Things Every Civilized Person Should Know: Imperial Russian Ranks and Forms of Address

First Grade (civil) – Chancellor, Actual Privy Counsellor, 1st class.
Style of Address: “His/Your High Excellency”

Second Grade (civil): Actual Privy Counsellor.
Second Grade (court): Chief Chamberlain, Chief Steward Marshal, Chief Stable Master, Chief Hunt Master, Chief Staff Master, Chief Vine Master, Chief Ceremonial Master.
Style of Address: “His/Your High Excellency”

Third Grade (civil): Privy Counsellor
Third Grade (court): Steward Marshal, Stable Master, Hunt Master, Staff Master, Chief Ceremonial Master (1801-1844), Chief Portion Steward (since 1856)
Style of address: “His/Your Excellency”

Fourth Grade (civil): Actual Civil Counsellor / Actual State Counsellor
Fourth Grade (court): Chamberlain (1737-1809)
Style of address: “His/Your Excellency”

Fifth Grade (civil): Civil Counsellor / State Counsellor
Fifth Grade (court): Ceremonial Master
Style of address: “His/Your High Ancestry”

Sixth Grade (civil): Collegiate Counsellor
Sixth Grade (court): Chamber Farrier (until 1884), Chamberlain (until 1737)
Style of address: “His/Your High Nobleness”

Seventh Grade (civil): Court Counsellor (since 1745)
Style of address: “His/Your Nobleness”

Eighth Grade (civil): Collegiate Assessor
Eighth Grade (court): Steward Farrier
Style of address: “His/Your Nobleness”

Ninth Grade (civil): Titular Counsellor
Style of address: “His/Your Nobleness”

Tenth Grade (civil): Collegiate Secretary
Style of address: “His/Your Nobleness”

Eleventh Grade (civil): Ship Secretary
Eleventh Grade (court) Chamber Junker
Style of address: “His/Your Nobleness”

Twelfth Grade (civil): Gubernial Secretary
Style of address: “His/Your Nobleness”

Thirteenth Grade (civil): Office Registrar, Provincial Secretary,Senate Registrar (since 1764), Synod Registrar (since 1764)
Style of address: “His/Your Nobleness”

Fourteenth Grade (civil): Collegiate Registrar
Style of address: “His/Your Nobleness”