These points are attached to the table of ranks established above and how everyone should deal with these ranks.
1. Princes who come from our blood, and those who are combined with our princesses: in all cases have chairmanship and rank over all princes and high servants of the Russian state.
2. The sea and land in command are determined as follows: whoever is of the same rank with whom, although older in rank, at sea commands the sea over the land, and on land the land over the sea.
3. Whoever demands honors above his rank, or takes a position higher than the rank given to him, will pay a fine of 2 months’ salary for each case. And if someone serves without a salary, then pay him the same fine as the salaries of those ranks who are of equal rank with him and actually receive a salary. Of the fine money, the person declaring a third share is to receive it, and the remainder is to be used in the hospital. But this examination of each rank is not required in such situations, when some, like good friends and neighbors, come together, or in public assemblies, but only in churches during the service of God, at courtyard ceremonies, such as at an audience of ambassadors, at ceremonial tables, at official congresses, at marriages, baptisms, and similar public celebrations and burials. An equal fine should be given to those who give up a place to someone below their rank, which the fiscal must diligently observe, so that they are willing to serve, and receive honor, and not receive impudence and parasites. The above fine as a man,
so the female sex must be punished 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 general-major, 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 girls at court have, while they are actually in their ranks, the following ranks:
The Chief Chamberlain of Her Majesty the Empress has rank above all ladies.
The actual ladies of Her Majesty the Empress follow the wives of the actual privy councilors.
The actual girls of the chambers have a rank with the wives of presidents from the college.
Gough ladies - with the wives of the raiders.
Gough girls - with the wives of colonels.
Master Gough and our crown princesses- with real stats ladies who were with Her Majesty the Empress.
The chamber maidens under the crown princesses follow the goff ladies under Her Majesty the empress.
The Gough maidens of the crown princesses follow the Gough maidens of Her Majesty the Empress.
11. All servants, Russian or foreign, who are, or actually were, of the first ranks, have 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 promoted to the dignity of nobility or provided with a coat of arms.
12. When one of our high and low servants actually has two ranks, or has received a higher rank than the rank that he actually controls, then in all cases he has the rank of his highest rank. But when he sends his work at a lower rank, then he cannot then have his highest rank or title in that place, but according to that rank to which he actually sends.
13. Since the civil ranks were not previously disposed of, and for this reason, no one respects it, or it is very little for someone to earn his rank as a top nobleman in the proper order from below, but now the necessary need also requires the higher ranks: for the sake of taking whoever is suitable, even if she didn’t have any rank. But even then, this rank will be offensive to military people who have received it for many years, and through what cruel service, and will see without merit an equal or higher: for the sake of whoever is elevated to the rank in which he is elevated, then he will deserve the rank for years, like follows. What for the Senate, who will be granted what rank in the civil service out of order from below, will be given the names of their duties to the fiscal from now on, so that the fiscals can see that they carry out the ranks according to this decree. And so that henceforth, for vacancies, not to grab the side, but in order, as in the military ranks of a producer. For this reason, it is now necessary to have 6 or 7 members of the college of cadets, or less, in the state colleges. And if more necessary, then with a report.
14. It is necessary to produce noble children in colleges from below: namely, first in the college, cadets, if scientists, have been certified by the college, and have been represented in the Senate, and have received patents. And those who did not study, but for the sake of need and because of the impoverishment of scientists, were accepted first into the titular colleges of the Junkars, and to be them for those years without ranks, who have no ranks before the actual college of the Junkars.
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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 by one, to practice that science.
And those who show noble services can receive higher ranks for their labors as a manufacturer, such as a repairman and a military service, who will show what kind of service they have. But this can only be done in the Senate, and only with our signature.
15. Military ranks that rise to the rank of chief officer 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 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: 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 he had an outfit, a crew, and a librey, as his rank and character required.
Accordingly, they must act and beware of the announced fine and greater punishment.
Given with the signature of our own hand, and our state seal at our residence.
Peter
In addition to the military, employees of civil departments also wore ranks: the detective department of the police, the Ministry of Finance, the railway department, the telegraph department, etc. The difference was that civil servants wore insignia on their collars, the so-called. "lapel" Civil officials had 2 types of uniforms, those of a frock coat: service and ceremonial. By the end of the 19th century, the ceremonial frock coat was abolished for ranks of chief officer.
