Cossack ranks and insignia of Cossacks Cossack ranks are ranks (titles) personally assigned to military personnel and those liable for military service (including Cossacks on benefits) in accordance with their military and special training, official position, merit, length of service, and affiliation with the Cossack army. History The first ranks (positions) of the Cossacks (Zaporozhye Sich) - hetman, ataman, clerk, clerk, centurion, foreman - were elected. The later appearance of ranks in the Cossack troops (colonel, ataman, military clerk, military judge, captain, etc.) dates back to the 15th-16th centuries, which was associated with the development of the military organization of the Cossacks as troops. In the Russian army, ranks were first introduced in the middle of the 16th century in the Streltsy army. City Cossacks of the Russian state in the 16th-18th centuries were in a “device” at their head, which recruited them for service. The Cossack "head" was directly subordinate to the city governor or siege "head". The normal composition of the “device” was estimated at 500 people. The “devices” were divided into hundreds, which were in the “order” of the centurions. The hundreds, in turn, were divided into fifty (led by Pentecostals) and tens (led by tens). The rights and responsibilities of city Cossack officials corresponded to the functions of the same officials among the archers. Cossacks stationed in cities received the name of the city where they were settled. The Cossacks who entered the service in detachments (stanitsa) retained their elected atamans, who were subordinate to the Cossack “head” or city governor. The guard Cossacks stood apart, often subordinate to their separate “head”. The rank of an ordinary guard Cossack was higher than the rank of a Pentecostal city Cossack. Cossack atamans, “heads”, centurions and guard Cossacks were equated to “children of the boyars” and received not only money but also land plots for their service. The last Russian Tsar and the first All-Russian Emperor Peter I established a unified system of military, civil and court ranks, which was finally consolidated in 1722 in the “Table of Ranks”. The ranks were assigned to a specific class, the senior of which was the first class. At the end of the 18th century, officer ranks of the Cossack troops were included in the Table of Ranks. In 1828, under Emperor Nicholas I, a unified system of all ranks (military ranks) was introduced in the Cossack troops. By that time, the Cossacks had the following ranks: staff officers (senior officers) - colonel, lieutenant colonel and military foreman; chief officers (junior officers) - esaul, centurion, cornet; lower ranks - sergeant, constable, clerk and Cossack (private). In the future, this system of ranks (military positions - ranks) in the Cossack troops did not tolerate any more changes. In 1880, the rank of sub-soror was introduced. In 1884, the rank of lieutenant colonel was replaced by the rank of military foreman, which previously corresponded to an army major, and the rank of captain was introduced, equal to a headquarters captain in the army cavalry. Lower ranks Cossack At the lowest rung of the career ladder of the Cossack army stood an ordinary Cossack, corresponding to an infantry private. Prikazny Prikazny had one stripe and corresponded to a corporal in the infantry. Sergeant The ranks of junior sergeant and senior sergeant corresponded to junior non-commissioned officer and senior non-commissioned officer, respectively. In the modern Russian army, the rank of non-commissioned officer is similar to the rank of sergeant, and shoulder straps have two transverse stripes for the junior officer and three for the senior officer. A sergeant could command 26 horsemen (a platoon). Junior constable - junior sergeant Constable - sergeant Senior constable - senior sergeant. Non-commissioned officer (junior) ranks: Junior sergeant - sergeant major. The sergeant is a warrant officer. Senior sergeant - senior warrant officer. Sergeant Sergeant of artillery. In the Russian army and gendarmerie, the sergeant was the closest assistant to the commander of a hundred, squadron, battery for drill training, internal order and economic affairs. The rank of sergeant corresponded to the rank of sergeant major in the infantry. Officer ranks: Chief officer (senior) ranks, address “Your Honor”: Underhorunzhiy - junior lieutenant. Khorunzhiy - lieutenant. Sotnik - senior lieutenant. Podesaul is the captain. Subhorunzhiy According to the regulations of 1884, introduced by Alexander III, the next rank in the Cossack troops, but only for wartime, was “subhorunzhiy,” which corresponded to the rank of ensign in the infantry (ensign in the modern army) and was introduced only in wartime . In peacetime, except for the Cossack troops, these ranks existed only in reserve. Sub-horunzhiy did not belong to the rank of officer and was the most senior non-commissioned officer rank. The first officer rank in the infantry, only in wartime and for the militia, was