Fantasy Guide to Russian Noblity
This was meant as an answer to an anon a few days back but the ask has since vanished from the box so I said I'd make a guide about it. The Russian aristocracy is the inspiration behind TLP and I've done a lot of researching and delving into it and decided to share some notes.
The Tiers of Russian Aristocracy
Titled nobility: are the top tier of the hierarchy and contained those who held the titles of prince, count and baron.
Hereditary nobility: is the second top ranking and referred to noblity transferred to only to the wife and, children of the holder and those in the agnatic. Hereditary nobility can be obtained by Imperial grant to individuals or families, by active service and being awarded an order of chivalry of the Russian Empire
Personal nobility: are those who were admitted into the orders of knighthood of the Russian Empire. It was transferrable only to the wife, not the children. It was granted by Imperial consent, by attaining the 14th military rank of ensign or the 9th civil rank of Titular Councillor or awarded the orders of the Russian.
Estateless nobility: was nobility only acquired by state service such as working alongside the government or Tsar, but they did not hold land.
Ancient nobility: The ancient nobility were descendants of Rurik, Gediminas and boyars (member of the ruling nobility in medieval Russia) and knyazes (Princes).
Styles of Address in Russian Noblity
Tsar/Czar/Tsarina/Tsarista/Czarina
This is the Emperor/Empress of Russia. They are styled as Your Imperial Majesty
Tsarevich
This is the heir to the Russian throne and styled as Your Imperial Highness
Grand Dukes and Grand Duchesses
These are the sons snd daughters and the grandchildren in the male line of the Tsar. They bore the style of Imperial Highness.
Princes and Princesses of the Imperial bloodline
This was a more recent style of address brought in by Alexander III to trim to Romanov tree and save a lot of money, Grand Dukes received 200,000 rubles from the state each year. These were great-grandchildren in the male line of the Tsar. They are styled Your Highness.
Non Imperial Princes and Princesses
There is a rank in the Russian Noblity that does use the style of Prince but not in the same way most Westerners do. Russian ‘princes’ are not royals, there are nobles. These families were usually been descended from rulers of principalities of the Medieval era but as Russia grew more cebtralized under the rule of one Tsar, the title lost its power. The Russian style of Prince is an interesting one as it could be used by the entire family not just the head of the family. They are simply styled as Your Serene Highness/Your Illustrious Highness
Marquess/Marquise/Marchioness: Referred to as Your Serenity
Counts/Countess: Referred to as Your Serenity
Barons: Referred to as Your Well Born
Dvoryanin / Pomeshchik
The lowest ranks of hereditary nobility. Dvoryanin were free commoners in the service of noblemen who owned serfs whilst Pomeshchiks were the landed gentry, treated as nobility due to their wealth. They are addressed as Your Well Birth
