Chief officer ranks:
XIV class: Collegiate Registrar- 1 clearance and 1 star
XIII class: Provincial Secretary
XII class: Provincial Secretary- 1 clearance and 2 stars
XI grade: Ship's Secretary
X class: Collegiate Secretary- 1 clearance and 3 stars
IX class: Titular Councilor- 1 clearance without stars
Staff officer ranks:
VIII class: Collegiate Assessor- 2 clearances and 2 stars
VII class: Court Councilor- 2 clearances and 3 stars
VI class: Collegiate Advisor- 2 clearances without stars
General rank:*
V class: State Councilor- 1 big star in radiance
IV class: Actual State Councilor- 2 big stars in radiance
III class: Privy Councilor- 3 big stars in radiance
II class: Actual Privy Councilor- no stars
I class: Chancellor - // -
*According to some sources, ranks of general rank wore narrow general shoulder straps without stars, indicating rank, while differences in rank were on smooth buttonholes without gaps.
Below are images of the lapel insignia of civilian ranks.
The last reform of civilian uniforms was in 1905. The (ceremonial) uniform remained only for the highest ranks. He indicated the place of service and the rank of the position. Frock coats were worn with buttonholes on the collars according to rank.
Shoulder straps were assigned to persons holding certain positions. In this case, they carried insignia according to rank.
Here is an incomplete list of positions that are eligible for shoulder straps:
- Ministers and their Comrades;
- Governors General, Governors and Lieutenant Governors;
- Officials of fish and animal control of the Ministry of Agriculture and State. Properties (until 1910);
- Corps of foresters (not all ranks, but “operational” ones);
- Investigators in rural areas;
- Military officials.
POSTAL AND TELEGRAPH OFFICE
In 1806, the Post Office became part of the Department of the Interior. In 1808, the “postal workers” received a uniform, which was a dark green caftan with a black collar and cuffs of the same color.
In 1810, the main postal department was transformed into the Postal Department of the Ministry of the Interior.
In 1819, the postal department was removed from the Ministry of Internal Affairs, and in September 1820, buttons “depicting the state emblem and postal signal pipes (horns)” appeared on the uniform of “postal workers.”
During the reform of civilian uniforms in 1834, the postal uniform was left unchanged, the buttons were still ". . gilded, with image State emblem and under it two postal horns.” This design, with minor variations, remained until 1885.
Initially, activities related to telegraph communications were carried out by the military department, then by the department of communications and public buildings. The officials of the telegraph unit had on their buttons the same image as the Corps of Railway Engineers, “crossed anchor and axe.”
In March 1855, the military uniforms of telegraph employees were replaced by double-breasted caftans of dark green cloth. The buttons remained the same.
On February 27, 1858, a special “yellow bronze telegraph sign made of arrows intersecting one another” was installed for the Telegraph Office. Such a sign was supposed to be worn on “smooth buttons with a one-color stamp.”
August 2, 1867 military structure The telegraph department was replaced with a civilian one, and in April 1868, department employees received a military-style uniform for civilian officials.
In 1885, the “postal workers” and “telegraph operators” merged into a single structure - the Postal and Telegraph Department. In the same year, 1885, an image of the coat of arms of this organization appeared on the buttons of the new department - “postal and telegraph sign - two pipes and arrows.”
AUTHORITY OF COMMUNICATIONS
On November 20, 1809, instead of the Department of Water Communications and the Expedition for Construction of Roads, the Main Directorate of Water and Land Communications, the Corps and the Institute of the Corps of Railway Engineers were formed. Thus, in 1809, the department of railways was composed of two large parts: civil (Main Directorate) and military (Corps of Engineers).
In 1809, civil officials of the new ministry wore smooth buttons on their uniforms, without a pattern. And in 1817, buttons with the emblem “crossed anchor and ax” appeared on the uniforms of employees of the paramilitary Corps of Railway Engineers.
In 1843, the local units of the railway department were reorganized. The military labor battalions that had existed since 1817, as well as the workshop and police brigades, were abolished; instead of many diverse teams, 52 military labor companies were formed, to which the functions of maintaining and protecting communications were transferred.
With development railways in Russia in 1871, buttons were introduced with the designations of various roads in the country. At the same time, lower-ranking railroad workers were allowed to wear Corps of Railway Engineers buttons with the “Anchor and Ax” emblem.
Table of ranks (“Table of ranks of all military, civil and court ranks”) - law on the procedure for civil service in the Russian Empire (ratio of ranks by seniority, sequence of ranks).
Approved on January 24 (February 4), 1722 by Emperor Peter I, it existed with numerous changes until the 1917 revolution.
