System of military ranks in the Russian Imperial Army. Table of ranks of the Russian Empire

TITLES AND UNIFORMS OF THE RUSSIAN EMPIRE.

"TABLE OF RANKS"

Let's try to understand what constituted the core of the entire Russian state in the 18th - early 20th centuries.

General, state councilor, chamberlain, count, aide-de-camp, state secretary, excellency and lordship - these are some of the titles, which were then in use. According to the title, a person also dressed in certain clothes - uniform. The title, along with other awards, was awarded for service to the sovereign.

Today it is difficult to understand what was the basis of all life in Russia. The system of titles, uniforms and orders that existed in the Russian Empire was abolished in 1917. Since then I have completely forgotten about it. And there are no special reference books on it. And without this knowledge, it is sometimes difficult to understand even many literary works of the past, not to mention historical works.

Here is what you can read in the diary of the Minister of Internal Affairs P. A. Valuev for 1865: “January 1. Morning in the palace. I saw Prince Gagarin with a portrait, Butkov with the diamond signs of St. Alexander, Milyutin in the uniform of a member of the State Council...” And here is a diary entry for 1867: “April 16. At night in the Winter Palace. Count Panin takes away the diamonds of St. Andrew as a farewell, and Zamyatin takes the diamonds of St. Alexander.” What are we talking about? Of course, about awards.

The system of titles, uniforms and orders in Russia began during the reign of Peter I. Peter sought to attract the nobility to the public service. And the main measure of each person’s merit was supposed to be service, and not “breed.”

Clarity and discipline were required from the civil service. The employee, for his part, received the opportunity for promotion depending on ability and merit. For this purpose, the “Table of ranks of all military, civil and court ranks...” appeared in January 1722.

Calls according to class

Military ranks above the table of ranks

· Generalissimo

Military ranks below the table of ranks

· Sub-ensign, sub-sergeant; belt-ensign (in the infantry), belt-junker (in artillery and light cavalry), fanen-junker (in dragoons), estandard-cadet (in heavy cavalry), conductor in the fleet.

· Sergeant major, sergeant in the cavalry, boatswain in the navy, (until 1798 sergeant).

· Senior combat non-commissioned officer (until 1798 captain, fourier), boatswain.

The report card provided for three main types of service: military, civilian and court. Each was divided into 14 classes. Moving from class to class, starting in the lower 14th, the employee made a career. In each class it was necessary to serve a certain number of years. But for special merits the term was reduced. There were more positions in the civil service, and therefore the upward movement was faster.

In the 18th century, everyone who already had a lower class rank, received and personal nobility. And the nobleman had a number of benefits. At the same time, in military service hereditary nobility gave 14th grade, and in civilian life - only 8th. However, already from the beginning of the 19th century, more and more non-nobles entered the public service. And therefore, since 1845, in the civil service, hereditary nobility was received already from the fifth grade, and in the military service - in the eighth.

Having established a clear system of ranks, the “Table of Ranks” ensured strict adherence to the principle of seniority and veneration.

Among the holders of one rank, the eldest was considered to be the one who served in military service, or the one who was previously granted a given rank. Compliance with the principle of seniority was considered mandatory in all ceremonies: at court, during ceremonial dinners, at marriages, baptisms, burials, and even in churches during divine services. There was a cruel rule: “Respect the rank of rank.” And this principle extended to the wives and daughters of officials.

Historical mosaic

Count M. N. Muravyov

In 1866, Count M. N. Muravyov headed the commission of inquiry into the case of the assassination attempt on Emperor Alexander II. The investigation was carried out vigorously. Having completed it, Muravyov asked the chief of the gendarme corps, Count P. A. Shuvalov, to report to the sovereign that he wanted to be appointed adjutant general. When the request was conveyed to the tsar, he exclaimed: “My adjutant general - no way!.. Give him St. Andrew’s diamond insignia...”.

Muravyov, dissatisfied and upset that he did not receive the desired reward, left for his estate, where he died suddenly. The Tsar's courier, who brought the diamonds, found the Count already dead.

