A revision list (ревизская сказка) was a population census record used in the Russian Empire between 1719 and 1858. These lists were compiled as part of the revision censuses (ревизии), which aimed to count taxable individuals for the purpose of taxation and military conscription. The Russian government implemented revision censuses to track the population, determine tax obligations, and recruit soldiers. Unlike modern censuses, revision lists primarily focused on male taxpayers, while women were often recorded only in relation to male household members.
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History of revision lists in Russia
In the early 18th century, Russia transitioned from a household-based taxation system to a per capita tax. This shift was driven by the state’s pressing need to bolster national defense, expand the military, develop a strong navy, and establish new industrial enterprises. The previous tax structure, which relied on households as the unit of taxation, was insufficient to generate the necessary revenue for these ambitious goals. To address this, the government introduced a poll tax (подушная подать) in 1724, applying it uniformly across all taxable social classes, thereby significantly increasing tax collection.[1]
To implement this new system, authorities needed a more precise method of population registration. This led to the establishment of state-led censuses known as "revisions" (ревизии), conducted periodically by government mandate. Unlike earlier methods that assessed tax obligations based on households, the new system recorded individuals as "revision souls" (ревизские души). Their names and demographic details were documented in official registers called revision lists (ревизские сказки), forming the basis for taxation and conscription policies.
The first population revision in Russia was initiated by Peter I’s decree of November 26, 1718, which outlined the need for a census to determine taxation and military provisioning based on the number of taxable individuals. The decree mandated officials to collect data on all males, from the eldest to newborns, across villages, towns, and estates. The First Revision covered most of central and eastern Russia, including Moscow, St. Petersburg, Nizhny Novgorod, Kazan, Arkhangelsk, Smolensk, Siberia, Azov, and Kyiv provinces. However, it did not extend to regions like Livonia (Riga), Estonia (Reval), Ingermanland, Vyborg, Hetmanate Ukraine (Malorossiya), or Sloboda Ukraine.
Initially, the responsibility for submitting revision lists fell on the population itself. Landowners reported their serfs, while village elders and estate managers compiled lists for state-owned, church-owned, and other dependent peasants. Magistrates handled records for urban residents and merchants, whereas odnodvortsy (small landowning peasants) were required to report their own households.
Since the revision data served as the basis for tax collection and the distribution of other state obligations, the government implemented strict measures to prevent abuses—both by officials conducting the census and by the population subject to registration. Punishments included flogging with a whip, and in some cases, one member of the household was forcibly conscripted into the army. A major shortcoming of the First Revision was the lack of standardized procedures. The government did not issue a uniform format for revision lists, consolidated name registers, or summary reports.
The 2nd revision, conducted between 1743 and 1747 (with some updates accepted until 1756), introduced the practice of conducting a census every 15 years.
The 3rd revision (1761–1767) marked a significant shift as it was the first to be conducted without direct supervision from state-appointed officials. Instead, the process was managed by local and provincial authorities. Additionally, this was the first census in which women were officially recorded, including their names, patronymics, ages, and places of origin.
The 4th revision, overseen by the Governing Senate, assigned the responsibility of data collection to district governors, lower zemstvo courts, and treasury chambers. Like men, women had their ages recorded, both at the time of the revision and in comparison to the previous one.
The 5th revision (1794–1808) followed the same structure as the 4th and was the first census to include Jewish communities.
The 6th revision, scheduled for 1811, was disrupted by Napoleon’s invasion of Russia. As a result, it lacked proper verification, did not enumerate women, and was incomplete in its coverage of the empire.
The 7th revision, initiated in 1815, took a decade to complete. Women were included but without patronymics, places of origin, or comparative age records. This revision also set a precedent for later censuses, where supplementary updates did not track whether a woman had died, disappeared, or been exiled since the last count. However, men’s absence was still explained in the records. Additionally, a standardized format was introduced, with men listed on the left side of the document and women on the right.
The 8th revision (1833–1835) brought clearer regulations for conducting local enumerations. This was one of the few revisions where household records were cross-checked with church metric books to improve accuracy. Women’s patronymics were reinstated in the records.
The 9th revision, launched in 1850, omitted many Western provinces, as some of these regions had already been surveyed between the 8th and 9th revisions.
The 10th and final revision (1857–1859) was conducted under the Statute for the 10th National Census. It was the first census to cover the entire Russian-controlled territory, including Poland, Finland, Siberia, and the Caucasus. This revision recorded over 23 million serfs, more than twice the number of male "souls" previously counted. Two copies of each local census were made: one kept in regional archives and the other sent to the national treasury. In some cases, Siberian census returns were accepted as late as 1899.[2]
Where to find revision lists in Russia
Many revision lists are preserved in state archives, including:
- Russian State Historical Archive (RGIA)
- Regional archives in Ukraine, Belarus, and Russia
Explore more about revision lists in Russia
- Russian State Historical Archive (RGIA)
- Revision Lists and Other Census Lists at Litvak SIG
- Joseph B. Everett. The Imperial Russian Revision Lists of the 18th and 19th Century. Brigham Young University
References
- ↑ С чего начиналась ревизская сказка? МИЛЛИАРД ТАТАР
- ↑ Feldblyum, Boris. Russian Revision Lists: A History