Who was part of the nobility?

The nobility was initially formed from mainly military citizens who served and swore allegiance to the ruler. This category of the population used benefits and special opportunities in order to carry out their activities most productively. Over time, the structure of the estates became more complex. Part of the obligations was withdrawn from the nobles. Under Peter the Great, even former immigrants from unprivileged estates could get into the nobility, using only their skills and abilities to move up the career ladder.