It was directly related to the third part of the draft Code and reflected the requirements and needs nobility. The main idea of ​​the Manifesto was to consolidate the principle of the free character of the civil service. Service to the monarch and the state was regarded as an honorable duty of the nobility and guaranteed a number of privileges, but was no longer considered an obligation. Nobles were allowed to leave the state and enter the foreign service. They were obliged to return only at the call of the supreme power. The manifesto suggested that the desire for state. service is "rooted in the heart of the nobility" and there is no point in forcing it. Nobles could stop their service at any time or not enter the service at all. Nobles were allowed to study at home. All the established privileges did not apply to members of the same palace, and the circle of the nobility narrowed.

Manifesto Peter III on the freedom of the nobility of 1762, confirming the special position of the nobles in society, abolished the obligation of public service for representatives of the "noble estate." The "Order", written by Catherine II in 1767, developed the provisions of the Manifesto.

Back in 1771, a draft was prepared, which became the basis of the Letter of Complaint to the nobility (hereinafter referred to as the Letter). According to the project, the entire population was divided into three classes, the first of which was called "noble".

The diploma consisted of an introductory manifesto and four sections (92 articles). It installed:

Principles of the organization of local noble self-government.

Personal rights of nobles.

The procedure for compiling genealogies of civil books.

Definition of nobility

The title of nobility was considered as an inalienable, hereditary and hereditary quality that extended to all members of the nobleman's family.

The grounds for the deprivation of the title of nobility could only be criminal offenses, the list of which was exhaustive. That is, the list of deeds could not expand under any circumstances: “The cause of a noble, fallen into a criminal offense and, according to the laws, worthy of deprivation of noble dignity, or honor, or life, may not be performed without being submitted to the Senate and confirmed by Imperial Majesty.”

Rights of a nobleman

1. Personal rights - the right to noble dignity, to protect honor and life, exemption from corporal punishment (“May corporal punishment not affect the noble.”) And from compulsory public service.

2. Property rights - a full and unlimited right of ownership, to inherit any type of property, including peasants. The nobleman had the right to engage in entrepreneurial activities, including maritime trade: “The noble are allowed to have factories and plants in the villages. The noble ones are allowed to establish small towns in their estates and trades and fairs in them. The noble is confirmed the right to have or build or buy houses in cities and in them to have needlework. It is allowed for the noble to sell in bulk or from designated harbors across the seas to release goods that will be born to someone, or will be made on the basis of laws, for they are not forbidden to have or start factories, needlework and all sorts of factories. In addition, it was noted: “The noble person personally is removed from personal taxes.”

3. Procedural (judicial) rights - only a court of equals could judge a nobleman, the deprivation of the rights mentioned in paragraphs 1-2 was carried out only in court.

Estate self-government of the nobility

The nobles had the right to create their own societies, that is Nobility Assemblies. These Assemblies had property rights (for example, to have their own finances, employees, etc.) Assemblies also had political rights: for example, to submit their “projects” to the emperor.

The Assembly included all the nobles who had estates in a given province. The provincial marshal of the nobility ruled the self-government of the nobility. The latter's candidacy was approved by the governor. The Assembly also elected the assessors to estate courts and police officials.

Compilation of noble genealogical books

County leaders carried out the compilation of genealogical books. All hereditary nobles had equal rights, regardless of the difference in titles and antiquity of the family.

Meaning of Diploma

The letter of grant to the nobility completed the legal consolidation of this class, begun by Peter I (Decree on the same inheritance).

The diploma, following the Manifesto of Peter III, provided the nobles with opportunities to develop their creative and managerial abilities, made it possible to feel like a real driving force in society.

Emperor Peter III signs the "Manifesto on the granting of liberties and freedom Russian nobility" (Previously, Peter I, carrying out his reforms and fighting the boyars, relied on a layer of nobles and created from them, saying modern language, a rigid administrative system…).

Now the nobles were freed from mandatory 25 years of civil and military service, could retire (which did about 10 000 nobles - approx. I.L. Vikentiev), travel abroad, etc. However, at the request of the government, they were required to serve in armed forces during the wars, for which he had to return to Russia under the threat of confiscation of land and property.

