raznochintsy

{{Short description|A social estate in the Russian Empire}}

{{Italic title}}

{{lang|ru|Raznochintsy}} ({{langx|ru|разночинцы}}; {{IPA|ru|rəznɐˈtɕintsɨ}}; {{lit|people of miscellaneous ranks}}){{notetag|The singular is {{lang|ru|raznochinets}} ({{langx|ru|разночинец}}, {{IPA|ru|rəznɐˈtɕinʲɪts|}}).}} was an official category introduced in the Digest of Laws of the Russian Empire in the 17th century for a social estate that included the lower court and governmental ranks, children of personal dvoryans, and discharged military. The category of {{lang|ru|raznochintsy}} grew significantly during the massive trimming down of the category of service class people ({{langx|ru|служилые люди}}) in the second half of the 17th century. {{lang|ru|Raznochintsy}} were of taxable estate, meaning those who had to pay poll tax ({{langx|ru|подушная подать}}). In the mid-18th century the category was abolished and a significant part of {{lang|ru|raznochintsy}} were transferred into peasantry, but many became merchants and various urban categories (urban {{lang|ru|sosloviya}}). As a result, {{lang|ru|raznochintsy}} of the 17th and 18th centuries significantly contributed to the urban growth in Siberia.[http://new.hist.asu.ru/biblio/razgon/68-111.html Siberian Merchantry of 18-19th Centuries] {{in lang|ru}}

Later, in the common speech the term acquired a somewhat opposite meaning—{{lang|ru|raznochintsy}} became to denote persons of non-noble origin who due to their education were excluded from the taxable status and could apply for the status of personal distinguished citizenship ({{langx|ru|личное почетное гражданство}}).

A significant number of Russian intelligentsia of the 19th century were {{lang|ru|raznochintsy}}.