Lovchii

Lovchii

 

(1) A court office; from the 16th century, a rank in Russian feudal society; in the 18th century, the title was changed to egermeister. The lovchii was involved in the organization of the hunt. The various categories of lovchii included okhotniki (hunters), sokol’nich’i (falconers), psari (huntsmen), bobroniki (beaver hunters), and podledchiki (ice fishermen). They were first mentioned in the Precepts of Vladimir Monomakh (12th century).

(2) Servants of Russian boyars and landlords who organized their hunts.