Quote: “Table of ranks of all ranks, military, civil and courtiers, in which class ranks; and who are in the same class" - Peter I January 24, 1722
History of creation
Peter personally took part in editing the law, which was based on borrowings from the “lists of ranks” of the French, Prussian, Swedish and Danish kingdoms. Having corrected the draft draft with his own hand, Peter signed it on February 1, 1721, but ordered it to be submitted to the Senate for consideration before publication. In addition to the Senate, the table of ranks was considered in the military and in the admiralty board, where a number of comments were made on the placement of ranks by rank, on salaries, on the introduction of ancient Russian ranks into the table and on the elimination of the clause on fines for occupying a place in the church above one’s rank . All these comments were left without consideration. Senators Golovkin and Bruce and Major Generals Matyushkin and Dmitriev-Mamonov took part in the final edition of the table of ranks.
Description
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). All ranks of the “Table of Ranks” were divided into three types: military, civil and courtiers and were divided into fourteen classes. A rank was assigned to each class.
Peter’s “Table of Ranks” numbered 263 positions, but later the positions from the “Table of Ranks” were abolished and at the end of the 18th century some disappeared completely. 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. The names of a number of civil positions turned into civil ranks, regardless of the real responsibilities of their holder. Thus, the names of the ranks “collegiate secretary”, “collegiate assessor”, “collegiate councilor” and “state councilor” originally 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. “Nadvornyy councilor” meant the chairman of the courthouse court; court courts were abolished already in 1726, and the name of the rank remained until 1917.
Petrovskaya “Table”, determining the place in the hierarchy of the civil service, to some extent provided an opportunity for talented people from the lower classes to advance “So that those willing to give to the service and honor them, and not impudent and parasites receive”, read one of the descriptive articles of the law.
The law of February 4 (January 24), 1722, consisted of a schedule of new ranks in 14 classes or ranks and 19 explanatory paragraphs to this schedule. Newly introduced military ranks (in turn subdivided into land, guards, artillery and naval), civil and court ranks were assigned to each class separately. The content of the explanatory paragraphs is as follows:
The princes of the imperial blood have, in all cases, the presidency over all the princes and “high servants” Russian state" With this exception, the social position of employees is determined by rank, not breed.
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 is imposed; ⅓ of the fine money goes to the informer, the rest goes to the maintenance of hospitals. The same fine applies for giving up your seat to a person of lower rank.
Persons who have been in foreign service can receive the corresponding rank only if they have been confirmed “of the character that they received in foreign services.” The sons of titled persons and generally the most distinguished nobles, although, unlike others, have free access to court assemblies, they do not receive any rank until “they show no service to the fatherland and receive character for it.” Civilian ranks, like military ones, are given based on length of service or special “notable” service merits.
Each must have a crew and livery appropriate to his rank. Public punishment in the square, as well as torture, entail the loss of rank, which can be returned only for special merits, by a personal decree publicly announced. Married wives “are ranked according to the ranks of their husbands” and are subject to the same penalties for offenses against their rank. Girls are considered several ranks lower than their fathers. All who have received the first 8 ranks in the civil or court department are hereditarily ranked among the best senior nobility, “even if they were of low breed”; in military service, hereditary nobility is acquired by receiving the first rank of chief officer, and the rank of nobility applies only to children born after the father has received this rank; If, after receiving the rank, he has no children, he can ask for the grant of nobility to one of his premature children.
The ranks were divided into chief officers (up to class IX, that is, captain/titular adviser inclusive), staff officers and generals; The ranks of the highest generals (the first two classes) were especially distinguished. They were entitled to the appropriate address: “Your Honor” for chief officers, “Your Excellency” for staff officers, “Your Excellency” for generals and “Your Excellency” for the first two classes. The ranks of class V (brigadier/state councilor) stood apart, not being classified as either officers or generals, and they were entitled to the address “your honor.” It is curious that Peter, emphasizing in everything his preference for the military over civilians, did not want to establish first-class civil ranks; however, having bowed to Osterman’s persuasion, for reasons of diplomatic prestige, he equated the rank of chancellor, as the head of the diplomatic department, to first class. Only later was the rank of actual privy councilor, first class, established. This preference was also expressed in the fact that if in the army hereditary nobility was obtained directly with the rank of the XIV class, then in the civil service - only with the rank of V III class(collegiate assessor), that is, with the achievement of a staff officer rank; and since 1856, this required reaching the rank of general, receiving the rank of full state councilor. In this regard, the relatively low (not even general!) rank that was assigned to the president of the “state” collegium, that is, according to European standards, to the minister, is also indicative. Subsequently, the ministers had a rank no lower than actual privy councilor.
