included the first four (“general”) classes and, with some reservations, the top of the staff officer ranks of the 5th and 6th classes.

However, Peter’s “Table of Ranks” was constantly changing for almost two centuries. We have already said that the ranks that meant positions received the independent meaning of honorary titles. For promotion to some ranks, shortened deadlines were established for nobles. The ranks that gave the right of hereditary nobility were raised. And in 1917, the “Table of Ranks” was abolished.

Table of ranks of all ranks, Military, Civil and Court, which are in which rank; and who are in the same class, they have the seniority of the time of entry into rank among themselves, however, Military ones are higher than others,
even if someone in that class was older.

Class.	Military.				Civil.	Courtiers.
	Overland.	Guard.	Artille- Riyan.	Marine.
1.	General Feld Marshal.			General Admiral	Chancellor
2.	Generals of the Cavalry and Infantry, Stadtholder.		General Felzeig-meister.	Admirals of other flags.	Actual Privy Councillors.	Chief Marshal.
3.	General-Lieutenants, Knights of St. Andrew, General-Kriegs-Commissar.		General Ley Tenant.	Vice Admirals, General Kriegs-Commissar.	Prosecutor General.	Ober-Stalmeister.
4.	Major Generals.	Colonel.	Major General, Major General from the fortification.	Schautbe-nakhty, Ober-Zeig-meister.	Presidents from the Collegiums and State Offices. Privy Advisors. Chief Prosecutor.	Chief Chamberlain, Chief Chamberlain.
5.	Brigadiers Oberster-Kriegs-Kommissar. General-Provision-Meister.	Lieutenant colonels.	Colonels from the artillery.	Captains Commanders, Captain over the port of Kronshlotsky, Ober-Sarvaer from the ship's structure, Quartermaster, Zeig-meister, Ober-Ster-Kriegs-Commissar.	Herald-Maester, General Rocket-Maester. Chief Master of Ceremonies. Ober-Wald-meister or high overseer of forests. Vice-Presidents from the Collegiums. General-Police Master. Director of buildings. Postal Director General. Archiater.	Chamberlain. Ober-Gof-Stalmeister. Secret Cabinet Secretary. Chief Chamberlain to Her Majesty the Empress. Ober-Schenk.
6.	Colonels Treasurers. Chief Provision Master. Chief Commissar. Generals Adjutants. Prosecutor. Generals, Quartermasters, Lieutenants.	Majors.	Lieutenant colonels from the artillery. Colonels Engineers. Chief Commissar.	Captains of the first rank. Captains under other ports. Ship's sarvaer. Prosecutor. Quartermaster of a particular shipyard in St. Petersburg. Treasurer. Chief Provision Master. Chief Commissar.	Prosecutors in State Collegiums. Presidents in the Courts of Justice. Offices of Privy Councilors in the Foreign Collegium. Chief Secretary of the Senate. States-Commissar. Chief Rentmeister in the Residence. Advisors in the Collegiums.	Ringmaster. Actual Chamberlains. Marshal. Ober-Jägermeister. First Life-Medicus.
7.	Lieutenant Colonels, General Auditors. General Provision Masters Lieutenants. Generals Wagenmeisters. Generals Geval-diger. Generals Adjutants to General Field Marshal. Controller.	Captains.	Majors. Lieutenant Colonels Engineers Chief Controller.	Captains of the second rank. Controller.	Vice-Presidents in the Courts of Justice. Military, Admiralty, Foreign Collegiums Chief Secretaries. Executor of the Senate. Ober-Fiscal State. Prosecutors at the Courts of Justice. Master of Ceremonies.	Chamberlain Master to Her Majesty the Empress. Life Medicus under Her Majesty the Empress.
8.	Majors. Generals Adjutants to the full generals. Generals Auditors Lieutenants. Ober-Kvar-termistr. Ober-Fiscal. Tsalmeister.	Captain. Leite-nantes.	Major. Engineer. Captains. Stahl-meister. Ober Zeig Warter. Controller.	Captains of the third rank, Shipmasters of the Tsalmeister-Ober Fiscal.	Unter-Stattholder in the Residence. Savings-Galter. Regirungs-Rats in the Provinces. Chief Director of duties and excises in the Residence. Ober-Landrichter at the Residence. The President is in the Magistrate's Residence. Chief Commissars in the Collegiums. Assessors in the Boards. Chief Provision Master at the Residence. Chief Secretaries in other Boards. Secretaries in the Senate. Ober-Berg-meister. Ober-Wardein. Ober-Mintz-meister. Court Advisor. Forest warden. Voivodes.	Titular Chamberlains. Gough Rallymaster. Court Quartermaster.
9.	Captains. Wing Adjutants under the Field Marshal General, and under the Full Generals. Adjutants to Lieutenant Generals. Ober-Proviant-Meister. General-Staff-Quarter-Mr. Ober Auditors. Field Postmasters. Generals of Profos.	Leite-nantes.	Captains. Leite-nantes. Captains Engineers. Chief Auditor. Quartermaster. Commissars at the gunpowder and saltpeter factories.	Captains. Leite-nantes. Gallery masters.	Titular Advisor. Two military, Foreign Collegiums Secretaries. Ober-Rent-Meister in the Provinces. Police Master at the Residence. Burgo-masters from the Magistrate, to be at the Residence without fail. Landrichters in the Provinces. Professors at the Academies. Doctors of all faculties that are found in the service. Archivists at both State Archives. Translator and Recorder of the Senate. Treasurer of the coin business. Assessors in the Courts of Justice in the Residence. Directors over duties in ports.	Court Jägermeister. Court Master of Ceremonies. Ober Kitchen Master. Kamer-Junkers.
10.	Captains Lieutenants.	Unter Leyte Nantes.	Leite-nantes. Captains Lieutenant Engineers. Auditor. Zeig warters. Ober-Wagen-meister. Captain over masterful people.	Leite-nantes.	Secretaries of other Boards. Burgo-masters from the Magistrate in the Provinces. Translators of the Military, Admiralty, Foreign. Proto-colists of the same Colleges. Ober-Economy Commissars in the Provinces. Chief Commissars in the Provinces. Assessors in the Courts of Justice in the Provinces, Ober-Zegentner. Berg-Meister. Ober Berg-Probier.
11.				Ship's secretaries.
12.	Lieutenants.	Fendry-ki.	Unter Leyte Nantes. Lieutenant Engineers. Furleit Lieutenants. Vagen-meisters.	Non-Commissioned Lieutenant. Shchipors of the first rank.	Secretaries in Courts and Chancelleries and Provinces. Chamberlain at the Collegiums. Ratmans in the Residence. Mints-meister. Forsht-meister. Giten-ferwalter. Mark shader.	Gough-Junkers. Court Doctor.
13.	Non-Commissioned Lieutenants. Wing Adjutants to Major Generals.		Bayonet junkers. Non-Commissioned Lieutenant Engineers.		Secretaries in the provinces. Mechanicus. Postmasters in St. Petersburg and Riga. Collegiate: Translators, Protocol sheets. Sentaskie: Actuary, Registrar.
14.	Fendricks. Wing Adjutants to the Lieutenant Generals and the Brigadiers of the Furier Headquarters.		Engineering Fendricks.	Ship commissars. Shchipors of the second rank. Konstapeli.	Commissars at the Collegiums. Fiscals under the Courts and Provinces. Cameras in the Provinces. Zemstvo Commissars. Assessors in Provincial Courts. Archivist, Actuary. Registrar and Accountants at the Boards. Zemstvo Rent Masters. Postmasters, in Moscow and in other noble cities where there are governors. College Junkers.	Courtmaster, Chamberlain of Pages. Gough Secretary. Nadvorny Librarian. Antiquarian. Nadvorny Kamerir. Court Auditor. Nadvorny Apartment Master. Outside Pharmacist. Shlos. Focht. Court Zeigmeister Office Couriers. Mundshank. Kitchen-meister. Keller-meister. Exercition Master. Nadvirny-barbir.

