Lady-in-waiting of the Imperial Court of Russia

A lady-in-waiting of the Imperial Russian Court (''придворные дамы'') was a woman of high aristocracy at the service of a woman of the Imperial family. They were organised according to the strict hierarchy of Peter the Great's table of ranks, following the woman's ''chin'' (rank) established on January 24, 1722.

Definition and table of ranks

All the ancient occupations of the women at the Court of Russia, traditionally held by ''boyarynias'' (wives of '' boyars''), nurses, housekeepers, servants, nannies etc., were abolished and replaced by a new hierarchy inspired by Versailles Court's etiquette and German models, although many Muscovite and post-reform positions were in charge of identical functions. The new hierarchy used German terminology.

*Ober-Hofmeisterin (The Great Mistress of the Court); first class
*Wives of members of the Privy council of Russia; second class
*Deystvitelnaya Statsdame (literally Acting Lady of the State); third class
*Deystvitelnaya Kammer-devitsa (literally Acting Maid of the Bedchamber); fourth class and wives of College's presidents
*Hofdame (literally Lady of the Court); fifth class and Generals' wives
*Hofdevitsa (Maid of Honour); corresponding to Colonel's wives
* Kammer-devitsa (Maid of the Bedchamber)

But in fact, the seven strict ranks were reduced to five by the mid 18th century and their names evolved as well. The four first ranks were only granted to 82 women at the end of the 18th century and only 18 in 1915.

*Ober-Hofmeisterin (The Great Mistress of the Court)
*Hofmeisterin (since 1748) (The Mistress of the Court)
* Statsdame, 12 in 1796 (Lady of the State)
*Kammer-Fräulein (Maid of the Bedchamber)
*Fräulein (pronounced in a Russian way: ''Freylina''), 12 in 1796 (Maid of Honour)

Service

*The ''Fräulein'' rank was the most common, around 189 for 203 ladies-in-waiting in 1881. In 1914, they were 261 for 280. A ''Fräulein'' or a ''Kammer-Fräulein'' were unmarried. A small number of those who married received a higher title but the vast majority had to leave the service at Court. In 1826, Nicolas I decided that only 36 ''Fräulein'' would be at the service of the Empress, Grand-Duchesses and Princesses of the Imperial family : they were called ''Fräulein of the Household''. Being a ''Fräulein'' gave the right to wear white and red at Court.
*The ''Kammer-Fräulein'' 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 Catherine. Their positions rarely entailed daily service at Court, they were mostly honorific with attendance on great occasions.
*The "Hofmeisterin" or "Ober-Hofmeisterin" rank gave precedence over all the other ladies-in-waiting. They were members of the Empress` or Grand-Duchesses' Households and were in charge of introductions of the women invited to Court.
*The ''Hofmeisterin'', ''Statsdame'' and ''Kammer-Fräulein'' ranks entitled their holder 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-Fräulein'' wore a miniature portrait of the Empress on their right shoulder and were called ''dames à portrait'', one of the most prestigious positions at Court. After they left active service, they would wear it on their left shoulder. The ''Fräulein'' would only wear the Empress or Grand Duchess' initials in diamonds, pinned to their left shoulder. In the 18th century, some of them were granted the right to wear curls.

Founded by Catherine II in 1764, the ''Smolny Institute'' near the Smolny convent, used to be a nursery for future ladies-in-waiting.

References

Sources

*Придворные дамы Российской империи

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