Russian nobility
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The Russian nobility (Russian: Дворянство) arose in the 12th and 13th centuries as the lowest part of the feudal military (военно-служилого) class, which composed the court of a prince or an important boyar. From the 14th century it began to obtain land for the service (landowner). In the 17th century it composed the bulk of feudal lords. Privileges were fixed and were legally codified by the "zhalovannoy certificate to nobility 1785". After the peasant reform of 1861 the economic position of the nobility was weakened. After the October Revolution of 1917 all classes of nobility were legally abolished.
- Ancient nobility - which the descendants of ancient princes and boyars inherited
- Titled nobility - Princes, Counts, Barons.
- Hereditary nobility - nobility that was routinely inherited by heir apparents
- Personal nobility - nobility that was granted for the personal merits of the recipient.
- "Bespomestnoye" nobility - nobility obtained without allotment and fastening of the landownership(estates).
The title of noble was transferred by inheritance or was appropriated by a fount of honour.
[edit] Acquisition of the nobility
There were several methods by which nobility might be acquired. One of them was the acquisition of nobility by military service. In 1722-1845 hereditary nobility was given for long service of the first order - officer rank (ensign, cornet) on the military service also of the rank of Collegiate Assessor on the civil and for the rewarding by any order of the Russian Empire. In 1845-1856 - for long service at the rank of Major and State Counsellor, and to reward with all degrees of the Order of Saint George, Order of Saint Vladimir and with the first degrees of other orders. In 1856-1900 - the nobility was given by that rising itself to the rank of Colonel, captain of 1 ranks, Actual State Counsellor. The qualification on the orders increased between 1900 and 1917 - only someone rewarded with the order of Saint Vladimir of 3 degrees could become a hereditary noble.
[edit] Privileges of the nobility
Russian nobility possessed the following privileges:
- The right of possession of populated estates (until 1861)
- Freedom from required military service (1762-1874, later an all-estate compulsory military service was introduced)
- Freedom from zemstvo duties (until the second half of 19th century)
- The right to enter civil service and privileged educational institutions (The pazheskiy housing, The Imperatosrkiy Aleksandrovsk, the imperial school of jurisprudence-they accepted the children of nobles of 5 and 6 parts of the genealogical book and the children of those, whose rank was at least of 4th grade),
- The right to a corporate body