Influence on society and nobility
When the table of ranks was put into effect, the ancient Russian ranks - boyars, okolnichys, etc. - were not formally abolished, but the granting of these ranks ceased. The publication of the report card had a significant impact on both the official routine and the historical destinies of the noble class. Personal length of service became the only regulator of service; “fatherly honor”, the breed, has lost all meaning in this regard. Military service was separated from civil and court service. The acquisition of nobility was legalized by the length of service of a certain rank and the award of the monarch, which influenced the democratization of the noble class, the consolidation of the service character of the nobility and the stratification of the noble mass into new groups - hereditary and personal nobility.
Under Peter I, the rank of the lowest XIV class in military service (Fendrik, ensign from 1730) gave the right to hereditary nobility. Civil service in the rank up to VIII class gave only personal nobility, and the right to hereditary nobility began with the rank of VIII class.
By decree of Alexander II of December 9, 1856, the bar was raised: personal nobility began for all types of services from class IX, and the right to hereditary one was given by the rank of colonel (VI class) in military service or the rank of active state councilor (IV class) in civil service. Officials from class XIV to class X were now simply called “honorary citizens.”
Further development of the idea
Further legislation on rank production somewhat deviated from the original idea of the Table of Ranks. In theory, ranks meant the positions themselves, distributed across 14 classes, but over time, ranks acquired the independent meaning of honorary titles, regardless of positions. On the other hand, shortened deadlines were established for promotion to certain ranks for nobles; then the ranks were raised, giving the right of hereditary nobility. These measures were intended to limit the democratizing effect of the table on the composition of the noble class.
Table of ranks
- Generalissimo (outside classes)
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Military ranks above the table of ranks
- Generalissimo
Military ranks below the table of ranks
- Sub-ensign, sub-squire; harness-ensign (in the infantry), harness-junker (in artillery and light cavalry), fanen-junker (in dragoons), estandard-cadet (in heavy cavalry).
- Sergeant major, sergeant, conductor.
- Senior combat non-commissioned officer (until 1798 sergeant, boatswain).
- Junior non-commissioned officer (until 1798 junior sergeant, corporal, boatswain).
“From now on, nobility will be counted by suitability” - this opinion of Peter the Great was reflected in the Table of Ranks of 1722, which became with a strong blow according to the privileges of the most noble nobility. There was no talk of complete equalization of classes, but Peter’s innovation officially opened the “path to the top” for talented, energetic and dedicated people from the lower classes.
Origins of the document
It is known that from the first years of his reign, Peter 1 was irritated by the claims of representatives of the highest boyars to various privileges and honor, which were not deserved by real deeds. He also noticed that his “thin” but effective assistants (Lefort, Menshikov, Yaguzhinsky) face almost demonstrative disdain from those who don’t know how to do anything and don’t want to, but have a pedigree “from.”
Initially, Peter suppressed the boyar opposition by force, appointing representatives of noble families as jesters and taking away their sons to serve as sailors. But a more harmonious system of promotion “according to suitability” was needed, which would give well-deserved privileges to those who distinguished themselves in the service and would not cause discontent among the nobility (Peter, after all, was a monarch and relied on the nobility).
Peter took advantage of foreign (Danish, Swedish, French) experience and compiled a complex table of ranks according to different directions services, defining the rules for their assignment and the rights and obligations of those who received the rank. Some proposals were made by the Admiralty and Military Collegiums, as well as the tsar’s closest associates, but Peter 1 ignored many of the comments. The corresponding decree, known as the “Table of Ranks” (or “Table of Ranks” in later pronunciation) was signed on January 24, 1722.
The essence and purpose of bureaucratic ranking
The decree contained a table characterizing 14 official ranks, separately for the army, navy, court and civil service. Rank did not determine specific job responsibilities official, but only his “clearance level”. It was possible to receive the next rank only after a certain period of service or for personal merit (in exceptional cases, for merit it was possible to “skip” several lines of the Table).
Each rank corresponded to certain duties and privileges of an official. He was honored by his rank, and not by how noble and rich his father’s son was. The only exceptions were the princes of the imperial family. An official had no right to demand more or less respect than was due to him by rank. Military ranks had slightly more rights than civilians.
Nobles by birth had a number of court and economic rights (in particular, simply to appear at court and participate in entertaining “assemblies” there), but that’s all. Moreover, achieving a certain rank (depending on the direction of service) could give the right to personal (only for oneself) or hereditary (with inheritance) nobility to a person of any origin. And he immediately received all the privileges that all kinds of “Rurikovichs” enjoyed. Nobles by birth had some privileges in promotion, but minor ones.
