Replaced the aristocratic hierarchy of the 16th and 17th centuries, based on genealogical books, with a bureaucratic hierarchy. Its adoption separated military service from civil and court service in the Russian Empire, and also determined the hierarchy of ranks in the army, navy and civil administration, the order of their relationship with each other and their receipt in the public service system.
Preparation of the act began in 1719; it became a continuation of the reform activities of Peter I. The law was based on the “schedules of ranks” of France, Sweden, Denmark, Prussia and the Venetian Republic. An innovation for Russia was the introduction of civil and court ranks, although the ranks that existed in the 17th century were also taken into account. in the Boyar Duma and orders (boyars, okolnichy, Duma nobles, Duma clerks). Some military ranks of the Western European type that arose in the second half were taken into account. 17th century in the “regiments of the new system.”
The highest rank of the report card was 1st, the lowest was 14th. She looked like this:
I - Chancellor (in military service he corresponded to the rank of “Field Marshal General”, in naval service - “Admiral General”),
II - actual privy councilor (general-of-cavalry, general-of-infantry, general-of-artillery; in the naval - admiral),
III - Privy Councilor (lieutenant general; in the navy - vice admiral),
IV – actual state councilor (major general; in the naval – rear admiral),
V - state councilor,
VI – collegiate adviser (colonel; captain of the first rank),
VII – court adviser (lieutenant colonel, captain of the second rank),
VIII – collegiate assessor (captain and captain),
IX – titular adviser (staff captain and staff captain; lieutenant),
X – collegiate secretary (lieutenant; midshipman),
XII – provincial secretary (second lieutenant and cornet),
XIV – collegiate registrar.
The report card, which came into force in 1722, determining a person’s place in the civil service, provided some opportunity for talented people from the lower classes to advance. In its text this was specifically stated: “... so that those who want to be given to the service and receive honor, and not get impudent and parasites.” Persons of non-noble origin, after entering the 14th class, received personal, and after entering the 8th class (for the military - already in the 14th) - hereditary nobility. A special law on December 9, 1856 made new additions to the report card, defining ways to obtain hereditary nobility only from the 4th grade (for the military from the 6th grade), and personal nobility from the 9th grade.
Ranks, although this was not specifically stated, were given only to men. Married wives entered “in rank according to the ranks of their husbands”; those who were unmarried were considered several ranks below their fathers. A rule was introduced according to which, for demanding honors and places above one’s rank at public celebrations and official meetings, a fine was imposed equal to two months’ salary of the person being fined (2/3 of the fine money was supposed to go to the informer). The same fine applies for giving up your seat to a person of lower rank. The crew, livery and lifestyle in general - everything had to correspond to the rank.
Initially, in addition to the ranks themselves, the report card included many different positions (over 260). For example, among the civil ranks in the 3rd class there was a prosecutor general, in the 4th class there were presidents of colleges, in the 5th class there were vice-presidents of colleges, in the 6th class there were presidents in court courts, etc. “Professors at the Academies” and “doctors of all faculties who are in the service” were also listed on the report card - in the 9th grade. However, at the end of the 18th century. all these positions were excluded from the table or turned into ranks (primarily court ranks).
The classification of individual ranks was changed. So, at the beginning of the 19th century. the ranks of the 11th and 13th grades ceased to be used and merged with the ranks of the 12th and 14th grades, respectively. Professors of universities, institutes, members of the Academy of Sciences and the Academy of Arts received the corresponding ranks, as did persons who simply graduated from universities and other higher educational institutions (upon entering the service, they received ranks no lower than 12 and no higher than 8th grade).
Registration of officials by seniority on a report card from the early 18th century. entrusted the heraldry office of the Senate, which regularly published lists of persons holding class ranks. From the middle of the 19th century. lists of persons holding civil ranks of the first four classes also began to be systematically published.
The introduction of the report card in 1722 meant the emergence of a new system of titles in Russia - addressing persons with ranks. At first there were three such legalized appeals - Your Excellency(for ranks of the upper classes), Your Excellency(for senators - during Peter’s lifetime) and your honor(for other ranks and nobles). By the end of the century there were 5 such titles (bearers of the 1st and 2nd classes were addressed as “Your Excellency”, those of the 3rd and 4th – “Excellency”, the 5th – “Highness”, 6–8th – “high nobility”, 9–14th - “nobility”), a whole system of addresses and oral names appeared.
