State Councillor (Russia)

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State Councillor (Russian: статский советник, statskiy sovetnik) was a civil rank in the Russian Empire, created by Peter the Great in 1722 as part of the Table of Ranks. It was a 5th-class rank and was equal to Brigadier in the Army, Captain-Commander in the Navy, and Grand Cupbearer at the Court. In 1796, after the Brigadier rank was canceled in the Army, the State Councillor sat between Major General and Colonel. Until 1856, holders had hereditary nobility; after that, the nobility threshold was raised to the 4th class. The rank holder was addressed as Your High Born (Russian: Ваше Высокородие, Vashe Vysokorodie). State Councillors typically served as vice-governors, deputy directors of large departments, or chairs of the state chamber. In the mid-19th century it was the lowest rank in the top group of state officials who defined government policy, and holders enjoyed special privileges and high salaries. To qualify, one had to spend five years in the lower rank. The rank was abolished in 1917 by the Decree on the Abolition of Estates and Civil Ranks.