The life of an official was also regulated at the everyday level. Installed. How exactly should he be addressed, what kind of travel should he have and what uniform should he wear (Nicholas 1, a great fan of uniforms, dressed absolutely all employees, including civilians, in them).
Career ladder
The table of ranks of Peter 1 existed until 1917, although numerous changes were made to it. Cossack ranks appeared, some positions were removed from the Table, others were added to it... different times There were also various ranks without rank (from sergeant major and corporal to generalissimo). The rules of behavior prescribed by rank and the methods of obtaining the next rank changed.
But the essence of the document remained the same, and in general it solved the task set for it by Peter 1 - it increased social mobility, gave the opportunity to capable people, but poor and ignorant, to express themselves and achieve high appreciation of their efforts. The Table of Ranks of the Russian Empire also stimulated nobles to serve, finally establishing that family tree in Russia it is no longer possible to secure a high status.
Therefore, today similar schemes have been adopted at the legislative level in the civil service. And the phrase “table of ranks” itself has turned into a stable phraseological unit, denoting a strict scheme where everyone is assigned an exact place.
report card legal rank historical
For the development of the civil service of the Russian Empire, a number of events were especially important, of which it is necessary to highlight the adoption of the “Table of Ranks” law brought from the West on January 24, 1722, which streamlined the hierarchy of positions, made civilian, military and court ranks comparable, and created a coherent system of service to the sovereign , as well as the Peace of Nishtat, according to which the Baltic (Baltic Sea) provinces became part of the Russian Empire, preserving their method of government, which marked the beginning of the formation of federalism in its modern Russian understanding.
The development of the civil service in Russia proceeded with the active use of foreign experience. Actually, in the Western image and likeness, “colleges” were formed, subsequently ministries, management levels and the responsibilities of officials were distributed.
A peculiarity of the organization of the civil service in a class society was that only nobles were accepted into its highest positions (with rare exceptions, which only emphasized this rule), and also, by order of the emperor, foreigners who in their careers reached the highest positions often concentrated in their hands enormous administrative power. There were especially many foreigners, Germans, first of all, in the court service, as well as in the army. WITH mid-19th century, more and more people from the German principalities are occupying civil positions.
The Table of Ranks, published on January 24, 1722, was important in strengthening the legal status of the nobility and strengthening the dictatorship of the nobility. It contained a list of military ranks: naval, land, artillery, guards; as well as civil and courtiers (Appendix 1). The ranks established for different departments were divided into XIV classes. Service had to start from the lower ranks.
Even with the abolition of localism (1682), personal merit and suitability for service were given preference over breed and nobility of origin. Localism, however, lived in the concepts of society, and in practice it continued to be taken into account. But if before it contradicted the interests of the state, now, above all, it sharply diverged from the new view that Peter strenuously instilled in his subjects, namely: the right to first place and honor belongs to those who fulfill their primary duty - zealously serving the state. A decisive blow to localism was dealt by the Table of Ranks (1722, January 24). She created 14 classes - 14 different ranks in the naval, civil and court service, a new ladder of ascension according to merit. From then on, the line between employee and non-employee was defined even more sharply: nobility began to be achieved by length of service, and not by breed. A non-nobleman, having risen to the rank of officer and, therefore, becoming a hereditary nobleman, became superior to a service man who had not received the rank of officer. New order had the good side that, having made seniority accessible to everyone, he renewed the noble class with constantly fresh forces and did not allow it to become isolated in a separate caste.
The equation according to the Table of Ranks of military service with civilian service led to some strengthening of the state apparatus with more capable personnel. The terms of service in a certain rank were established. Persons who rose to the ranks of the VIII class became hereditary nobles, while the ranks from the XIV to the IX classes gave only personal nobility. The opportunity was created for capable people from other classes to become nobles, which, of course, did not undermine the class noble basis of the state. As a rule, they received estates along with their ranks. In this way, the class of nobles was replenished, whose interests the new nobles defended in every possible way. Instead of the previous division into boyars, okolnichys, stolniks, etc. new things were introduced.
All leading positions in the state apparatus were occupied by nobles.
In the interests of the ruling class and strengthening the state apparatus, Peter I carried out a number of measures that met with opposition from a certain part of the nobility.
