登陆注册
5382300000135

第135章 CHAPTER XX(7)

If the term is to be used at all, it must be applied to a group of families which cluster around the Court and form the highest ranks of the Noblesse. This social aristocracy contains many old families, but its real basis is official rank and general culture rather than pedigree or blood. The feudal conceptions of noble birth, good family, and the like have been adopted by some of its members, but do not form one of its conspicuous features. Though habitually practising a certain exclusiveness, it has none of those characteristics of a caste which we find in the German Adel, and is utterly unable to understand such institutions as Tafelf鋒igkeit, by which a man who has not a pedigree of a certain length is considered unworthy to sit down at a royal table. It takes rather the English aristocracy as its model, and harbours the secret hope of one day obtaining a social and political position similar to that of the nobility and gentry of England. Though it has no peculiar legal privileges, its actual position in the Administration and at Court gives its members great facilities for advancement in the public service. On the other hand, its semi-

bureaucratic character, together with the law and custom of dividing landed property among the children at the death of their parents, deprives it of stability. New men force their way into it by official distinction, whilst many of the old families are compelled by poverty to retire from its ranks. The son of a small proprietor, or even of a parish priest, may rise to the highest offices of State, whilst the descendants of the half-mythical Rurik may descend to the position of peasants. It is said that not very long ago a certain Prince Krapotkin gained his living as a cabman in St. Petersburg!

It is evident, then, that this social aristocracy must not be confounded with the titled families. Titles do not possess the same value in Russia as in Western Europe. They are very common--

because the titled families are numerous, and all the children bear the titles of the parents even while the parents are still alive--

and they are by no means always associated with official rank, wealth, social position, or distinction of any kind. There are hundreds of princes and princesses who have not the right to appear at Court, and who would not be admitted into what is called in St.

Petersburg la societe, or indeed into refined society in any country.

The only genuine Russian title is Knyaz, commonly translated "Prince." It is borne by the descendants of Rurik, of the Lithuanian Prince Ghedimin, and of the Tartar Khans and Murzi officially recognised by the Tsars. Besides these, there are fourteen families who have adopted it by Imperial command during the last two centuries. The titles of count and baron are modern importations, beginning with the time of Peter the Great. From Peter and his successors about seventy families have received the title of count and ten that of baron. The latter are all, with two exceptions, of foreign extraction, and are mostly descended from Court bankers.*

Besides these, there are of course the German counts and barons of the Baltic Provinces, who are Russian subjects.

There is a very common idea that Russian nobles are as a rule enormously rich. This is a mistake. The majority of them are poor. At the time of the Emancipation, in 1861, there were 100,247

同类推荐
  • 洞真太上青芽始生经

    洞真太上青芽始生经

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。汇聚授权电子版权。
  • 鹅湖集

    鹅湖集

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。汇聚授权电子版权。
  • a w.kinglake - a biographical and literary study

    a w.kinglake - a biographical and literary study

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。汇聚授权电子版权。
  • Eben Holden

    Eben Holden

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。汇聚授权电子版权。
  • 满汉斗

    满汉斗

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。汇聚授权电子版权。
热门推荐
  • 爱因斯坦的圣经

    爱因斯坦的圣经

    本书是对科学发现和宇宙洞察的总结,它采用了《圣经》的文体,分为《旧约》和《新约》两部分。创世之初的宇宙是什么样子?星星何时开始在天空中闪烁?太阳和地球是如何形成的?生命如何从复杂的有机体中开始?大型爬行动物何以统治地球?哺乳动物和人类真是进化而来的吗?《旧约》部分在讲述宇宙演化的精彩故事之时,不仅为我们解答了这些问题,而且展示了人类对宇宙和生命探索的最新成果,宇宙的历史“在言说中复活了”。自然的“戒律”是什么?人的灵性和智慧是如何出现的?物质与生命的基本要素是什么?《新约》部分在揭示这些奥秘的同时,也将宇宙和自然的固有之美展现在我们面前。自然与我们同在!阿门。
  • 开国功臣:徐达

    开国功臣:徐达

    徐达(1332—1385年),字天德,濠州(今安徽凤阳)钟离太平乡人。他出生于一个世代种田的农民家庭,小时曾和朱元璋一起放过牛。元朝末年,他目睹政治黑暗,民不聊生,慨然有“济世之志”。元末农民战争爆发后,在郭子兴起义军中当小军官的朱元璋回乡招兵,他“仗剑往从”,从此开始了戎马倥偬的军事生涯。《中国文化知识读本·开国功臣:徐达》以优美生动的文字、简明通俗的语言、图文并茂的形式,介绍了明朝开国元勋郭子仪传奇的一生。
  • 我的“反派”夫君

