Okolnichie is the rank of the Boyar Duma

Okolnichie is a court and palace rank in the 13th - early 18th centuries. These were the people who are closest to the prince after the boyars. Initially, there were few of them surrounded by the ruler, but over time their importance and political weight increased, so that for several centuries they were traditionally considered advisers and assistants to princes, and subsequently kings.

Characteristics of the era

In medieval Rus around the princes there was always formed a whole staff of servants, advisers and assistants, who were called one common term "household people". Among them there were several layers: at the top were boyars, okolnichie and Duma noblemen. The first came from noble births and constituted a generic nobility. They could be a reliable support for the ruler, but at the same time, because of their noble origin, they were often unhappy with the restriction of their power and influence, and therefore sometimes became in opposition to their master. In this respect, the boyar boyar was a more reliable support for the sovereign: just as close to him, he, nevertheless, being less distinguished, was more dependent on the ruler than the generals boyars. Duma noblemen also formed the support of princes and kings, but they were even less generous than okolnichie.

Occurrence

Okolnichie are people who performed various duties at court. The origin of this term is most likely associated with the word "about" and meant persons who were constantly close to the rulers. The first mention of this rank dates back to the end of the 13th century. This post was distributed in the Moscow principality. Prince Simeon Ivanovich by the name of Proud speaks about these ranks in his famous contract with his brothers, drawn up in 1348. Initially, there were very few (three to five people).

Functions

Apparently, for some time after the appearance of this post, it was believed that okolnichie - these are people who performed the duties of the ceremonies master, that is, they arranged receptions, ceremonies, and also served princes and kings in their travels, prepared parking places for them (the so-called camps) , And in addition, engaged in the reception of foreign ambassadors and delegations.

Later, however, the scope of their duties expanded, and these persons were appointed to more responsible posts: for example, they often became commanders of regiments, governors of regions or commanders of orders. Their number in the princely court gradually grew, it was very noticeable under Ivan III and Ivan the Terrible. But especially this trend manifested itself with the first Romanovs. Perhaps, it was then that this rank became closer to the rulers. Room or near okolnichie - this is the closest advisers of the tsar, who in their influence even surpassed the boyars. There were few such persons, but their influence very often could influence the king's decision.

Boyar Duma

It was a constant council under princes and kings. In his charge were mainly economic, administrative and military issues. The composition of the Boyar Duma included okolnichie along with the boyars, Duma nobles and clerks. Their position in this body of government was very important, as they were often instructed to lead regiments in campaigns, to hold posts of governors. The role of this management body especially increased in the middle of the 16th century, when a bureaucratic management system based on orders was finally formed in the Moscow state. Accordingly, the number of people occupying this post also increased.

Value

This rank was finally segregated into a separate group in the 16th century. Then the boyars began to be divided into two categories: the first, close to the prince, the second received the rank of okolnichy and took a subordinate position in relation to the first category. According to the remark of the famous historian Klyuchevsky, who studied in detail the composition of the Boyar Duma, the okolnichie basically consisted of a non-titled nobility. As a rule, this category consisted of the old Moscow service boyars, which was formed in the 14th century, but managed to maintain its positions in the following centuries, when the influx of a new titled nobility from former rulers took place, which took the leading position in the council of the Moscow sovereign.

Abolition

The orderly boyar boyars were abolished at the beginning of the 18th century after Peter I published his famous "Table of Ranks". The main principle of his provisions was the rule of personal service, which presupposed promotion, despite the degree of nobility or gentility. This, in principle, changed the whole system of governance both in the military and judicial systems, which, in turn, changed the social structure of Russian society. In principle, the rank of okolnichy also partly implied the principle of personal service in the service. After all, the people who held this post were less well-off than, for example, boyars, who were traditionally appointed by the Moscow sovereigns from the descendants of the most ancient princely families of the Rurikovichs or Gediminovichs. Therefore, the rank of okolnichy was achieved due to personal abilities or qualities. However, the principle of gentility was still in the forefront here, since only persons of noble origin applied for this place, whereas Duma clerks, for example, very often had people of simple origin who achieved their position thanks to their abilities and their ability to conduct business.