Pedigreed Legends as a Way of Integration of the Political Elite in the XVI Century

The article analyzes the role of pedigreed legends in the formation of political and managerial elites in Russia of the XVI century. The need to recruit, circulate and consolidate the elites at that time led to the formation of the institution of pedigree legends, which allowed the nobility to lengthen and elevate their origin. The article analyzes the pedigree of the legend about the origin of the Ratsha from which many noble families had their origin. The authors conclude that the supreme power actively used pedigreed legends in its symbolic policy.