No gauntlet for gentlemen : Officers' privileges in Russian military law, 1716-1855

Abstract

John Keep, No gauntlet for gentlemen: officers' privileges in Russian military law, 1716-1855. The article examines the following questions: I. Why this topic, contrary to appearances, is historically significant; 2. Sources - and revealing silences; 3. The system as established by Peler I, and compared to other systems; 4. The soslovie structure and its reflection in Russian military law; Catherine II's grant of corporate rights and the policies of her successors; 5. "Class justice" or two parallel institutional systems as regards a) malfeasance/abuse of authority by officers, b) procedural antl other advantages enjoyed by officer offenders, c) penal practice affecting officers and other ranks; 6. Attitudes among dvoriane to their privileges; stu i ings of legal consciousness; 7. Conclusions: the major defects are systemic and cultural rather than estate-related.