With various additions and changes, the table existed until the October events of 1917 and was abolished by the decrees of the Soviet government on November 10 (23) and December 16 (29), 1917 on the destruction of civil, military and court ranks, estates and titles of pre-revolutionary Russia.
Publications: List of ranks in the civil service. St. Petersburg, 1801–1841; List of civil ranks of the first four classes, St. Petersburg, 1842–1916
Lev Pushkarev, Natalya Pushkareva
APPLICATION
MILITARY, CIVIL AND COURTIER, WHO ARE IN WHICH CLASS OF RUN; AND WHICH ARE IN THE SAME CLASS, THEY HAVE SENIORITY IN THE TIME OF ACCESSION TO THE RANGE BETWEEN THEM, HOWEVER THE MILITARY PEOPLE ARE HIGHER THAN OTHERS, ALTHOUGH THE OLDER WHO WAS GREATED IN THAT CLASS
| Classes |
Military |
Statskiya |
Courtiers |
|||
| Land | Guard | Artillery | Marine | |||
| 1: | General Felt Marshal | General Admiral | Chancellor | |||
| 2: | Generals of Cavalry and Infantry, Galter Staff | General Felzeich Meister | Admirals of other flags | Actual Privy Councilors | Chief Marshal | |
| 3: | Lieutenant Generals, Knights [of the Order] St. Andrew [the First-Called], General Crix Commissar |
Lieutenant General | Vice Admirals, General Crix Commissar | Attorney General | Ober became maester | |
| 4: | Major generals | Colonel | General mayor, general mayor from fortification | Schoutbenachty, Chief Zeich Meister | President of the colleges and state cantors, privy councilors, chief prosecutor | Chief Chamberlain, Chief Chamberlain |
| 5: | Bregadiers Ober Stör Kriks Komissar, General Praviant Meister |
Lieutenant Colonels | Lieutenant Colonels of the Artillery | Captains commanders, captain over the port of Kronshlotsky, chief sarvaer from the structure of the ship's quartermaster, chief master of the army, chief stehrer kriks commissar | Herald Maester, General Reten Meister, Chief Ceremony Maester or High Overseer of the Forests, Vice-Presidents of the Colleges, General of the Police Maester, Director of Buildings, General Post-Director, Archiater | Chamberlain, Chief Chamberlain became Meister, Secret Cabinet Secretary, Chief Chamberlain Master under Her Majesty the Empress, Chief Schenck |
| 6: | Colonels, treasurers, chief minister, chief commissar, adjutant generals, prosecutor, quarter generals, lieutenant masters | Maeors | Artillery lieutenant colonels, engineer colonels, chief commissar | Captains of the first rank captains over other ports, ship's sarvaer, prosecutor, quartermaster of the private shipyard in Piterburgh, treasurers, chief praviant meister, chief kamsar |
Prosecutors in civil colleges, presidents in court courts, secret councilors of the Foreign Collegium, chief secretary of the Senate, state kamsar, chief rent master in residence, advisers in colleges | Stahl Meister, Acting Chamberlains, Gough Marshal, Ober Jaeger Meister, First Life Medicus |
| 7: | Lieutenant Colonels, General Auditors, Generals Praviant Meisters, Lieutenants, Generals Vagen Meisters, Generals Gewaldigers, Generals Adjutants to General Felt Marshal, Controller | Captains | Maeors, lieutenant colonels engineers, chief controller | Captains of the second rank, controller | Vice-presidents in the courts; Military, Admiralty, Foreign Collegiums, chief secretaries; executor at the Senate, chief fiscal of the state, prosecutors at court courts, ceremonial master | Gough Meister to Her Majesty the Empress, Life Medicus to Her Majesty the Empress |
| 8: | Maeors, adjutant generals to full generals, auditor generals, lieutenants, chief quartermaster, chief fiscal, tsal meister | Captains lieutenants | Maeor Engineer, Captains, Stahl Meister, Chief Zeichwarter, Controller | Captains of the third rank, ship masters, tsal meister, chief fiscal | Under stat galter in residence, economy galter, regiruns rata in the provinces, chief director of duties and excises in residence, chief lantrichters in residence, president in the magistrate in residence, chief commissars in the boards, assessors in the colleges, chief praviant meister in residence, chief secretaries in other boards, secretaries in the Senate, chief berg meister, chief Waldein, chief mintz meister, court councilor, forest warden, governors | Titular chamberlains, gof steelmaster, court quartermaster |
| 9: | Captains, wing adjutants to the Felt Marshal General and to the full generals, adjutants to the lieutenant generals, Chief Praviant Meister, Quartermaster General, Chief Auditors, field postmasters, trade generals | Lieutenants | Lieutenant captains, engineer captains, chief auditor, quartermaster, kamsars at gunpowder and saltpeter factories | Lieutenant captains, galley masters | Titular Advisor; two military, Foreign College secretaries; chief rent meister in the provinces, police meister in residence, burgomasters from the magistrate in residence to be indispensable, lantrychters 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 for the senate, treasurers at the manet business, assessors in court courts in residence, directors over duties in ports | Court Jäger Meister, Court Ceremony Meister, Ober Kuchen Meister, Chamber Junkers |