the rank of “ensign,” which corresponds to the modern rank of “junior lieutenant.” Cornet Cornet - the next rank, actually the primary chief officer rank, corresponds to a second lieutenant in the infantry or a cornet in the cavalry. According to his official position, he corresponds to a lieutenant in the modern army, wore shoulder straps with a blue gap on a silver field (the applied color of the Don Army) with two stars. Sotnik Sotnik is a chief officer rank in the Cossack troops, corresponding to a lieutenant in the regular army. The centurion wore shoulder straps of the same design, but with three stars, corresponding in his position to a modern senior lieutenant. Commanded fifty. Podesaul Podesaul was an assistant or deputy of the captain, commanded a Cossack hundred. The shoulder straps had the same design as the centurion, but with four stars. His official position corresponds to that of a modern captain. This rank was introduced in 1884. In the regular troops it corresponded to the rank of staff captain and staff captain. Staff officer (main) ranks: address “Your Honor”: Esaul - major. Military foreman - lieutenant colonel. Colonel - Colonel. Yesaul Yesauls were general, military, regimental, hundred, village, marching and artillery. General Yesaul (two per Army) - the highest rank after the hetman. In peacetime, general esauls performed inspector functions; in war they commanded several regiments, and in the absence of the hetman, the entire Army. But this is typical only for the Zaporozhye Cossacks. Military esauls were elected at the Military Circle (in Donskoy and most others - two per Army, in Volzhsky and Orenburg - one each). We were engaged in administrative affairs. Since 1835, they were appointed as adjutants to the military ataman. Regimental esauls (initially two per regiment) performed the duties of staff officers and were the closest assistants to the regiment commander. Hundred esauls (one per hundred) commanded hundreds. This link did not take root in the Don Army after the first centuries of the existence of the Cossacks. The village esauls were characteristic only of the Don Army. They were elected at village assemblies and served as assistants to the village atamans. Marching esauls (usually two per Army) were selected when setting out on a campaign. They performed the functions of assistants to the marching ataman, in the 16th - 17th centuries they commanded the army in his absence, and later they were executors of the orders of the marching ataman. The artillery captain (one per Army) was subordinate to the artillery chief and carried out his instructions. General, regimental, station and other esauls were gradually abolished. Only the military esaul was preserved under the military ataman of the Cossack army. In 1798-1800 The rank of esaul was equal to the rank of captain in the cavalry. Esaul, as a rule, commanded (on behalf of the senior commander) a detachment of one to several hundred. His official position corresponded to that of a modern major. He wore shoulder straps with one gap without stars. Military foreman The name military foreman comes from the ancient name of the executive body of power among the Cossacks. In the second half of the 18th century, this name, in a modified form, extended to individuals who commanded individual branches of the Cossack army. Since 1754, a military foreman was equated to a major, and with the abolition of this rank in 1884, to a lieutenant colonel. He wore shoulder straps with two blue gaps on a silver field and three stars (until 1884 - with two stars). Colonel Colonel - shoulder straps are the same as those of a military sergeant major, but without stars with two gaps or epaulettes. The highest staff officer rank in the Cossack troops. Assigned to regimental commanders. General (highest) ranks: address “Your Excellency”: Major General - Major General. Lieutenant General - Lieutenant General. Ataman Pokhodny Ataman Pokhodny - shoulder straps are the same as those of the generals. The rank was assigned in wartime to the generals of the Cossack troops under each army; they oversaw the proper use and conservation of Cossack troops. Ataman of the Military Punishment Ataman of the Military Punishment. The rank was assigned to the chiefs of the military and civil administration of the Don, Siberian, Caucasian and Amur Cossack troops. Ataman Nakaznoy The rank was assigned to the chiefs of military and civil administration in Terek, Kuban, Astrakhan, Ural, Semirechensk,. Appeal “Your Excellency”: General of the Cavalry - Colonel General Field Marshal General - Marshal August Ataman of all Cossack Troops An honorary rank assigned since 1827 to the Heir Tsarevich before his accession to the throne. Hetman Hetman is the traditional title of the leaders of the Zaporozhye Army. In April-December 1918 - the title of the position of the head of the Ukrainian State. Modern Cossack ranks in Russia Main article: State Register of Cossack Societies of the Russian Federation Lower ranks Cossack, Prikazny