Velvet Book
Encyclopedia
The Velvet Book is an official compilation of genealogies
of Russia
's most illustrious families. The book is bound in red velvet
, hence the name. It was compiled during the regency of Sophia (1682-87) after the old system of ranks (mestnichestvo
) had been abolished and all the ancient pedigree books burnt to prevent contention between the feuding aristocratic clans.
The Velvet Book includes the ancient genealogical register from 1555 (Gosudarev Rodoslovets) featuring the family trees of Rurikid and Gediminid princely houses. An important addendum contains a set of genealogies prepared by the non-princely noble families on the basis of their family records. As it was fashionable to trace one's blood line back to a foreign immigrant, all sorts of fantasy genealogies
abound.
The Velvet Book was not printed until 1787. The first edition was prepared by Nikolai Novikov at the Moscow University Press. The full list of families from the Velvet Book may be consulted here. There is also an online version of the book.
Genealogy
Genealogy is the study of families and the tracing of their lineages and history. Genealogists use oral traditions, historical records, genetic analysis, and other records to obtain information about a family and to demonstrate kinship and pedigrees of its members...
of Russia
Russia
Russia or , officially known as both Russia and the Russian Federation , is a country in northern Eurasia. It is a federal semi-presidential republic, comprising 83 federal subjects...
's most illustrious families. The book is bound in red velvet
Velvet
Velvet is a type of woven tufted fabric in which the cut threads are evenly distributed,with a short dense pile, giving it a distinctive feel.The word 'velvety' is used as an adjective to mean -"smooth like velvet".-Composition:...
, hence the name. It was compiled during the regency of Sophia (1682-87) after the old system of ranks (mestnichestvo
Mestnichestvo
In Russian history, Mestnichestvo was a feudal hierarchical system in Russia from the 15th to 17th centuries. Mestnichestvo revolved around a simple principle: the boyar who estimated that his origins were more ancient and his personal services to the tsar more valuable could claim a higher state...
) had been abolished and all the ancient pedigree books burnt to prevent contention between the feuding aristocratic clans.
The Velvet Book includes the ancient genealogical register from 1555 (Gosudarev Rodoslovets) featuring the family trees of Rurikid and Gediminid princely houses. An important addendum contains a set of genealogies prepared by the non-princely noble families on the basis of their family records. As it was fashionable to trace one's blood line back to a foreign immigrant, all sorts of fantasy genealogies
Fantasy genealogy
Fantasy genealogies are mythical, fictional or fabricated pedigrees, usually to enhance the status of the descendant.Many claimed ancestries are considered by modern scholars to be fabrications, especially the claims of kings and emperors who trace their ancestry to gods or the founders of their...
abound.
The Velvet Book was not printed until 1787. The first edition was prepared by Nikolai Novikov at the Moscow University Press. The full list of families from the Velvet Book may be consulted here. There is also an online version of the book.