Thus, the decrees of Peter I required nobles to pass military service, starting with soldier rank. Later, as is known, nobles circumvented this rule by enrolling their young children in the service. Those found guilty of evading service were severely punished. Periodically, reviews were held at which underage nobles were assigned to schools and enrolled in military and civilian service. They were sent abroad for training. Fines were imposed on parents for failure to educate their children. It was forbidden for a nobleman to marry without studying the principles of geometry, etc. The state had to resort to such measures in order to raise the overall cultural level nobility.
It should be noted that Anna Ioanovna somewhat eased their situation by limiting their service to 25 years and attributing its beginning to the age of 20. She also allowed one of the sons or brothers in the noble family to stay at home and take care of the household.
Isaev I.A. notes that military ranks (there are 14 of them, as well as civilian ones) were preferable to civil and court ranks; The highest military rank of field marshal did not correspond to any civilian rank. Those who rose to the eighth rank were ranked among the hereditary nobility (“pillars”) with the right to pass the rank on to their children. The charter granted to the nobility in 1785 extended this right to personal nobles whose father and grandfather also had personal nobility.
To manage the affairs of the noble class under the Senate in 1722, the position of a herald master was established, who supervised the compilation noble lists and training of underage nobles.
According to the Table of Ranks, the title “nobility” was given to all ranks up to chief officer. The entire class was defined as “noble” in 1754 and finally approved in this title in 1762 (Manifesto).
Since 1797, a general code of noble coats of arms began to be compiled.
With the introduction of the Table of Ranks on January 24, 1722, the principle of priority of nobility and birth when occupying positions forever gave way to the principle of personal service, which led to a simplification of the vassalage system and the transformation of nobles into direct subjects of the monarch. Social structure the upper class was no longer built according to the knees of genealogy family names, and in accordance with the ranks and favor of the emperor, who abolished the boyar rank, own name began to elevate courtiers to princely dignity, introduced count and baronial titles, streamlined the use of family coats of arms, founded the first Russian Order of St. Andrew the First-Called, and ordered “noble nobility to be counted according to suitability.” Rank, as the main indicator of successful service and favor of the monarch, acquired extreme importance, subordinating everything to its influence. social spheres existence of the individual, including even everyday life and private human relationships. The number of horses in the carriage, the liveries of the footmen, a place in the church, an invitation to a public assembly, the outfits of the wife and daughters of a serving nobleman, etc. - everything was determined by his bureaucratic status. The demand for “honor above one’s rank” became the subject of denunciation and was subject to a fine, which stimulated the respect of subjects for bureaucratic subordination. At the same time, “ambition and vanity” in the struggle for ranks were encouraged in every possible way by promotions, awards, and titles. In conditions of low literacy even among the nobility, Peter I was forced to declare that obtaining an education was also a strict duty and at the same time a privilege of the Russian nobility. The nobility of the upper echelons of the bureaucracy and the army, a certain level of enlightenment, strengthened the social ambition of the upper class, which “is different from meanness for the sake of service.” At the same time, it was the Table of Ranks that gave people from the merchant class, commoners, and townspeople a chance to receive personal or even hereditary nobility, which also greatly increased the prestige of public service.
The meaning of compulsory service and at the same time the privileges of the nobility was associated with the fundamental values of Russian historical consciousness, of which the central image was the monarch, personifying power, the state and its growing foreign policy power.
Murashev G.A. notes that a strict hierarchy was supposed to help strengthen discipline and subordination, on the one hand, and serve as an incentive to create conditions for advancement up the career ladder in accordance with abilities and merits to the Fatherland, on the other. Moreover, during the time of Peter I there was unprecedented democracy in matters of assigning the next title. Thus, the archives tell us that when discussing a candidate for the next military rank, out of two candidates the team chose the wrong one for whom the tsar spoke. Peter I was indignant and nevertheless awarded the title to the very person for whom the team spoke.
In the state, especially in the army, a certain number of high positions were established, and they could only be filled if there was a vacancy. Today, recalling an episode from the recent past, when the President, by one Decree, awarded 500 colonels the rank of generals, one can only shrug. Similar thousand-year history doesn't know. According to the Table of Ranks, military, civil and court ranks were divided into 14 classes. The highest was 1st class. Military ranks consisted of four categories: land, guards, artillery and naval. At the same time, the ranks in the guard were a class higher. For example, the rank of guard colonel was equivalent to the rank of general of infantry, artillery, and later cavalry.
The ranks of the civil service meant positions that were provided for in government institutions, as well as a few honorary titles that were not directly related to positions or specific responsibilities. In particular, we are talking about the titles of secret and actual secret councilor.
