Duma Ranks

the ranks of the officials in the Russian state from the late 15th century to the 17th, including boyars, okol’ nichie, dumnye dvoriane, and dumnye d’iaki, who had the right to take part in meetings of the Boyar Duma and in the work of its commissions. These ranks occupied the higher court positions, participated in diplomatic negotiations, and settled precedence (mestnichestvo) disputes among the aristocracy.