“Contrary to popular belief, this decree did not at all mean some kind of “right to general idleness” of the nobility. On the contrary, he only eliminated the heavy legacy of the “Moscow dragon”, when people, despite their state of health, personal desire, and abilities, were obliged to serve in a downright hard labor way for a quarter of a century. Peter III declared that from now on he sees no need for "forced service." The decree regulated in detail all aspects of the life of the nobles - just so that liberties would not turn into lawlessness. Retirement was allowed only Peaceful time, this rule became invalid during hostilities, as well as three months before their start. It was allowed to enter the service abroad - but only in the "allied" powers, with the obligation to return to Russia on demand. Parents of any noble undergrowth, upon reaching 12 years of age, were required to report in writing what their son had learned, whether he wanted to study further, and if so, where […] The establishment of a certain “living wage” was completely innovative - those who had less 1000 serfs, had to determine the children in Cadet Corps. Those who would take it into their heads to leave children “without teaching the sciences worthy of the noble nobility”, Peter III directly frightened with “our heavy anger”. Those who would deviate from the proper education of children were proposed to be considered "as negligent about the common good" and despised "by all our loyal subjects and true sons of the Fatherland." They were forbidden not only to appear at court, but also to be "in public meetings and celebrations."

Of course, many nobles, having suddenly received the opportunity to return unhindered to their estates, used their unexpected freedom solely to crack vodka and drag serf girls to the bathhouse. But there were many others - those who were engaged in the sciences on their estates, collecting libraries, enlightenment. Enough to remember Bolotov, precisely thanks to the decree of Peter III, who became a major scientist. It is not surprising that the Senate intended "on behalf of the grateful nobility" to erect a golden statue of the emperor. The answer of Peter III is known: “The Senate can give gold a better purpose, and by my reign I hope to erect a more lasting monument in the hearts of my subjects.”

Bushkov A.A., Russia, which was not: riddles, versions, hypotheses M., "Olma-press"; St. Petersburg "Neva"; Krasnoyarsk "Bonus", 2001, p. 443-444.

("On the granting of liberties and freedom to the entire Russian nobility") - a law that expanded class rights and privileges in Russian. nobles. Published 18 Feb. 1762 imp. Peter III. According to M. about century. d. all nobles were exempted from compulsory citizenship. and military services; consisted of state service could retire. This most important privilege was reserved for the nobles for more than 100 years. The nobles could freely travel abroad, but at the request of the pr-va to return to Russia. During wars, nobles had to serve in the army. Right Russian. nobles to educate their children in "schools and at home" has become their unities. estate duty. With the publication of M. about c. d. nobles received more possibilities to practice their x-tion. At the same time M. about century. D. strengthened the social support of absolutism in Russia. Main M.'s provisions about century. were confirmed by the government when issuing the Letter of Complaint to the nobility in 1785.

Lit .: Vernadsky G.V., Manifesto of Peter III on the freedom of the nobility and legislators. commission of 1754-1766, Historical Review, vol. 20, P., 1915; Essays on the history of the USSR. Russia in the second half of the 18th century, M., 1956; On the granting of liberties to the Russian nobility, in the book: Reader on the history of the USSR, comp. Belyavsky M. T. and Pavlenko N. I., M., 1963.

Soviet historical encyclopedia. - M.: Soviet Encyclopedia. Ed. E. M. Zhukova. 1973-1982 .

See what the "MANIFESTO ON THE Liberty of the Nobility" is in other dictionaries:

- (Manifesto on granting freedom and liberties to the Russian nobility), a law that expanded the rights and liberties of the Russian nobility. Published February 18, 1762 by Emperor Peter III. The nobles were exempted from the mandatory state and military ... ... Russian history

- (On granting liberties and freedom to the entire Russian nobility) a law that expanded the class rights and privileges of the Russian nobility Published on February 18. 1762 by Emperor Peter III. All nobles were exempted from compulsory civil and military ... ... Political science. Dictionary.