| 10: | Captains lieutenants | Under lieutenants | Lieutenants, captains, lieutenants of engineering, auditor of the guards, chief of staff, captain of the craftsmen | Lieutenants | Secretaries of other colleagues, burgomasters from the magistrate in the provinces; translators of the Military, Admiralty, Foreign [Colleges]; protocol officers of the same colleges, chief economic commissars in the provinces, chief commissars in the provinces, assessors in court courts in the provinces, chief zegentner, berg meister, chief berg probier | |
| 11: | Ship secretaries | |||||
| 12: | Lieutenants | Fendricks | Under lieutenants, engineering lieutenants, furlet lieutenants, vagen meisters | Under lieutenants, shchipors of the first rank | Secretaries in court courts and chancelleries and /in/ provinces, chamberlains at colleges, Ratmans in residence, Mintz Meister, Forsht Meister, Giten Vor Walter, Mark Scheider | Gough Junkers, court doctor |
| 13: | Under lieutenants, wing adjutants to the general maeorekh | Bayonet cadets, under lieutenants of engineering | Secretaries in the provinces, mechanicus, post maesters in St. Petersburg and Riga translators protocol takers collegiate actuary |
|||
| 14: | Fendriks, wing adjutants under the lieutenant generals and at the brigadiers, headquarters of the furiers | Engineering fendricks | Carriage kamisars, shhipors of the second rank, kanstapels | Camisars at colleges, fiscals at court courts and provinces, chamberlains in the provinces, zemstvo camisars, assessors in provincial courts, archivist, actuary, registrar and accountants at colleges; zemstvo rent masters, post masters in Moscow and other noble cities where there are governors; college cadets | Court registrant, chamberlain pageev, chamber secretary, court librarian, antiquarian, court chamberlain, court auditor, court house master, court pharmacist, shlos fokht, court chief meister, office couriers, munt shenk, kuchen meister, keller meister, execution meister, court clerk balbir | |
Table. TABLE OF RANKS
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 is required for both male and female sexes for crimes.
4. Under an equal fine, no one can claim his rank until he has the 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.
Gough's master and our crown princesses - with the real 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 from the bottom to earn his rank as the top of the nobles, and now the necessary need also requires for the higher ranks: for the sake of taking whoever is suitable, although b she didn’t have 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 an equal or higher to themselves: for the sake of whom the rank will be elevated, then he will deserve the rank over the years, as it should. 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.
against corporal – 1 year
against sergeant – 1 year
vs Fendrik – 1 year 6 months
against a guarantor – 2 years
against the captain – 2nd year
against maeor – 2nd year
against lieutenant colonel – 2nd year
against the colonel – 3 years 6 months
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 who are not from the nobles, then when someone receives the above rank, this is the nobleman, and his children who are related to the military officers, and if there are no children at that time, but there are first, and the father will be beaten, 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 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.
Only people belonging to a noble family could receive the highest military, civil or court rank in Tsarist Russia. However, among the peasants, townspeople and other classes there were many people who were knowledgeable and “necessary” for the tsarist power. The establishment of a table of ranks of the Russian Empire took place, dividing all employees into several classes. How successfully was such a division applied and who could become an adviser to the sovereign.
The table of ranks (as written in the text of the decree) or the table of ranks of the Russian Empire (a more familiar and well-established name among the people) is a clearly structured listing of positions, where all military, civilian and court positions are indicated or the name of the law itself on the ranking of civil servants.
How many classes were there? The list included 14 class levels and 263 positions. There was also one status - Knight of St. Andrew, which was awarded to those who served in the ground forces and whose position corresponded to 3rd class.
Over time, the table was redone several times, some ranks were introduced, others were excluded. In one of the first editions you can see many points and sub-points under each level.
Main provisions
The report card was created at the beginning of the 18th century. Peter the Great signed the decree on January 24 (February 4), 1722. The document was called “Table of ranks of all military, civil and court ranks.”
