collapse of the Soviet Union in 1991 interest among Russians in the role that the Russian nobility played in the historical and cultural development of Russia has grown. Organization Nobility was transferred by inheritance or was bestowed by a fount of honour, i.e. the sovereign of the Russian Empire, and was typically ranked as per below, with those of the highest noble prestige ranked first. Ancient nobility (descendants from Middle Ages) Titled nobility: Prince (kniaz Князь): e.g. Prince Potemkin Count (graf Граф): e.g. Count Tolstoy Baron (baron Барон): e.g. Baron Pahlen Hereditary nobility: inherited by all legitimate male-line descendants of a nobleman Personal nobility: granted for the life of the recipient only Estateless nobility: obtained without the grant of a landed estate Unlike the ancient nobility, which was exclusively hereditary, the remaining classes of nobility could be acquired. A newly designated noble was usually entitled to landownership. A loss of land did not automatically mean loss of nobility. In later Imperial Russia, higher ranks of state service (see Table of Ranks) were automatically granted nobility, not necessarily associated with land ownership. Russian did not in general employ a nobiliary particle before a surname (as von in German or de in French), however the Russian name suffix -skij which means “of” and is equal to “von” and “de” was used in many noble surnames especially topographic surnames as nobiliary particle. Russian noblemen were accorded an official salutation, or style, that varied by rank: your high born (), your high well born (), your well born (), etc. Titled nobility Titled nobility () was the highest category: those who had titles such as prince, count and baron. The latter two titles were introduced by Peter the Great. A baron or count could be either proprietary (actual) ( владетельный (действительный))—i.e., who owned land in the Russian Empire—or titular (титулярный), i.e., only endowed with a rank or title. Hereditary nobility Hereditary nobility () was transferred to wife, children, and further direct legal descendants along the male (agnatic) line. In exceptional cases, the emperor could transfer nobility along indirect or female lines, e.g., to preserve a notable family name. Personal nobility Personal nobility () could, for instance, be acquired by admission to orders of knighthood of the Russian Empire. It was transferable only to the wife. Estateless nobility Estateless nobility () was nobility acquired by state service, but without a grant of land. Ancient nobility