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 and 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 declarant is entitled to receive a third share, and the rest is to be used in the hospital. But this inspection 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 during the audience of ambassadors, ceremonial tables, at official congresses, at marriages , at 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 monitor, so that they are willing to serve, and they receive honor, and not impudents and parasites; The above-mentioned fine is necessary for both male and female sexes for crimes.

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 a rank based on the character that he received in other people’s services until we have confirmed that character to him, which confirmation We, according to the state of his merits, will willingly bestow.

6. Without a patent, abshid does not give rank to anyone, unless this abshid is given by Our hand.

7. All married wives act in ranks, according to the ranks of their husbands, and when they act contrary to this, then 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 most noble Nobility, and also servants of the most noble rank, although We allow for their noble race, or their fathers, noble ranks in the public assembly where the Court is located, free access over others of the lower rank, and willingly We want to see them distinguished from others in every case in dignity; however, 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, have a rank above all the wives who are in the 5th rank, namely, below Major General, and above Brigadier; and girls whose fathers are in the 2nd rank, over 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 so on, contrary to how the ranks follow.

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

Chief Chamberlain of Her Majesty the Empress, has rank above all Ladies.

The Acting Ladies of State of Her Majesty the Empress follow the wives of the Acting Privy Councillors.

Actual Maids of the Chamber have rank with the wives of the Presidents of the Collegiums.

Gough Ladies, with the wives of the Brigadiers.

Gough-Maids, with the wives of the Colonels.

The Chamberlain and Our Crown Princes, with the Real Ladies of State, who are with Her Majesty the Empress.

The Chamber Maidens under the Tsesarevnas follow the Gough Ladies under Her Majesty the Empress.

The Gough Maidens of the Tsesarevna Empresses follow the Gough Maidens of Her Majesty the Empress.

11. All servants, Russian or foreign, who are in the first 8 ranks, or indeed were: they have 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 they 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 more, 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 in that place he cannot have his highest rank or title, but according to that rank to which he actually sends.