Junior ranks Junior sergeant, sergeant, Senior sergeant, Junior sergeant, Sergeant, Senior sergeant Senior ranks Podkhorunzhiy, Khorunzhiy, Sotnik, Podesaul. The main ranks are Esaul, Kurennoy, Cossack Colonel. Higher ranks Cossack general. Currently, Cossacks who have a military or special officer rank awarded in the state (military or other) service or who have higher education and special training are promoted to officer ranks, in accordance with the position held for which the states provide an officer rank. The previous lower ranks are promoted to subsequent lower ranks, replacing the position for which the states provide a rank - after the expiration of the period of service in the previous rank. A Cossack enrolled in one of the structural units is promoted to the rank of Cossack. A Cossack is promoted to the next Cossack rank after the expiration of his service period in the previous rank. Time limits are established for Cossack service in the following ranks: Cossack - 6 months; Order - 3 months; Junior officer - 3 months; Senior officer - 3 months; Sergeant - 3 months; Podkhorunzhy - 6 months; Cornet - 1 year; Sotnik - 2 years; Podesaul - 2 years; Esaul - 2 years; Military foreman - 3 years. The terms of Cossack service in the Cossack ranks - Cossack colonel, Cossack major general, Cossack lieutenant general are not established. For special merits, a Cossack can be promoted to the next rank by the Supreme Ataman ahead of schedule. The ranks are “prikazny” (that is, the first to be included in the order), “constable” (standing at the formation - row), “centurion” (commander of a hundred), “colonel” (regiment commander), “ensign” (that is, bearing the ensign - banner ), “military foreman” (that is, having seniority in the Army) - of East Slavic origin. “Cornet” (that is, wearing a banner) is of Polish origin, “sergeant” (chief) is German, “esaul” (from the Turkic yasaul - chief) is of Turkic origin. Previously, individual Cossack troops also had ranks - “captain”, “cornet” (Ukrainian Cossack army) and “corporal” (Siberian city Cossacks). Full rank Correspondence in the Russian Armed Forces Correspondence in the tsarist army Cossack Private Private Private Corporal Corporal = Non-commissioned officer Sergeant major Sergeant major, sergeant major Podkhorunzhiy Junior lieutenant Khorunzhiy Lieutenant Kornet Sotnik Senior lieutenant Lieutenant Podesaul Captain Staff captain, staff captain Esaul Major Captain, captain Troops foreman Lieutenant Colonel Lieutenant Colonel Cossack Colonel Colonel Colonel Cossack General General General Ranks and insignia of military Cossack societies The ranks of members of Cossack societies are approved by Decree of the President of the Russian Federation of February 10, 2010 No. 169 “On the ranks of Cossack societies included in the state register of Cossack societies in the Russian Federation” The ranks are subdivided into lower, junior, senior, main and top. Lower ranks have the right to assign the ataman of the departmental (district) Cossack society. Junior and senior - military ataman. Cossack ranks, starting with esaul, are conferred by the Presidential Plenipotentiary Representative (Chairman of the Council for Cossack Affairs), and the rank of Cossack general is conferred by the President of the Russian Federation himself. In accordance with the Presidential Decree, Cossack ranks are classified as special ranks. Features of Cossack shoulder straps by Decree of the President of the Russian Federation dated 10. 12.2010 No. 171 “On the uniform and insignia by rank of members of Cossack societies included in the state register of Cossack societies in the Russian Federation” established insignia by rank (epaulettes). Other Cossack associations are prohibited from having similar insignia. Insignia by rank (epaulets) in each military Cossack society have their own colored piping and gaps (for the lower and junior ranks - fields). Shoulder straps for the field uniform have a similar design to everyday ones, but instead of a colored (for officers - silver) field, a khaki field has been introduced. The gaps and edgings of the shoulder straps remain colored. The color of buttons on shoulder straps, stripes for lower and junior ranks, and the fields of shoulder straps for senior main and higher ranks are silver. The stars for all ranks are golden, with a diameter of 13 mm. Lower and junior ranks Lower ranks Junior ranks Cossack Prikazny Junior sergeant Uryadnik Senior sergeant Junior sergeant Sergeant Major sergeant Senior, main and highest ranks Senior ranks Main ranks Highest rank Under-horunzhiy Khorunzhiy Sotnik Podesaul Esaul Troop sergeant-major Cossack colonel Cossack general Order of the President of the Russian Federation dated February 9 2010 No. 168 “On the establishment of coats of arms and banners of military Cossack societies included in the state register of Cossack societies in the Russian Federation” the coats of arms and banners of registered Cossack troops (societies) of the Russian Federation were approved.