Law Dictionary

MANIFESTO ON THE LIBERTY OF THE NOBILITY- (“On granting liberties and freedom to all Russian nobility”) a law that expanded the class rights and privileges of Russian nobles. Published on February 18, 1762 by Emperor Peter III. In accordance with the manifesto, all nobles were exempted from ... ... Legal Encyclopedia

This term has other meanings, see Manifesto (disambiguation). Wikisource has texts on the topic ... Wikipedia

- (“On granting liberties and freedom to all Russian nobility”) a law that expanded the class rights and privileges of Russian nobles. Published February 18, 1762 by Emperor Peter III. All nobles were exempted from compulsory civil and military… Big soviet encyclopedia

- (On granting liberties and freedom to the entire Russian nobility) a law that expanded the class rights and privileges of Russian nobles. Published on February 18, 1762 by Emperor Peter III. In accordance with the manifesto, all nobles were exempted from ... ... encyclopedic Dictionary economics and law

manifesto on the liberty of the nobility- (On granting liberties and freedom to the entire Russian nobility) a law that expanded the class rights and privileges of Russian nobles. Published on February 18, 1762 by Emperor Peter III. All nobles were exempted from compulsory civil and military ... ... Big Law Dictionary

MANIFESTO ON THE LIBERTY OF THE NOBILITY- a law signed on February 18, 1762 by Peter III. Developed by Prosecutor General A.I. Glebov. The nobles were exempted from compulsory military and civil service, which contributed to their settling in the estates. The nobles were allowed ... ... Russian statehood in terms. IX - beginning of XX century

Wed What was the huge phalanx of our pillar and non-pillar nobles to do, who served their own or, given the freedom of the nobility, were not going to serve at all ... Feast? .. Kokhanovskaya. Old man. Wed A nobleman when he wants, and servants ... ... Michelson's Big Explanatory Phraseological Dictionary

Manifesto "On the granting of liberties and freedom to all Russian nobility" (traditional short title- Manifesto on Liberty to the Nobility) - a law that expanded the rights and liberties of the Russian nobility. Published on February 18, 1762 by Emperor Peter III. The nobles were exempted from compulsory state and military service; Nobles who were in the civil service could retire under certain conditions. They received the right to freely travel abroad, but at the request of the government to return to Russia. During the wars they had to serve in the army. The main provisions of the Manifesto were confirmed by the Charter to the nobility (1785).

