Peter den Stores 'Table of Ranks' 1722
With the throne secured, Peter began his radical domestic reforms. First of all, he made the Russian army into an impressive force of professional soldiers. Using his experience as a seaman and carpenter, Peter molded the Russian navy into a formidable naval power. He even abolished the hated Streltsy, and instituted his own imperial guard units: the Preobrazhenskii and the Semeovskii. Peter also reformed the educational system by establishing new schools specializing in medicine, science, and math. In addition, Peter jumpstarted the Russian economy by importing European goods and implementing western mercantilism. Furthermore, Peter ordered his noblemen to wear fashionable Western clothes instead of their archaic long costumes. To add insult to injury, Peter personally cut off the beards of his noblemen. All men except the peasants and priests had to pay Peter's yearly beard tax and wear a medal proclaiming, "Beards are a ridiculous ornament." (Stanley, 20) Another of Peter's reforms was to deprive the Church system of its independence. In 1721, he created the Holy and Supreme Synod, answerable to himself. Peter climaxed his reforms with the "Table of Rank" which stated that anyone could hold a high position in the government- even a commoner.
| Rank
| Civil service
| Armén
| Flottan
|
| 1
| Chancellor
| Field Marshall
| General-Admiral
|
| 2
| Active Privy Counselor
| General
| Admiral
|
| 3
| Privy Counselor
| Lieutenant General
| Vice-Admiral
|
| 4
| Active State Councilor
| Major General
| Rear Admiral
|
| 5
| State Counselor
| Brigadier
| Captain-Commander
|
| 6
| Collegiate Counselor
| Colonel
| First Captain
|
| 7
| Court Counselor
| Lieutenant Colonel
| Second Captain
|
| 8*
| Collegiate Assessor
| Major
| Lieutenant Captain
|
| 9
| Titular Councilor
| Captain
| Staff Captain
|
| 10
| Collegiate Secretary
| Staff Captain
|
|
| 11
| Naval Secretary
|
|
|
| 12
| District Secretary
| Lieutenant
| Midshipman
|
| 13
| Provincial Secretary
| Sublieutenant
| Constable
|
| 14
| Collegiate Registrar
| Guidon Bearer
|
|
* The 8th rank conferred hereditary nobility on those who achieved it.
