Table of Ranks in Tsarist Russia. Table of Ranks of the Russian Federation

The Table of Ranks of Tsarist Russia (1722-1917) is a law on the procedure for carrying out civil service in the Russian Republic and the Russian Empire, it also indicates the ratio of the seniority of various ranks and the sequence in which the production of goods is carried out.

It was approved by Peter I in January 1722 and lasted until November 1917 with numerous changes. In some territories controlled by the Cossack and White governments, its operation was preserved until October 1922. The "Table of Ranks" of the Russian Federation does not exist.

History of creation

Tsar Peter actively participated in the creation and editing of this law, based on borrowings from the list of ranks of the Prussian, French, Danish and Swedish kingdoms. Peter, having personally amended the draft project, signed it in 1721, but before publication he ordered to introduce this law for consideration by the Senate.

The contents of the "table of ranks" of tsarist Russia, except for the Senate, was also considered in the Admiralty and Military Colleges, where a number of remarks were made about how to rank ranks, salary salaries, and the introduction of ancient Russian ranks in the report card and on Elimination of the item on fines for occupying a seat that was higher than the corresponding rank in the church. All these points were, however, left without further consideration in the law "Table of Ranks" (Russian Empire). Members of the Senate Bruce and Golovkin, as well as Dmitriev-Mamonov and Matyushkin, the Major-General, took part in drafting the final version.

"Table of Ranks": How Served the State in Tsarist Russia

On January 24, 1722, the tsar approved the document. All ranks were now divided into the following three types: civil, military and court. They were also included in 14 different classes.

The "Table of Ranks" in Tsarist Russia had a total of 263 posts, but then some were abolished, and at the end of the 18th century disappeared altogether.

The hereditary nobility

The 14th grade (fendrik, and later, from 1730, the ensign) gave the person the right to hereditary nobility, which in the civil service was acquired upon attaining the eighth grade (the rank of collegiate assessor), and the 14th (that is, the college registrar) Only on the nobility of his carrier.

The hereditary nobility of the Manifesto, published on June 11, 1845, was acquired together with the production in the 8th form (which was corresponded to the staff officer rank). Born before their fathers received it, the children represented a special category. They were called ober-officer children. At the same time, one of them could be granted hereditary nobility at the request of his father.

Changes that occurred later in the "Table of Ranks"

In December 1856, Alexander II restricted his decree to the right to obtain the rank of colonel (this is the 6th form) by the nobility of the hereditary nobility, and on the civil service - the 4th class.

As you can see, the original version, which had the "Table of Ranks" in tsarist Russia, changed as a result of reforms for almost two centuries. A number of civilian positions have become civil service ranks, regardless of the real responsibilities of their representatives.

Abolished titles

For example, the names "collegiate assessor", "collegiate secretary", "state counselor", "collegiate adviser" first signified a post that the councilor performed with a decisive and deliberative voice, the secretary of the board, and also the president of the "state" collegium. The chairman of the court was called an "outside counselor". In 1726, the aforementioned courts were abolished, and the name of the rank remained until 1917.

"Table of Ranks" in tsarist Russia provided an opportunity for talented people, representatives of the lower classes, to move forward, including getting the nobility.

Separation of ranks

The officers were divided into staff-officers, chief officers (up to grade 9, that is, the rank of titular counselor / captain inclusive) and general 's officers . Particularly distinguished were the ranks of the first two classes (higher generals). They were supposed to have their own treatment: for your officers, "Your Honor", the officers' headquarters had to be called "Your Honor", the Generals "Your Excellency," and the representatives of the first two classes are "Your Excellency."

The class ranks of the 5th class (State Counselor / foreman) stood apart, not counting either to the generals or to the officers, they were supposed to use the following message: "Your Highness".

Chines, although not separately specified, were given exclusively to men. The wives entered the rank corresponding to their husbands, and unmarried girls were considered several ranks lower than their fathers. Also, a rule was introduced according to which a penalty was imposed for demanding places and honors above the rank during official meetings and public celebrations, which was equal to the two-month salary of this person, of which 2/3 of the money was to be received by the denouncer. The same penalty was provided for the concession to a person of the lowest rank of his place. Livery, crew, way of life - everything should be in accordance with the rank occupied.

Preference of military ringleaders by Peter I

Peter I, emphasizing in all the preference for the civilian military, did not want to establish for the persons in the civil service the corresponding ranks of the first class. But, yielding to the persuasion of Osterman, equated from the considerations of diplomatic prestige the rank of the Chancellor (the head of a certain diplomatic department) to him.

The rank of the secret adviser of the first class was established only afterwards. Peter's preference was also expressed in the fact that if the nobility was achieved in the army with the rank of the 14th grade, then in the state service - only with the rank of collegiate assessor (grade 8, officer-rank staff). Since 1856 for this it was necessary to obtain a rank of a general, that is, to become an actual state councilor.

Indicative in this respect is also the rather low rank (not even the general rank) that the president of the collegium of the "state", that is, the minister, according to European concepts, had.

Later, the ministers received the ranks of the secret adviser and the actual secret adviser.

The influence on the nobility and society

With the introduction of this law, the ancient ranks (okolnichi, boyars) were not formally abolished, but since then their appointments have ceased. "Table of Ranks" had a great influence on the historical fate of the nobility, as well as on the official schedule. Only personal merit became the sole regulator of official position. Breed, "fatherly honor" has lost all meaning in this respect. This is the main historical significance of such a document as the "Table of Ranks" in Tsarist Russia.

From the court and civil service was separated military. The acquisition of the nobility by the award of the monarch, a personal achievement was legalized. This influenced, in general, the democratization of the nobility, the consolidation of its service character, as well as the division of this class into new groups - personal and local.

The rank of the lowest class in military service (class 14, fendrik, and later, from 1730 - ensign) immediately granted the right to acquire nobility for all descendants. Later, the Manifesto of 1845, he was given only 8 grade, and in the civil service - the 5th.