Boyars

Boyars were members of the highest rank of nobility in Russia, particularly from the 14th to 17th centuries. They held significant land and political power, often advisory to the ruler and part of the ruling elite. Boyars owned large estates, commanded troops, and had influence over government decisions. Their status was hereditary, and they played a key role in shaping Russia’s politics and society during medieval and early modern times. Over time, their power decreased as czarist centralization increased, but they remained an important element of Russia’s aristocratic history.