The document was subject to consideration in two boards:
- the Admiralty, where Senator Golovkin was authorized;
- military, where Major Generals Matyushkin and Mamonov were in charge.
Next, a description of the table of ranks will be given. Let us briefly list the main provisions of the document, which provided the opportunity for all representatives of any class to advance in their careers, regardless of the nobility of their family.
In addition to the ranking, there were also basic provisions (explanatory points) that could not be violated:
- If the official belonged to the princes of the imperial blood, then, regardless of any position, he could preside over everyone. This was the only exception to the rules, since the report card was adopted by Peter I specifically so that all civil servants would receive their positions not because of their “breed,” but according to their merits to the Fatherland.
- All the king's employees could be fined for demanding honors inappropriate for their rank at official meetings. For example, it was forbidden to take a seat that was not yours at the royal dinner or in the theater box. You cannot demand to be treated differently or give up your seat to a person of lower position.
- The fine for violations was equal to two months' salary. A third of these funds were sent to the informer who complained about the violator, and the rest went to support hospitals and clinics. Not only the officials themselves were fined, but also their wives and heirs.
- This decree helped representatives of all classes, who, although of low origin, were useful in public service and talented in many royal assignments.
- Foreign officials received the same position that they had in their native country only after they became useful to Peter, and he noted them as excellent specialists. It was important not only to confirm your position with good work, but also to prove yourself as a valuable employee in the Russian Empire.
- The heirs or sons of titled officials had free access to the entire court society, as well as to various assemblies. However, the father's privileges were not inherited by the children until they showed talents and acquired merit to the Fatherland.
- Civilian or military positions were awarded only on the basis of length of service or merit.
- Any official had to maintain an appropriate crew and livery. And naturally, the collegiate secretary could not ride out in a six-wheeler in a train, like a state councilor. In Peter’s times, this would have been equated to a violation, and the official would have been fined.
- If an official committed a crime, he was subject to public punishment in the square. Most often - torture or execution. Naturally, after such a royal decision, the position was removed from the person, and the most malicious violators, even if they were left alive, were deprived of their title, property and sent into exile.
- The wives of officials had the same position as their husbands. And the daughters of officials are 4 steps lower than their father.
- After receiving rank 8 in the civil service or at court, you can already apply for inclusion in the senior nobility. In this case, origin did not play a role.
- In military service, hereditary or senior nobility was assigned after the issuance of the first chief officer's place or 6th level, when the employee became Chief Kriegskomissar, which could not be said about civil and court positions.
Take note! Peter I always gave preference to military positions, because he himself was, first of all, a military leader, and only then a Russian Tsar.
For a long time there were no civilians in the highest first class. However, his adviser Osterman persuaded the tsar to make “diplomatic” adjustments and make the rank of chancellor - a representative of the first class of civil ranks. Later, a new name was introduced - state councilor of the 1st class.
Naturally, the list of all positions became very popular, and many dreamed of taking a higher rank in order to gain access to the many privileges that this decree opened.
The simplest career ladder was the civil service, which was ranked as follows (naturally, everyone started at step 14, that is, from the very bottom of this list):
- Chancellor, Actual Privy Councilor 1st Class.
- Actual Privy Councilor.
- Privy Councilor (from 1724)
- Privy Councilor (1722-1724), actual state councilor, chief ceremonial master.
- State Councilor, Master of Ceremonies, Privy Chamberlain.
- Collegiate owl.
- Nadvorny owl.
- Collegiate Assessor.
- Titular owl.
- Collegiate Secretary.
- Ship's
- Provincial.
- Cabinet registrar, provincial secretary, senate and synod registrar.
- Collegiate registrar, collegiate cadet, city secretary.
Important! There was also a special statutory address to the representative of the corresponding position.
In the table of ranks, civil ranks differed in the form of address. Officials of grades 1-2 were called Your Excellency, grades 3-4 - Your Excellency, representatives of the 5th grade - Your Excellency, representatives of grades 6-8 were called Your Excellency, the rest (from grades 9 to 14) heard the address addressed to them - Your Honor.
Establishment and repeal of the decree
Peter the Great personally controlled the adoption and editing of the document and chose the job titles 
and classes from the list of ranks of the French, Prussian, Swedish and Danish kingdoms.
When establishing this decree, the ancient Russian official positions were taken into account and the statutory provisions proposed by other states were adjusted so that the decree was suitable specifically for Russian reality.