Already at the time of emergence Old Russian state in the X-XI centuries. privileged groups existed in it - princely squad and tribal nobility, which gradually integrated with each other. Them main function there was military service to the prince; in addition, they participated in management: senior combatants - in the collection of polyudya, younger combatants performed dep. administrative and judicial orders of the prince. In the XII century. with the beginning of the fragmentation of Russian lands and principalities, a class group of service boyars was formed, belonging to which was determined not only by serving the prince, but also by the emerging patrimonial land tenure boyars. All privileged groups united within the framework of the Sovereign Court of the Principality, it included the nobles themselves (from the word "court"). They made up his lower stratum, they were originally a person with a certain measure of personal lack of freedom from the prince, who were initially at his full support. From the 13th century the nobles of the noble boyars are also known. The status of the nobles gradually increased: no later than the 13th century. they received the right to own estates.
Formation in the XV-XVI centuries. The Muscovite state in the form of a monarchy with class representation fundamentally changed the structure of the nobility, as well as the nature of its ties with the monarch. Vassal relations were replaced by relations of allegiance to the Grand Duke of Moscow (from 1547 - to the tsar). Instead of many princely courts, one Sovereign court was formed - the Moscow led. prince, who united the upper and partly the middle layers of the privileged groups.
Along with the isolation of the nobility to mid-sixteenth in. more clearly manifested common features in legal and social status the entire nobility. With the abolition of feeding and other reforms in the 1550s. principles were unified material support military and administrative service of the nobility (the system of imposition by local salaries, payment of monetary salaries from the central public institutions), and the conditions of service are defined. All official appointments were concentrated in one order - Bit.
The events of the Time of Troubles led to the physical disappearance of many aristocratic families. The nobility split into military-political groups associated with various centers of power in the country, part of the elite was held hostage by the command of the Commonwealth garrison in Moscow and was removed from participation in the government of the country. in armed struggle with political goals for the first time in its history, county corporations of the provincial nobility were involved. In the middle - 2nd half of the XVII century. increased awareness of common social, economic and partly political interests, primarily the provincial nobility, but at the same time the nobility as a whole.
In the 17th century serving foreigners gradually became part of the Russian nobility, after the annexation of part of the territory of the Commonwealth, part of the so-called. Smolensk gentry. The nobility became the medium in which "Western" influences were assimilated. There was an interest in descriptions, reference books, essays on genealogy, heraldry. The number of adult men of all groups and strata of the nobility to late XVII in. was over 50 thousand.
The policy of Peter I, aimed at further expanding the territory of the state and centralizing power, was accompanied by a number of measures to form a single nobility. Since the 1690s replenishment gradually stopped Boyar Duma, which deprived the representatives of the clans who constantly sat in it. next step became legislative formalization noble services. It was associated with too large numbers the sovereign's court, which led to a crisis in the government of the country, as well as with the gradual creation regular army. In 1701, the tsar announced that “people serving from the lands of all ranks serve the service, and no one owns the lands for nothing,” which to a certain extent equalized the landlords and votchinniks. To encourage the most distinguished in the service, Peter I introduced, in addition to the existing princely titles, European titles - count and baron. Contrary to existing traditions, the tsar granted the nobility to many of his associates of ignoble origin. He legally formalized the tradition that existed since ancient times, according to which the service of the nobles was regular, mandatory, lifelong, and extended the practice of issuing monetary salaries for civil and military service to all the nobility. Peter I also introduced a norm, according to which the service of all nobles was carried out on the basis of personal length of service from the age of 15 (in 1740, the nobles were allowed to choose between military and civil service). In the Table of Ranks (1722), Peter I proclaimed the civil service the main and honorable duty of the nobles and ordered "the noble nobility to count according to suitability." The report card confirmed the principle of personal seniority of the nobles, their promotion in state, military and court service, depending on their own abilities, and not on nobility and generosity. In addition, she made it possible to receive D. also from other countries. social groups. By the end of the reign of the imp. Peter I, the term "nobility" extended to all representatives of the privileged class in Russia, in the 1720s-50s. along with it, the term "gentry" was also used. The number of noble landowners in the 1st third of the XVIII century. was approx. 64.5 thousand people (in 1777 - about 108 thousand people).
The manifesto of Empress Anna Ivanovna “On the procedure for hiring gentry children and dismissing them” (1736) gave the right to one or more sons to stay at the house to manage the estate, but with the obligation to study in order to be fit for civil service. For other sons, who were supposed to serve from the age of 20, the term of service was limited to 25 years. However, gradually the nobles began to sign up their sons for military service from infancy, so they began real service already in the officer rank. Despite some relief in the conditions of public service, it remained the main duty of the upper class. Gradually, the rank in the mind of a nobleman acquired a meaning close to an honorary title. The way of life of a nobleman and his family depended on the position on the official ladder.
Conscious of the growth of their importance in society, representatives of the nobility under the successors of Peter I began a long struggle with state apparatus for their class rights and privileges. This struggle was reflected in a number of projects of the time of Anna Ivanovna and Elizabeth Petrovna, in particular, prepared by the Legislative Commission, which worked since 1754. Elizabeth's successor, Emperor Peter III, February 18, 1762 (less than 2 months after accession to the throne) signed a manifesto "On the granting of liberties and freedom to the entire Russian nobility." As the probable authors of his text, contemporaries called the Prosecutor General of the Senate A.I. Glebov and Secretary of the Emperor D.V. Volkov. The manifesto consisted of a preamble and 9 articles. He proclaimed the non-mandatory service of the nobility, declaring it an honorable duty, and not a legal obligation. Noble officers received the right to own will to retire, with the exception of wartime and a period of 3 months before the start of a military campaign. Nobles who did not have officer ranks(soldiers and chief officers) could retire subject to 12 years of service. The manifesto provided the nobles with the opportunity to freely travel abroad, enter the service of other European sovereigns and retain the ranks served abroad upon their return to their homeland, however, if necessary, the nobles were obliged, at the call of the government, to return to Russia under the threat of sequestration of estates. The Manifesto left the sole obligation of the nobility to receive education - at home "through skillful and knowledgeable teachers", as well as in Russian and foreign educational institutions.
The manifesto had a variety of social and sociocultural implications. He destroyed the connection between the right to own serfs and public service, finally turned landlord peasants undivided property of the nobility. A significant number of nobles retired and moved to countryside, which contributed to the emergence of Russian estate culture and the formation of a special social type rural landowner. The main provisions of the Manifesto were confirmed under Catherine II in Letter of Complaint nobility 1785

