Lady-in-waiting of the Imperial Court of Russia
Encyclopedia
The Ladies-in-waiting of the Imperial Russian Court
(придворные дамы) are noblewomen of high aristocracy at the service of the women of the Imperial family
. They are organised according to the strict hierarchy of Peter the Great's table of ranks, following the woman's tchin (rank) established on January 24, 1722.
All the ancient occupations of the women at the Court of Russia, traditionally spread between boyardins (wife of a boyard), nurses, housekeepers, servants, nannies etc... are abolished for a new hierarchy
inspired by Versailles Court's etiquette
. The new hierarchy uses German words.
But in facts, the seven strict ranks were reduced to five by the mid 18th century and their names evolved as well. The fourth first ranks were only granted to 82 women at the end of the 18th century and only 18 in 1915.
During the official ceremonies, the ladies-in-waiting had to wear specific Court dresses according to a regulation of 1834 fixing the clothing, the manner and the colors allowed for each one. A Hofmeisterin, Statsdame or Kammer-Fraülein, would be allowed to wear a portrait
of the Empress above their right breast, so they were called lady with a portrait, one of the most prestigious position at Court. After the service, they would wear it above their left breast. The Fraülein would only wear the Empress or Grand Duchess' sign next to their left shoulder. In the 18th century, some of them were granted the right to wear a goat in their hairdressing.
Founded by Catherine II in 1764, the Smolny Institute near the Smolny convent
, used to be a nursery for future ladies-in-waiting.
Russian Empire
The Russian Empire was a state that existed from 1721 until the Russian Revolution of 1917. It was the successor to the Tsardom of Russia and the predecessor of the Soviet Union...
(придворные дамы) are noblewomen of high aristocracy at the service of the women of the Imperial family
Romanov
The House of Romanov was the second and last imperial dynasty to rule over Russia, reigning from 1613 until the February Revolution abolished the crown in 1917...
. They are organised according to the strict hierarchy of Peter the Great's table of ranks, following the woman's tchin (rank) established on January 24, 1722.
Definition and table of ranks
Hierarchy
A hierarchy is an arrangement of items in which the items are represented as being "above," "below," or "at the same level as" one another...
inspired by Versailles Court's etiquette
Etiquette
Etiquette is a code of behavior that delineates expectations for social behavior according to contemporary conventional norms within a society, social class, or group...
. The new hierarchy uses German words.
- Ober-Hofmeisterin (literally great-mistress of the Court); first class
- Wives of members of the private Council; second class
- Deïstvitelnaïa Statsdame (literally current lady of the State); third class
- Deïstvitelnaïa Kammer-devitsa (literally current lady of the bedchamber); fourth class and wives of College's presidents
- Hofdame (literally lady of the Court); fifth class and Generals' wives
- Hofdevitsa (lliterally miss of the Court); corresponding to Colonel's wives
- Kammer-devitsa (literally miss of the bedchamber)
But in facts, the seven strict ranks were reduced to five by the mid 18th century and their names evolved as well. The fourth first ranks were only granted to 82 women at the end of the 18th century and only 18 in 1915.
- Ober-Hofmeisterin
- Hofmeisterin (since 1748)
- Statsdame, 12 in 1796
- Kammer-Fraülein
- Fraülein , 12 in 1796
Service
- The Fraülein rank was the most common, around 189 for 203 ladies-in-waiting in 1881. In 1914, they were 261 for 280. A Fraülein or a Kammer-Fraülein is supposed to be single. A small number of those who married received a higher title but the vast majority had to leave the service of the Court. In 1826, Nicolas I decided that only 36 Fraülein would be at the service of the Empress, Grand-Duchesses and Princesses of the Imperial family : they were called Fraülein of the Household. Being a Fraülein gave the right to wear white and red at the Court.
- The Kammer-Fraülein rank was only granted to 4 or 5 ladies-in-waiting, the Statsdame rank was only granted to 5 ladies in 1914, all of them being married with high rank dignitaries. Most of these ladies, noblewomen of high rank, were members of the Order of St CatherineOrder of St CatherineThe Order of St Catherine was an award of Imperial Russia.Instituted on November 24, 1714 by Peter the Great on the occasion of his marriage to Catherine I of Russia...
. For they not really served at Court, it was mostly a highly honorific position. - The "Hofmeisterin" or "Ober-Hofmeisterin" rank gave preseance over all the other ladies-in-waiting. They were members of the Empress or Grand-Duchessess' households and were in charge of the introducing them the women invited at the Court. That rank is not allowed anymore after the 1880s, replaced by the Statsdamen.
- The Hofmeisterin, Statsdame and Kammer-Fraülein ranks entitled their owner to the form of address Your High Excellency (Ваше Высокопревосходительство).
During the official ceremonies, the ladies-in-waiting had to wear specific Court dresses according to a regulation of 1834 fixing the clothing, the manner and the colors allowed for each one. A Hofmeisterin, Statsdame or Kammer-Fraülein, would be allowed to wear a portrait
Portrait
thumb|250px|right|Portrait of [[Thomas Jefferson]] by [[Rembrandt Peale]], 1805. [[New-York Historical Society]].A portrait is a painting, photograph, sculpture, or other artistic representation of a person, in which the face and its expression is predominant. The intent is to display the likeness,...
of the Empress above their right breast, so they were called lady with a portrait, one of the most prestigious position at Court. After the service, they would wear it above their left breast. The Fraülein would only wear the Empress or Grand Duchess' sign next to their left shoulder. In the 18th century, some of them were granted the right to wear a goat in their hairdressing.
Founded by Catherine II in 1764, the Smolny Institute near the Smolny convent
Smolny Convent
Smolny Convent or Smolny Convent of the Resurrection , located on Ploschad Rastrelli, on the bank of the River Neva in Saint Petersburg, Russia, consists of a cathedral and a complex of buildings surrounding it, originally intended for a convent.-History:This Russian Orthodox convent was built to...
, used to be a nursery for future ladies-in-waiting.
Source
- Придворные дамы Российской империи