The idea of ​​​​creating such a document belonged to Peter 1 himself, who not only gave the order, but also took a personal part in its preparation. Similar documents from the leading world powers (France, Sweden, Prussia and Denmark) were taken as a basis. Based on them, the commission created a draft, which was sent to the Emperor for signing. Peter personally edited the draft and ordered it to be submitted to the Senate, the Military Collegium and the Admiralty Collegium. The document was reviewed, certain amendments were made to it, but during the final consideration Peter did not accept them, but left the document in its original form.

Contents of the table of ranks of Tsarist Russia

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

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

It is worth noting that the ranks were not simply described, but compared with each other. A state councilor (civil service) was equal in rights to a captain-commander or brigadier (military service). The remaining ranks were described in a similar way, but military ranks always had a slight advantage over civilians and were more likely to climb the career ladder.

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

The meaning of the table of ranks

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

The appearance of such a document significantly simplified the civil service and made it more transparent. The old Russian ranks were described in the report card, but they were no longer given, which meant that Russia was finally freed from the structure and order of Muscovite Rus' and switched to a new type of government.

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

The table of ranks of Peter 1 also finally divided the entire service into military, civil and court, which was not the case before.

In modern Russia there is a similar document.

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… Dictionary of synonyms

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. 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 original author's spelling...
• Table of ranks. This book will be produced in accordance with your order using Print-on-Demand technology. With replenishment, which ranks consist of special personal decrees and articles above...

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, 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, when the “Table of Ranks” was put into effect, 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 turned into 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.

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 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 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, 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 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 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 were not previously disposed of, and for this reason no one, or very little, should be honored by the proper order from below 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 though they have not had any rank. But even though this rank will be insulting 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 whoever is elevated to that 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.

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, it was given to them from Our ancestors, or from foreign Crowned Heads, 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: 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 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 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. Since then, 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?

The Table of Ranks of Peter 1 is one of the key documents of the reign of this emperor, which his descendants called great. Despite the fact that the need for its adoption was realized at the beginning of the reign, the document itself was finally formulated and published only in 1722. Let's look briefly at this document.

Characteristic

The document began to be compiled in 1719. It was finally accepted by the king on January 24 (February 4), 1722, the date of its publication. The source for it was similar laws in the then Prussia and Denmark. The reasons for its adoption are simple: the already clumsy system of government positions in the Moscow State became even more complicated during the reign of Peter, and especially. The Northern War played a significant role in this, when the missing positions were simply invented in a hurry.

Emperor Peter the Great. Years of reign 1689 - 1725

In addition, as you know, in 1682, localism was abolished - the system of maintaining state officials based on birth. A new system was required, one that primarily took into account not only birth, but also personal service. And personal service, as is known, depends, among other things, on a person’s personal qualities.

The table is a list of 14 ranks. Each rank has its own ranks. The document itself does not disclose the concept of rank. Therefore, it is not entirely clear whether it corresponds only to the position, or whether there is some kind of rank system. The most far-sighted, of course, see in him both.

All ranks are divided into four types: civil, military, naval and court. If you compare Peter's Table with later versions, you will understand that both positions and types of service to the Fatherland increased with each emperor.

Table of ranks. Original document

Starting from the 14th rank under Peter, employees received personal rank, and from 8th - hereditary rank. Below we present two versions of the Table: the first at the time of adoption, the second - more fair for the second half of the 19th - early 20th centuries.

The significance of this document cannot be overestimated. He not only created a new state hierarchy of ranks and positions, but also formed a new social stratum - the bureaucracy. By the way, this layer was not taxable.

Text

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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 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 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 should diligently monitor, 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 has a rank to claim for himself until he has a proper patent to show for his rank.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Gough ladies - with the wives of the raiders.

Gough girls - with the wives of colonels.

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 these 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 elevated to the dignity of nobility or provided with a coat of arms.

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

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

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

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

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

And those who show noble services can receive higher ranks for their work 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: whoever 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 the court courts, chief landrichters in residence, president in the magistrate in residence, chief commissars in colleges, governors, chief rentmeisters and landrichters in the 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 kamisars, 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 perfect honor of them erected, and this will be publicly announced.

Interpretation of the Tortured

In torture, it happens that many villains, out of malice, bring others in: 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 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 have to 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.