Koniushii

(senior equerry), a court rank in the Russian government from the 15th through the early 17th century, which had its source in the princely tiun, or equerry, in the 11th and 12th centuries. Beginning in the late 15th century the koniushii was the head of the Koniushennyi Prikaz (Equerry Office) and was in charge of the horses, the court grooms, and the estates assigned for the tsar’s horses. In the 16th century the post became closely aligned with the organization of palace horse troops. The koniushii was the de facto head of the Boyar Duma, took an active part in the diplomatic and military affairs, and from time to time headed the government (I. F. Ovchina-Telepnev, B. F. Godunov).