Each class was required to serve a certain minimum period of time. In the lower classes - 3-4 years. At the same time, for special merits, as well as in the presence of a vacancy, the service life could be shortened. Since there were always much fewer senior positions than lower ones, it was allowed, after the expiration of the term, to assign the next title with retention in the previous position. At all times and in all states, the concept of patronage existed, when a relative or good friend influential person helped to occupy a higher position or sought to assign him the next rank, be it in the army or in the civil service. However, during the times of Peter I and Catherine II, responsible bosses ensured that appointments and assignments were carried out fairly. On this occasion, on February 15, 1742, a law was even passed obliging “...promotion to ranks according to seniority and merit.” On January 13, 1753, this law was updated and confirmed. Apparently, the situation with the assignment of titles was not always normal, if in a decade and a half the law on justice was adopted twice. True, in both cases a reservation was made in the sense that persons who had exceptional services to the Fatherland could receive another rank, bypassing those who had served their term. This law, by the way, is still in effect today. And today, and this is fair, for military merits an officer can receive an extraordinary military rank or promotion. This is done, as in ancient times, at the “highest” discretion. Peter I was faced with the fact that with the introduction of reforms he was forced to appoint people to positions who did not have time to serve their term. But, when appointing to a high position, he nevertheless did not provide the benefits that a person who served the established term received.
Persons of non-noble origin promoted to class XIV received personal nobility; those promoted to class VIII received hereditary nobility.
Gradually, a title system developed. Thus, persons of classes IX-XIV were called “your honor”, persons of classes VI-VIII - “your honor”, persons of class V - “your honor”, classes III-IV - “your excellency”, classes I-II - “your Your Excellency."
Rank in Russia, be it military, civil or spiritual, over time became the basis of success. Receiving the next rank allowed one to count on promotion and receiving an order. This especially became widely applicable under Paul I. The magazine “Russian Antiquity” for 1899 directly says that during the reign of Paul I “...everything depended on rank...”. It did not ask what a person could do or what he had already done. The main thing is what his rank is. Whatever the rank, such is the position in society. Moreover, if from service, meaning civilian, the boss could dismiss a subordinate without giving a reason, then the rank could only be selected by court.
Let's consider some of the norms enshrined in the Table of Ranks of 1722.
“The sea and land in command are determined as follows: whoever is of the same rank with whom, although older in rank, at sea commands the sea over the land, and on land the land over the sea” (Article 2).
“The military ranks who rise to the rank of chief officer are not from the nobility; then when someone receives the above rank, it is the Nobleman and his children who will be born in the Chief Officership; and if at that time there are no children, but there were before, and the father beats him with his forehead, then the nobility should be given to those, only one son, for whom the father asks. Other ranks, both civil and courtiers, who are not from the Nobles in the Ranks, their children are not Nobles” (Article 15).
Thus, the Table of Ranks established a strict hierarchy of civil service ranks, which promoted discipline and organization.
Let us consider in more detail the civil, court, and military ranks.
The introduction of the “Table of Ranks” was a progressive measure, creating an incentive for officials to perform exemplary service and opening up the opportunity for promotion for people from unprivileged classes. In general, the “Table of Ranks” was of a class nature; it contributed to the strengthening of the feudal-serf system in Russia, and met the interests of the nobility and the emerging bourgeoisie in the country. The “Table of Ranks” reveals to us a system of not only ranks, but also titles. There is a difference between them. Chin comes from the word “repair” - to do. The title was awarded to members of the Emperor's Retinue. And although rank and title are close in themselves, they are still not the same thing, so let’s talk a little more about ranks and separately about titles. It should be noted that the “Table of Ranks” was not born out of nowhere. When Peter was abroad, he looked closely and studied the organization of troops, the peculiarities of the structure of units, the system of subordination of juniors to seniors. By 1672 in Russian army Some ranks have already been introduced for all branches of the military, namely: colonel, lieutenant colonel (assistant colonel), captain (company commander), lieutenant (mission officer, captain's assistant), ensign (standard bearer, from the word "ensign" banner) and ensign (assistant warrant officer, not officer).
The rank of general in the Russian army was first awarded in 1667 to the commander of the Moscow elective regiment A.A. Shepelev. And in 1698, with the division of regiments into battalions, new position and a new rank - battalion commander, major. This rank was consolidated in 1711. Peter I already had an idea about ranks and their benefits in the army.
Let's move on to consider the court ranks enshrined in the Table of Ranks of 1722.
