thumb|250px|Afanasy Ordin-Nashchokin
Afanasy Lavrentievich Ordin-Nashchokin (; 1605–1680) was a Russian statesman. He was a diak of the posolsky prikaz (foreign ministry). He was the first junior noble to attain the boyar title and highest offices of state not as a result of family connections but due to his personal capabilities and achievements.
Early life and career
Afanasy Ordin-Nashchokin was the son of a poor official from Pskov, who saw to it that his son was taught Latin, German and mathematics. Ordin-Nashchokin began his public career in 1642 as one of the officials involved in determining the new Russo-Swedish frontier after the Treaty of Stolbovo. By that time, he had gained a reputation in Russia as having a thorough understanding of "German ways and things". He was one of the first Muscovites who diligently collected foreign books; according to one source as many as sixty-nine Latin works were sent to him at one time from abroad.
Ordin-Nashchokin attracted the attention of the young Tsar Alexis because of his resourcefulness during the Pskov rebellion of 1650, which he succeeded in bringing under control through his personal efforts. At the beginning of the Russo-Swedish War (1656–1658), he was appointed to a high command, in which he displayed strong capabilities.