The Order of Vladimir, Third Class

The Order of St. Vladimir, Third Class (Russian: Владимир третьей степени; Vladimir tret'jej stepeni) is an unfinished play by Nikolai Gogol, which he worked on between 1832 and 1834.

The work survives only in four fragments: "An Official's Morning" (Утро делового человека), "The Lawsuit" (Тяжба), "The Servants' Quarters" (Лакейская) and "Fragment" (Отрывок).

Each fragment follows the official Barsukov, in search of his dream to receive a decoration, the Order of Vladimir.

The scene or subplot "The Lawsuit", concerns the lawsuit brought against Barsukov by his brother regarding the inheritance from their aunt.

According to Gogol's contemporaries, a lost scene showed Barsukov in front of a mirror in which he sees the decoration, finally believing he is the decoration.