    我的“反派”夫君

    少女叶蓁蓁被好友推荐了一款古风江湖恋爱游戏——《霸道反派爱上我》,在下载游戏时她不小心睡着,莫名进入到这个游戏中……刚进入游戏就误食了反派美男子纪然之救治妹妹的最好药引,又因为“看到反派美男子就迈不动腿”的奇葩游戏设定,叶蓁蓁只好跟随纪然之回到玄影阁……纪然之并不是心狠手辣的江湖恶人,两人互生情愫,然而——江湖多波折,真情待考验!叶蓁蓁通过搞笑的系统君知道了游戏中的一生也仅是现实中的片刻,她不愿从游戏中出来,宁愿先做完这一生的一场梦……
  • 企业规范化管理系统实施方案·组织架构管理

    企业规范化管理系统实施方案·组织架构管理

    本书集中阐述了组织架构管理,包括核算事务工作总量和分量,选择确定组织结构的模式,设置确定单位、部门和岗位,界定单位、部门和岗位工作标准,分析确定岗位员工的授权,健全组织运行的规则等六个方面的工作。其规范化的基本要求主要有组织系统功能完备、事务工作分配合理、岗位工作权责匹配、管理跨度合理适中等四个方面。系统介绍了企业组织运行事务工作的核算与分配方法,并通过实例讨论分析了完善组织运行规则制度的方法。
  • 追拿爱妻

    追拿爱妻

    Z市,晚上八点半。随着一声“OK”,站在冷风中手持话筒刚才还保持着一脸恬静微笑的田默就开始蹦脚了。“太冷了,收工,收工。”田默一边叫着,一边将话筒丢给一边的助理,自己忙着跑到后面的新闻车上去取自己的大衣和帽子。现在已经进入了十一月,北方已经进入了冬季。刚才是为了解说利索田默才脱下大衣和帽子,此时直播一结束她当然要赶紧武装起来。早过了下班的时间,要不是……
  • 重案缉凶

    重案缉凶

    “在这个世上,没有破不了的案,只有破不了案的人。任何看似完美的罪案其实都不完美,因为制作罪案的人本身就不完美。”《重案缉凶》(作者九木)收集了近年来中国最为刺激、惊险、复杂的真实案例,以档案小说的形式,深度剖析犯罪动机,完美演绎犯罪情节,并对罪犯心理做了深入的解析探讨,完整地还原了扑朔迷离的复杂案情。《重案缉凶》将给“犯罪”这一课题的研究提供权威性借鉴。
  • 田园娇宠:夫君好粘人

    田园娇宠:夫君好粘人

    异世重生,李夏成了落魄贵族的小媳妇,娘家亲人先后失踪,婆家人个个是极品,小姑子刁钻恶毒,婆婆强势贪财,最让她闹心的是她夫君还只又瘸又丑的大尾巴狼。她不仅要种田养家,腹黑夫君还要缠着她……!
  • 国民男神又又又考第一了

    国民男神又又又考第一了

    她,苗疆巫族的族长,重生成人人可欺的小可怜。翻身崛起,带着自己的本命蛊,玩转整个商圈、娱乐圈,成为女人心中的国民男神。只是不小心撩到钻石榜第一的钻石男!这就栽了!某日。“我要去做一件事。”她把装备弄好,脸上有着肃杀之色。“嗯?”男人微微挑眉。“有人出十亿钱买你的命。”“你要去帮我报仇?”某男心想还是媳妇疼爱自己。“不是,他出了一亿买我的命,而买你的,却出十亿!”她拉过他的衣领,“明明我才是爷,凭什么我比你少那么多!所以,我要送他去见阎王!”-作者新文《我家影后A爆了!》求支持!
  • 杨力谈老年养生

    杨力谈老年养生

    关注老年人的健康,让每个老年人都掌握自我保健之法,延缓衰老,提高晚年生活品质具有重要的现实意义。本书由中国首席中医养老专家为你讲解养生的奥秘,这是一部让中国人多活十年的书!
  • 柳传志内部讲话:关键时,柳传志说了什么

    柳传志内部讲话:关键时,柳传志说了什么

    他40岁下海,稳扎稳打,第一个收购海外名企,带领企业冲进世界500强,登顶PC老大,代表了某种稳定而可靠的经验、一种规避风险和对抗波澜的担保。他乐于使用自己的影响力,分享管理经营企业的经验,分析当前的宏观政策甚至是传授对人生的理解。2013年,他在伦敦发布的“全球最具影响力50大商业思想家”(Thinkers50)榜单中,位列第31位。他,就是联想的创始人、中国企业家教父——柳传志。