At the lowest rung of the service ladder stood an ordinary Cossack, corresponding to an infantry private.
Next came the clerk, who had one stripe and corresponded to a corporal in the infantry. The next step in the career ladder is junior sergeant and senior sergeant, corresponding to junior non-commissioned officer, non-commissioned officer and senior non-commissioned officer and with the number of badges characteristic of modern non-commissioned officers.
This was followed by the rank of sergeant, who was not only in the Cossacks, but also in the non-commissioned officers of the cavalry and horse artillery. In the Russian army and gendarmerie, the sergeant was the closest assistant to the commander of a hundred, squadron, battery for drill training, internal order and economic affairs. The rank of sergeant corresponded to the rank of sergeant major in the infantry.
According to the regulations of 1884, introduced by Alexander III, the next rank in the Cossack troops, but only for wartime, was sub-short, an intermediate rank between ensign and warrant officer in the infantry, which was also introduced in wartime. In peacetime, except for the Cossack troops, these ranks existed only for reserve officers.
The next grade in the chief officer ranks is cornet, corresponding to second lieutenant in the infantry and cornet in the regular cavalry. According to his official position, he corresponded to a junior lieutenant in the modern army, but wore shoulder straps with a blue clearance on a silver field (the applied color of the Don Army) with two stars. In the old army, compared to the Soviet army, the number of stars was one more.
Next came the centurion - a chief officer rank in the Cossack troops, corresponding to a lieutenant in the regular army. The centurion wore shoulder straps of the same design, but with three stars, corresponding in his position to a modern lieutenant. A higher step is podesaul. This rank was introduced in 1884. In the regular troops it corresponded to the rank of staff captain and staff captain. Podesaul was the assistant or deputy of the captain and in his absence commanded the Cossack hundred. Shoulder straps of the same design, but with four stars. In terms of service position he corresponds to a modern senior lieutenant.
And the highest rank of chief officer is esaul. It is worth talking about this rank in particular, since from a purely historical perspective, the people who wore it held positions in both the civil and military departments. In various Cossack troops, this position included various service prerogatives. The word comes from the Turkic “yasaul” - chief. It was first mentioned in the Cossack troops in 1576 and was used in the Ukrainian Cossack army. Yesauls were general, military, regimental, hundred, village, marching and artillery. General Yesaul (two per Army) - the highest rank after the hetman. In peacetime, general esauls performed inspector functions; in war they commanded several regiments, and in the absence of the hetman, the entire Army. But this is typical only for Ukrainian Cossacks. Military esauls were elected at the Military Circle (in Donskoy and most others - two per Army, in Volzhsky and Orenburg - one each). We were engaged in administrative matters. Since 1835, they were appointed as adjutants to the military ataman. Regimental esauls (initially two per regiment) performed the duties of staff officers and were the closest assistants to the regiment commander. Hundred esauls (one per hundred) commanded hundreds. This link did not take root in the Don Army after the first centuries of the existence of the Cossacks. The village esauls were characteristic only of the Don Army. They were elected at village assemblies and served as assistants to the village atamans. Marching esauls (usually two per Army) were selected when setting out on a campaign. They served as assistants to the marching chieftain, in the 16th-17th centuries they commanded the army in his absence, and later they were executors of the marching chieftain’s orders. The artillery captain (one per Army) was subordinate to the chief of artillery and carried out his instructions. General, regimental, village and other esauls were gradually abolished. Only the military esaul was preserved under the military ataman of the Don Cossack army. In 1798 - 1800 The rank of esaul was equal to the rank of captain in the cavalry. Esaul, as a rule, commanded a Cossack hundred. His official position corresponded to that of a modern captain. He wore shoulder straps with a blue gap on a silver field without stars.
Next come the staff officer ranks. In fact, after the reform of Alexander III in 1884, the rank of esaul entered this rank, and therefore the rank of major was removed from the staff officer ranks, as a result of which a serviceman immediately became a lieutenant colonel from captains.
Next in the Cossack career ladder is the military sergeant major. The name of this rank comes from the ancient name of the executive body of the Cossacks. In the second half of the 18th century, this name, in a modified form, extended to individuals who commanded individual branches of the Cossack army. Since 1754, a military foreman was equivalent to a major, and with the abolition of this rank in 1884, to a lieutenant colonel. He wore shoulder straps with two blue gaps on a silver field and three large stars.