Wise Monarch of Immortal Glory, Dear Sovereign Our Grandfather, Peter the Great and Emperor of All Russia, what a burden and colossal labors he was forced to endure solely for the well-being and benefit of his fatherland, raising Russia to perfect knowledge of both military, civil, and political affairs, this is not only the whole of Europe, but also most of light is an unfalse witness.
But how to restore this it was necessary in the first place, as the main member of the state, the noble nobility, to accustom and show how great are the advantages of enlightened powers in the prosperity of the human race against countless peoples immersed in the depths of ignorance; then, at that time, the most extreme insisted on the Russian nobility, showing their excellent signs of mercy to them, ordered them to join the military and civil services and moreover, to teach noble youth not only various free sciences, but also many useful arts, sending them to European states and for the same reason, establishing various schools inside Russia, in order to achieve the desired fruit with the greatest haste.
It is true that such institutions, although at the beginning partly seemed burdensome and unbearable for the nobility, to be deprived of rest, leave their homes, continue against their will military and other services, and enroll their children in these, from which some took refuge, exposing themselves for that not only to fines, but also lost their estates, as negligent about their own and their descendants' goods.
The aforementioned establishment, although at the beginning it was somewhat associated with coercion, but very useful, was followed by everyone since the time of Peter the Great who owns Russian Throne, and especially our kind Aunt, Empress Elisavet Petrovna of blessed memory, imitating the deeds of the sovereign, her parent, the knowledge of political affairs and various sciences spread and multiplied under her patronage in Russian state; but what happened of all this, We see with our pleasure, and every true son of his fatherland must admit that innumerable benefits followed from that, rudeness was exterminated in those who are negligent about the common good, ignorance in common sense, useful knowledge and diligence in the service multiplied in military affairs skillful and brave generals, in civil and political affairs put knowledgeable and fit people to work, in a word to conclude, noble thoughts were rooted in the hearts true Russia patriots, boundless loyalty and love to Us, great zeal and excellent zeal in our service, and therefore We do not find the need for compulsion to service, which has been needed until now.
And so We, in the reasoning of the mentioned circumstances, according to the power given to Us from the Most High, from Our highest imperial grace, from now on, for eternity and in hereditary births, we grant liberty and freedom to all Russian noble nobility, which can continue to serve, both in Our empire and in other European powers allied to Us, on the basis of the following legalization:
1) All the nobles who are in Our various services can continue it for as long as they wish, and their condition will allow them, however, the military does not dare to ask for dismissal from the service, or before the start of it, three months before the start of it, or an abshid, but at the end both inside and outside the state; those in military service can ask their commanders for dismissal from service or resignation, and wait for a resolution; those who are in all Our services, in the first eight classes, from Our most high confirmation, and other ranks are determined by the departments to which they belong.
2) All servants of the nobility for respectable and impeccable service to us will be rewarded upon resignation by one rank, if they have been in the previous rank with which they are retiring for more than a year, and then those who will ask for dismissal from all cases; and who from the military to the civil service wish to enter and there will be vacancies, then, upon consideration, determine awards, if they have been in the same rank for three years, that is, in the one with which they go to the civil or some other service of Ours.
3) Whoever, being retired, for some time or after the military, being in the civilian and other Our services, wishes to join the military service, those will be accepted, if their merits turn out to be, by the same ranks in which they are, with the renaming of military ranks, but seniority younger than all those who were with them, when they were dismissed from military service, in the same ranks; if all of them have already been promoted, then the seniority determined for military service may also receive from the day it is determined; We decide this for this, so that those who serve in front of non-employees have benefits and benefits, likewise, who, being retired from the civil service, and then from retirement, wishes to enter the civil service and other services, except for the military, and according to his suitability it will be possible to accept, then act according to this article, excluding one renaming.