Court officials, both military and civilian, were divided into 14 classes. The most important advantage of court ranks was considered that their holders had the opportunity of constant and close communication with representatives royal family and often had friendly relations with them. They took part in all court ceremonies, they were given special elegant uniforms, and some ranks were also given special insignia. Thus, chief chamberlains and mergers received keys: the first of them were gold, strewn with diamonds, which were worn on their sides - “on right side, on a gold cord,” the second are gold, worn on an Andreevsky blue lek, tied with a bow on the left side near the valve.
Let us consider the organization of civil ranks according to the Table of Ranks of 1722.
With the publication of the Table of Ranks on January 24, 1722, complications arose in the civil service. There were many positions, but there were few people who managed to serve the established terms by the time they were awarded the rank. In addition, it was believed that a civil service official should serve longer than a military official, which is fair. But what to do in a situation where, due to a significant expansion of the civil department, many officials were needed? And Peter I allowed the assignment of ranks to those who deserved them. And even for those who had no rank before. It was a real revolution, but Peter boldly went for it, realizing that otherwise the reforms would drag on for for many years. He was aware that in this case, by hook or by crook, mediocre individuals could slip into high positions. But the time required a bold decision, and he made it. And I must say that basically the decision justified itself. Talented young leaders took up official positions and significantly advanced the entire state.
Naturally, the new matter did not stand still, and Peter, on May 7, 1724, made changes to the corresponding regulations on the civil service. Thus, he orders privy councilors to be promoted to class III, and class V to be promoted to rank. Empress Elizabeth, by Decree of June 23, 1745, legitimizes the ranks of collegiate councilor, court councilor, and collegiate assessor; transfers the rank of court councilor from class VI to class VII; confirms the sequence of service in each rank. On September 13, 1760, it was decided to assign regular ranks to those for whom there was no vacancy based on length of service. And it was wise. A civilian could remain in the same position for decades. To spend decades in the lowest rank until old age was simply indecent. But having received the next rank, the person calmed down and continued to work just as conscientiously in his previous position.
Before the Decree of Catherine II of December 16, 1790, in order to receive a rank, persons of non-noble origin were required to serve from 10 to 12 years. And only then, and even with certain merits, could a non-nobleman receive the rank of XIV class. Catherine allowed the conferment of rank after three years, and subsequently also every three years up to and including VIII class. VIII class, as stated earlier, gave the right to hereditary nobility. Under Paul I, high ranks were assigned at the discretion of the emperor. But, of course, still for special merits. Although let’s say frankly that special merits could have been eavesdropping, snooping, etc. But. own hand lord. I turn what I want. Under Paul I, and even under Catherine II, the Senate often intervened in the matter of assigning the next rank. When it was necessary to appoint a person to a higher position who had a rank two or three classes lower than the new position, the decision of the Senate assigned the corresponding rank. And it turned out that a person, having, for example, the rank of VIII class, received the rank of V class. However, on June 2, 1808, this practice came to an end. The Emperor saw in the decisions of the Senate an attack on his monarchical power. But in order not to completely block the promotion of talented leaders outside established deadlines, he allowed the submission of petitions for awarding ranks, again for special merits, at his discretion.
Over time, the question arose about the names of the ranks. Civil ranks were called Unterstättälter, Ekonomicaltälter, Regirungsrät, Ober-Directors and the like. These ranks resembled military ones. And the population willingly used them, because the authority of the army official was high at all times. Looking ahead, I will say that subsequently individual civil officials demanded to call themselves generals, although in the civil department they were listed as advisers. For example, an actual privy councilor, a privy councilor, an actual state councilor. This was especially true for those who transferred to the civil service from officers.
Yushkov S.V. notes that transformations within the nobility influenced changes in genealogy and system social etiquette. Genealogy before 1682 was based on localism. Instead of old titles (princes), new ones are introduced. Counts and barons were added to the illustrious princes and dukes. The system of social etiquette established by Peter I lasted in Russia until the end of 1917.
Thus, in the 1st quarter of the 18th century. The social support of absolutism was formed, which predetermined the irreversibility of Peter’s transformations. A single Russian nobility was formed - a privileged class, which differed qualitatively and quantitatively from the service people of the late 17th century. (after the death of Peter 1, there were over 100 thousand noble families). A professional officer corps and bureaucracy were formed.
Thus, the Table of Ranks of 1722 played an important role in the development of the state and law. It should be noted that the Table of Ranks established military, court and civil ranks and classes. Each rank and class had its own characteristics, which affected both the employee himself and his family. It should be noted that legal status employee depended directly on the class and rank of the civil servant.