Well, then comes the colonel, the shoulder straps are the same as those of a military sergeant major, but without stars. Starting from this rank, the service ladder is unified with the general army one, since the purely Cossack names of ranks disappear. The official position of a Cossack general fully corresponds to the general ranks of the Russian Army.
Story
The first ranks (positions) of the Cossacks (Zaporozhye Sich) hetman, ataman, clerk, centurion, foreman were elected.
The later appearance of ranks in the Cossack troops (colonel, military judge, esaul, and so on) dates back to the 15th-16th centuries, which was associated with the development of the military organization of the Cossacks as troops.
In the Russian army, ranks were first introduced in the middle of the 16th century in the Streltsy army. The last Russian Tsar and first All-Russian Emperor Peter I Alekseevich “the Great” established a unified system of military, civil and court ranks, which was finally consolidated in 1722 in the “Table of Ranks”. The ranks were assigned to a specific class, the senior of which was the first class.
At the end of the 18th century, officer ranks of the Cossack troops were included in the Table of Ranks.
In 1828, under Emperor Nicholas I, a unified system of all military ranks (ranks) was introduced in the Cossack troops. By that time, the Cossacks had the following ranks:
staff officers (senior officers) - colonel, lieutenant colonel and military sergeant major;
chief officers (junior officers) - esaul, centurion, cornet;
lower ranks - sergeant, constable, clerk and Cossack (private).
In the future, this system of military ranks (ranks) in the Cossack troops did not tolerate any more changes. In 1880, the rank of sub-soror was introduced.
In 1884, the rank of lieutenant colonel was replaced by the rank of military foreman, which previously corresponded to an army major, and the rank of captain was introduced, equal to a staff captain in the army cavalry.
Cossack
At the lowest rung of the Cossack army's career ladder stood an ordinary Cossack, corresponding to an infantry private.
Orderly
The clerk had one stripe and corresponded to a corporal in the infantry.
Uryadnik
The ranks of junior sergeant and senior sergeant corresponded to junior non-commissioned officer, non-commissioned officer and senior non-commissioned officer, respectively, the number of badges is typical for modern non-commissioned officers.
Sergeant
Sergeant is the next rank, which was not only in the Cossacks, but also in the non-commissioned officers of the cavalry and horse artillery. In the Russian army and gendarmerie, the sergeant was the closest assistant to the commander of a hundred, squadron, battery in drill training, internal order and economic affairs. The rank of sergeant corresponded to the rank of sergeant major in the infantry.
Podkhorunzhy
According to the regulations of 1884, introduced by Alexander III, the next rank in the Cossack troops, but only for wartime, was sub-short, an intermediate rank between ensign and warrant officer in the infantry, also introduced in wartime. In peacetime, except for the Cossack troops, these ranks existed only for reserve officers.
Cornet
Cornet is the next grade in the chief officer ranks, corresponding to second lieutenant in the infantry and cornet in the regular cavalry. According to his official position, he corresponded to a lieutenant in the modern army, but wore shoulder straps with a blue gap on a silver field (the applied color of the Don Army) with two stars. In the army of the time of the Russian Empire, compared to the Soviet one, the number of stars was one more.
Centurion
Sotnik is a chief officer rank in the Cossack troops, corresponding to a lieutenant in the regular army. The centurion wore shoulder straps of the same design, but with three stars, corresponding in his position to a modern senior lieutenant.
Podesaul
Podesaul was the assistant or deputy of the captain and in his absence commanded the Cossack hundred. The shoulder straps had the same design as the centurion, but with four stars. His official position corresponds to that of a modern captain. This rank was introduced in 1884. In the regular troops it corresponded to the rank of staff captain and staff captain.
Esaul
Yesauls (Turkic - chief) were general, military, regimental, hundred, village, marching and artillery. General Yesaul (two per Army) - the highest rank after the hetman. In peacetime, general esauls performed inspector functions; in war they commanded several regiments, and in the absence of the hetman, the entire Army. But this is typical only for the Zaporozhye Cossacks.
Military esauls were elected at the Military Circle (in Donskoy and most others - two per Army, in Volzhsky and Orenburg - one each). We were engaged in administrative matters. Since 1835, they were appointed as adjutants to the military ataman.