13. Since the civil ranks had not previously been disposed of, and for this reason no one, or it is very little, should be honored by anyone from the bottom to earn his rank from the top of the Nobles; and now the necessary need also requires higher ranks: for the sake of taking those who are suitable, even if they have not had any rank. But even though this rank will be offensive to military people who have received it for many years, and through such cruel service, they will see, without merit, their equal or higher: for the sake of the one who will be elevated to the rank, then he will deserve the rank for years, like follows. What for from the Senate, who will be granted what rank in the civil service out of order from the bottom, for the present need, from when onwards should their names be given to the Ober-Fiscal, so that the Fiscals can see that they carry out the ranks according to this decree. And so that from now on there will not be enough for vacancies, but in the order in which military ranks are promoted: for this reason, it is now necessary to have 6 or 7 people in the State Colleges of the College of Junkers, or less; and if more necessary, then from the report.

14. Noble children in the Colleges must be produced from below. Namely: first in the Collegium, the Junkers, if scientists, were certified by the Collegium, represented in the Senate, and received patents; and those who did not study, but for the sake of need and because of the impoverishment of scientists, were accepted: those were the first to be written to the Titular Collegium of Junkers, and to be there for those years without ranks, who have no ranks until the actual Collegium of Junkers.

		Years.	Months.
Against	Corporal	1
— —	Sergeant	1
— —	Fendrika	1	6
— —	Lieutenant	2
— —	Captain	2
— —	Major	2
— —	Lieutenant Colonel	2
— —	Colonels	3	6

The corporal's and sergeant's years should be read to those who have studied and truly learned what the Collegiate 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 are trained in 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 be promoted to higher ranks for their labors, just as it is done in military service, whoever shows their service, but this can only be done in the Senate, and then with Our signature.

15. Military ranks who rise to the rank of Chief Officer not from the Nobles; then when someone receives the above rank, it is the Nobleman and his children who will be born in the Chief Officership; and if at that time there are no children, but there were before, and the father beats him with his forehead, then the Nobility will be given to those, only one son, for whom the father asks. Other ranks, both civil and courtiers, who are not from the Nobles in the Ranks, their children are not Nobles.

16. And yet it belongs to no one except Us and the other Crowned Heads, who is granted the 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 are not truly Nobles, while others arbitrarily accepted the coat of arms, whose ancestors they did not have them, lower from Our ancestors, or from foreign Crowned Heads given to them, and at the same time they take the courage, sometimes to choose such a coat of arms, which the owning Sovereigns and other noble families actually have; For this reason, We mercifully remind those to whom this concerns us that everyone should henceforth beware of such an indecent act, and of the subsequent dishonor and fines. It is announced to everyone that We have appointed a Master 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 be: who has the 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 this quickly, 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 authentically) to 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 inquire about that service, and if those who are truly deserving appear from among them, report this to the Senate, and present it to Us to the Senate. And those who have risen to the rank of Chief Officer, Russian or foreigner, both from the Nobility and not from the Nobility: those 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 the Courts of Justice, Chief Landrichters in the Residence, President in the Magistrate in the Residence, Chief Commissars in the Colleges, Governors, Chief Rentmeisters, and Landrichters in the Governorates and Provinces, Treasurers in the Monetary Affairs, Directors of Duties in the Ports, Chief Economy Commissars in the Provinces, Chief Commissars in the Provinces, Assessors in the Courts in the Provinces, Chamberlains at the Collegiums, Ratmans in the Residence, Postmasters, Commissars at the Collegiums, Chamberlains in the Provinces , Zemstvo Commissars, Assessors in Provincial Courts, Zemstvo Rentmeisters, should not be honored as an eternal rank, but as 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 in their business . 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 only naked, or were tortured, they are deprived of their title and rank, unless they are from Us for some service and under Our own hand and seal in perfect honor of them erected; and this will be publicly announced.

Interpretation about 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 many are ruined when they act in attire above their rank and property: for this reason We graciously remind that everyone he had an outfit, crew, and livery, as his rank and character required. Accordingly, everyone should act and beware of the announced fine and greater punishment.

Anisimov E.V. State transformations and autocracy of Peter the Great in the first quarter of the 18th century. M., 1997.

Volkov S.V. The system of officer ranks in the Russian army // Volkov S.V. Russian officer corps. M.: Military Publishing House, 1993. pp. 38-49.

Pavlenko N.I. Peter the Great. M.: Mysl, 1990. 591 p.

Pisarkova L.F. From Peter I to Nicholas I: government policy in the field of formation of bureaucracy // Domestic history. 1996. No. 4. P. 29-43.

Shepelev L.V. The official world of Russia: XVIII - early XX centuries. St. Petersburg: Art-SPb., 1999. 479 p.

What are the main ranks according to the Table of Ranks?

Did the Report Card provide for exceptions to the seniority principle?

Why was the institution of chamber cadets introduced?

In connection with what events was the Table of Ranks abolished?

What were the differences in obtaining hereditary and personal nobility under Peter I?