The contemporaries recalled that Ivan Bunin was always interested in the history of his family. In his ‘Autobiographical Note’, the writer noted: ‘I know something about the Bunin’s family. About our beginning the ‘Armorial of noble families’ says, by the way, the following: ‘The Bunin’s family comes from Simeon Bunkovsky, a noble man who left in the 15th century from Poland to grand prince Vasily Vasilevich. His great-grandson Aleksandr Lavrentev, son of Bunin, served in Vladimir and was killed near Kazan. Steward Kozma Leontev Bunin was awarded a diploma for service and bravery on the estate. Likewise, many other Bunins served as waywodes in other ranks and owned villages’.
The patent presented at the exhibit, signed by Empress Catherine II, testifies to the fact that in 1763 Vasily Bunin, the writer’s great-great-grandfather once removed, who served as a collegiate secretary in the Government Senate, was elevated to the rank of collegiate assessor. According to the table of ranks, this was an 8th grade rank, equal to a major. Anyone who reached this class in the civil service received the right to hereditary nobility, regardless of origin.
According to the patent: ‘By God’s mercy we, catherine the second, empress and sole ruler of all russian and other, and other, and other. It shall be known to everyone that Vasily Bunin, who served as a collegiate secretary, for the zeal and diligence service rendered by him, on the first of June, seventeen sixty-one, was granted as a collegiate assessor to the rank of land major: WE give, WE grant and WE affirm, commanding all Our subjects, Vasily Bunin, Our collegiate assessor, in the rank of land major, is to be recognized and honoured properly; WE also hope that in that all-merciful rank bestowed upon him he will act so faithfully and diligently, as a faithful and kind slave should do. In testimony to this, WE have signed this with Our own hand and commanded to be sealed with Our State seal. EKATERINA. Recorded in the book under No. 78 on the third of May, seventeen sixty-three, at 10 o’clock’.
The patent presented at the exhibit, signed by Empress Catherine II, testifies to the fact that in 1763 Vasily Bunin, the writer’s great-great-grandfather once removed, who served as a collegiate secretary in the Government Senate, was elevated to the rank of collegiate assessor. According to the table of ranks, this was an 8th grade rank, equal to a major. Anyone who reached this class in the civil service received the right to hereditary nobility, regardless of origin.
According to the patent: ‘By God’s mercy we, catherine the second, empress and sole ruler of all russian and other, and other, and other. It shall be known to everyone that Vasily Bunin, who served as a collegiate secretary, for the zeal and diligence service rendered by him, on the first of June, seventeen sixty-one, was granted as a collegiate assessor to the rank of land major: WE give, WE grant and WE affirm, commanding all Our subjects, Vasily Bunin, Our collegiate assessor, in the rank of land major, is to be recognized and honoured properly; WE also hope that in that all-merciful rank bestowed upon him he will act so faithfully and diligently, as a faithful and kind slave should do. In testimony to this, WE have signed this with Our own hand and commanded to be sealed with Our State seal. EKATERINA. Recorded in the book under No. 78 on the third of May, seventeen sixty-three, at 10 o’clock’.