4) Who, being dismissed from Our service, wishes to leave for other European states, so to give Our Foreign Collegium proper passports without hindrance with such an obligation that when need calls, then the nobles who are outside Our state would come to their fatherland, when only about If a proper disclosure is made, then everyone in this case is guilty with all possible speed to fulfill Our will under the penalty of the sequester of his estate.
5) Russian nobles who continue to serve, besides Ours, with other European sovereigns, may, returning to their fatherland, according to their desires and ability, enter into vacancies in Our service; those who are in the services of the crowned heads with the same ranks for which patents will be announced, and those who serve with other owners with a reduction in ranks, as the previous legalization was established and according to which it is now being implemented.
6) And as, according to this Our most merciful decree, none of the Russian nobles will unwillingly continue to serve, below to any zemstvo affairs from Our established governments it will be used, unless a special need requires it, but that is not otherwise than after the signing of Our own hand it will be ordered by personal decree, then the Smolensk gentry; on the contrary, in St. Petersburg and Moscow, by decree of the sovereign emperor Peter the Great, under the Senate and his Office, several people from retired nobles were appointed, for all kinds of occasional needs; then We command from now on, from now on, always weather with change, to be at the Senate by 30, and at the office of it by 20 people, for which the heralds annually, according to the proportion of those living in the provinces, and not in the services of the nobles, repair the outfit, however, without appointing anyone by name , but for the nobles themselves in the provinces and provinces to repair elections among themselves, announcing only who will be chosen, in the offices, so that they can report to the herald about it, and inflict expulsion on the chosen ones.
7) Although by this Our all-merciful legalization all noble Russian nobles, with the exception of those from one palace, will always enjoy their liberty, Our paternal care for them extends even further, and about their young children, whom from now on we command, for the sole information only, to be announced at 12 years from birth them in heraldry, provinces, provinces and cities, where it is more profitable and capable for someone, moreover, from their parents or from their relatives, from whom they are in their care, to take news of what they are taught up to the age of twelve, and where further sciences wish to continue, whether inside Our States in established dependencies of Our different schools, or in other European powers, or in their homes through skillful and knowledgeable teachers, if there is enough wealth for parents to do it; however, so that no one dares, without teaching the sciences worthy of the noble nobility, to educate their children under Our heavy wrath; For this purpose, we command all those nobles, for whom there are no more than 1000 souls of peasants, to declare their children directly in Our Shlyakhetsky Cadet Corps, where they will be taught everything that belongs to the knowledge of the noble nobility with the most diligent zeal, and after studying everyone according to his dignity he will graduate with the award of ranks, and then anyone can enter and continue the service according to the above.
8) The nobles who are now in Our military service, in soldiers and others lower ranks less than a chief officer who has not reached the rank of officer should not be dismissed, unless someone has continued military service for more than 12 years, then they will receive dismissals from service.
9) But how do We legalize this Our most merciful institution to all the noble nobility for all time with a fundamental and indispensable rule; then in conclusion of this, We, by Our Imperial word, most solemnly affirm that this is always sacred and inviolable to maintain in the established power and advantages, and Our legitimate heirs following us can do anything to cancel this, for the preservation of this Our legitimization will be theirs. the unshakable assertion of the Autocratic All-Russian Throne; on the contrary, we hope that all the noble Russian nobility, feeling so much of Our generosity towards them and their descendants, in their all-submissive loyalty and zeal to Us, will be urged not to retire, to hide from service, but with zeal and desire to enter into it, and in an honest and shameless manner, at the very least, to continue it, no less than to teach your children with diligence and diligence in decent sciences, for all those who have not had any service anywhere, but only they themselves will pass all the time in laziness and idleness, so will their children for the benefit of their fatherland in no way useful sciences not to use, those We, as if they are negligent about the common good, despise and destroy all Our loyal subjects and true sons of the fatherland, and lower to Our court the arrival, or in public meetings and celebrations will be tolerated.

