Razriady (books)

Razriady (Разряды) in the context of historical Russian book culture refers to a specific genre of compiled genealogical and biographical registers. These books, often kept by state chanceries, documented the service careers, kinship ties, and official appointments of members of the Russian elite, particularly the nobility. They served as vital records for establishing lineage, verifying claims to hereditary titles and privileges, and determining precedence in service and court appointments. The Razriady books were crucial for navigating the complex social and political hierarchies of Muscovite Russia and the Russian Empire. These records evolved over time, varying in scope and detail. They are invaluable sources for historians studying Russian social, political, and administrative history. The term "razriad" itself broadly translates to "category," "order," or "class," reflecting the books' function of organizing and categorizing information about individuals based on their status and service. The keeping of Razriady books declined in the later Imperial period as more modern record-keeping practices were adopted.