For example, Peter abolished the fine if in a church someone accidentally took a seat in the front, right in front of the altar, where only senior officials were supposed to be present.
The decree was abolished in March 1917. First, court positions were eliminated with the fall of the institution of royal power. Then, in November of the same year, after the issuance of the Decree on the abolition of all classes, civil positions ceased to exist. Military ranks were abolished in December, and in the navy - in January 1918.
Note! A separate story happened with the Cossacks, where the bureaucracy continued to exist until 1922, because for a very long time the Cossack government did not obey Soviet laws.
Over time, ranks began to be used again in modern Russia. For example, in justice, military and civil services.
Advantages and disadvantages
The table of ranks and its significance for Russian society were significant. The list of classes was valid for two hundred years and was constantly modified with the introduction of reforms. Some ranks were abolished, as the institution itself was closed, for example, the mining ranks and the mining department, which existed only until 1834 and was militarized.
Accordingly, such ranks as mechanicus (captain), berg-meister (major) or, for example, berg-probier (ensign) were reclassified as military.
Or there was the opposite situation, when the title of, for example, court councilor, was awarded before 1917, that is, in fact, before the February Revolution, and there was no trace of the court court itself; it was abolished in 1726. The position continued to be assigned to employees.
This decree fundamentally changed the entire state electorate. Every talented person, of any blood and class, could become an adviser to the sovereign, as a result of which the noble class was democratized.
Another advantage was that the nobility became more involved in state affairs, since the nobles were now always in the service and brought a lot of benefit to the Fatherland, rather than leading an idle and luxurious life in their estates.
The downside was the division of the nobility into personal and hereditary, when representatives of the latter type did not want to have any connections with those who came “from rags to riches.” However, such things were severely fined by the tsar himself, who always saw in people, first of all, intelligence, strength and talent, and only then origin.
Useful video
Conclusion
Thus, the decree on ranking adopted by Peter I became a landmark moment in history. 14 classes and 263 positions made it possible to occupy any level of government solely because of personal talent and services to the Tsar and the Fatherland.
The military were valued much higher than civilians and courtiers. Peter the Great provided the opportunity to receive personal nobility for representatives of any class who had reached the sixth grade in military service and the eighth grade in civil and court service.
In contact with
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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
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 will 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 in 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, which 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 are not consistent with those, just as many are ruined when they act in attire above their rank and property: for this reason We graciously remind that everyone is 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?
On January 24, 1722, Peter I approved the Law on the procedure for civil service in the Russian Empire (ranks by seniority and sequence of ranks). The preparation of this law, the “Table of Ranks,” began back in 1719 and was a natural continuation of the reform activities of Peter I, as a result of which the number of positions in the army and state apparatus increased. The Table of Ranks was based on similar acts that already existed in Western European countries, especially in Denmark and Prussia. When developing the law, the ranks that already existed in Russia were also taken into account. In addition to the table itself, the “Table of Ranks” had eighteen more points of explanatory text and establishing penalties for its violation. All ranks of the “Table of Ranks” were divided into three types: military, state (civilian) and courtiers and were divided into fourteen classes. It is interesting that the law did not explain in any way the very concept of “rank”, due to which some historians considered the latter literally and only in the system of rank production, while others - as one or another position. In our opinion, the “Table of Ranks” included both concepts. Gradually, positions were excluded from the “Table of Ranks” and at the end of the 18th century they disappeared altogether (Petrine’s “Table of Ranks” numbered 262 positions). Petrovskaya "Table", determining the place in the hierarchy of the civil service, to some extent provided an opportunity for talented people from the lower classes to advance. “So that those who are willing to give to the service and honor them, and not the impudent and parasites receive”- read one of the descriptive articles of the law.
Military ranks were declared superior to their corresponding civil and even court ranks. 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, from 1730 - ensign) gave the right to hereditary nobility (in the civil service, hereditary nobility was acquired by the rank of the 8th class - collegiate assessor, and the rank of collegiate registrar - the 14th class, gave the right only to personal nobility). According to the Manifesto of June 11, 1845, hereditary nobility was acquired with promotion to the rank of staff officer (8th class). Children born before the father received hereditary nobility constituted a special category of chief officer children, and one of them, at the request of the father, could be given hereditary nobility. Alexander II, by decree of December 9, 1856, limited the right to receive hereditary nobility to the rank of colonel (6th class), and in the civil department - to the rank of 4th class (actual state councilor). The given tables of ranks show that Peter’s “Table of Ranks” changed over almost two centuries as a result of major reforms.