Illegitimate children of nobility in the russian empire: rights and social status

Abstract

The article examines the policy of the State regarding illegitimate children of nobility during the
period from early XVIII to early XX century. Interests of single nobleman conflicted with interests
of the whole class of nobility and state policy in this period. Avoiding of approval of fornication the
state blocked integration of illegitimate children in their parents’ families and in social structures.
For this purpose illegitimate children were forfeited of right to use father’s name and to succeed to
the patrimony. Using of archive materials has allowed the author to review the implementation of
particular acts of law, and the methods of evasion practiced at the time.