Iskul S.N. On the way to class emancipation: a manifesto of February 18, 1762 // State and Society in Russia in the 15th - early 20th centuries. SPb., 2007. S. 395-406.

Marasinova E.N. Liberty of the Russian nobility (Manifesto of Peter III and estate legislation of Catherine II) // National history. 2007. No. 4. S. 21-33.

Romanovich-Slavatinsky A.V. Nobility in Russia from early XVIII in. before the abolition of serfdom. 2nd ed. Kyiv, 1912.

Troitsky S.M. Russian absolutism and the nobility in the 18th century. M., 1974.

Faizova I.V. "Manifesto on Liberty" and the Service of the Nobility in the 18th Century. M., 1999.

"Manifesto on the Liberty of the Nobility": evidence of the weakness of the state or a natural result of processes in society?

What was proclaimed in the Manifesto the duty of the nobility?

Under what conditions was it possible to retire from military and civil service?

Why does the Manifesto allow for the first time the possibility Russian nobles serve foreign sovereigns?

How Cancellation Is Justified in the Manifesto compulsory service for nobles?

Emperor Peter III signs the "Manifesto on the granting of liberties and freedom to the Russian nobility" (Formerly, Peter I, carrying out his reforms and fighting the boyars, relied on a layer of nobles and created from them, in modern terms, a rigid administrative system ...).

Now the nobles were freed from mandatory 25 years of civil and military service, could retire (which did about 10 000 nobles - approx. I.L. Vikentiev), travel abroad, etc. However, at the request of the government, they were obliged to serve in the armed forces during the wars, for which they had to return to Russia under the threat of confiscation of land and property.

“Contrary to popular belief, this decree did not at all mean some kind of “right to general idleness” of the nobility. On the contrary, he only eliminated the heavy legacy of the “Moscow dragon”, when people, despite their state of health, personal desire, and abilities, were obliged to serve in a downright hard labor way for a quarter of a century. Peter III declared that from now on he sees no need for "forced service." The decree regulated in detail all aspects of the life of the nobles - just so that liberties would not turn into lawlessness. It was allowed to retire only in peacetime, this rule became invalid during hostilities, as well as three months before they began. It was allowed to enter the service abroad - but only in the "allied" powers, with the obligation to return to Russia on demand. Parents of any noble undergrowth, upon reaching 12 years of age, were required to report in writing what their son had learned, whether he wanted to study further, and if so, where […] The establishment of a certain “living wage” was completely innovative - those who had less 1000 serfs were supposed to identify children in the Cadet Corps. Those who would take it into their heads to leave children “without teaching the sciences worthy of the noble nobility”, Peter III directly frightened with “our heavy anger”. Those who would deviate from the proper education of children were proposed to be considered "as negligent about the common good" and despised "by all our loyal subjects and true sons of the Fatherland." They were forbidden not only to appear at court, but also to be "in public meetings and celebrations."

Of course, many nobles, having suddenly received the opportunity to return unhindered to their estates, used their unexpected freedom solely to crack vodka and drag serf girls to the bathhouse. But there were many others - those who were engaged in the sciences on their estates, collecting libraries, enlightenment. Enough to remember Bolotov, precisely thanks to the decree of Peter III, who became a major scientist. It is not surprising that the Senate intended "on behalf of the grateful nobility" to erect a golden statue of the emperor. The answer of Peter III is known: “The Senate can give gold a better purpose, and by my reign I hope to erect a more lasting monument in the hearts of my subjects.”

Bushkov A.A., Russia, which was not: riddles, versions, hypotheses M., "Olma-press"; St. Petersburg "Neva"; Krasnoyarsk "Bonus", 2001, p. 443-444.