Regimental esauls (initially two per regiment) performed the duties of staff officers and were the closest assistants to the regiment commander. Hundred esauls (one per hundred) commanded hundreds. This link did not take root in the Don Army after the first centuries of the existence of the Cossacks. The village esauls were characteristic only of the Don Army. They were elected at village assemblies and served as assistants to the village atamans.
Marching esauls (usually two per Army) were selected when setting out on a campaign. They served as assistants to the marching chieftain, in the 16th-17th centuries they commanded the army in his absence, and later they were executors of the marching chieftain’s orders.
The artillery captain (one per Army) was subordinate to the chief of artillery and carried out his instructions.
General, regimental, village and other esauls were gradually abolished.
Only the military esaul was preserved under the military ataman of the Cossack army.
In 1798 - 1800 The rank of esaul was equal to the rank of captain in the cavalry. Esaul, as a rule, commanded a Cossack hundred. His official position corresponded to that of a modern captain. He wore shoulder straps with a blue gap on a silver field without stars.
Next come the staff officer ranks. In fact, after the reform of Alexander III in 1884, the rank of esaul entered this rank, and therefore the rank of major was removed from the staff officer ranks, as a result of which a serviceman immediately became a lieutenant colonel from captains.
Military foreman
The name military foreman comes from the ancient name of the executive body of power among the Cossacks. In the second half of the 18th century, this name, in a modified form, extended to individuals who commanded individual branches of the Cossack army. Since 1754, a military foreman was equivalent to a major, and with the abolition of this rank in 1884, to a lieutenant colonel. He wore shoulder straps with two blue gaps on a silver field and three stars.
Colonel
Colonel - shoulder straps are the same as those of a military sergeant major, but without stars. Starting from this rank, the service ladder is unified with the general army one, since the purely Cossack names of ranks disappear. The official position of a Cossack general fully corresponds to the general ranks of the Russian Army.
Hetman
Hetman is the traditional title of the leaders of the Zaporozhye Army; In April-December 1918 - the title of the position of the head of the Ukrainian State.
Story
The first ranks (positions) of the Cossacks (Zaporozhye Sich) hetman, ataman, clerk, centurion, foreman were elected.
The later appearance of ranks in the Cossack troops (colonel, military judge, esaul, and so on) dates back to the 16th century, which was associated with the development of the military organization of the Cossacks as troops.
In the Russian army, ranks were first introduced in the middle of the 16th century in the Streltsy army. The last Russian Tsar and the first All-Russian Emperor Peter I established a unified system of military, civil and court ranks, which was finally consolidated in the year in the “Table of Ranks”. The ranks were assigned to a specific class, the senior of which was the first class.
At the end of the 18th century, officer ranks of the Cossack troops were included in the Table of Ranks.
In the year under Emperor Nicholas I, a unified system of all military ranks (ranks) was introduced in the Cossack troops. By that time, the Cossacks had the following ranks:
- staff officers (senior officers) - colonel, lieutenant colonel and military sergeant major;
- chief officers (junior officers) - esaul, centurion, cornet;
- lower ranks - sergeant, constable, clerk and Cossack (private).
In the future, this system of military ranks (ranks) in the Cossack troops did not tolerate any more changes. In the year the rank of sub-soror is introduced.
In 1884, the rank of lieutenant colonel was replaced by the rank of military foreman, which previously corresponded to an army major, and the rank of captain was introduced, equal to a headquarters captain in the army cavalry.
Ranks
Cossack
At the very bottom rung of the Cossack army's career ladder stood private Cossack, corresponding to an infantry private.
Orderly
Orderly had one stripe and matched corporal in the infantry.
Uryadnik
The ranks of junior sergeant, sergeant and senior sergeant corresponded to junior non-commissioned officer, non-commissioned officer and senior non-commissioned officer, respectively, the number of badges is typical for modern non-commissioned officers.
Sergeant
Sergeant- the next rank, which was not only in the Cossacks, but also in the non-commissioned officers of the cavalry and horse artillery. In the Russian army and gendarmerie, the sergeant was the closest assistant to the commander of a hundred, squadron, battery in drill training, internal order and economic affairs. The rank of sergeant corresponded to the rank of sergeant major in the infantry.
Podkhorunzhy
According to the regulations of 1884, introduced by Alexander III, the next rank in the Cossack troops, but only for wartime, was “sub-short”, which corresponded to the rank of lieutenant in the infantry (ensign in the modern army), introduced only in wartime. In peacetime, except for the Cossack troops, these ranks existed only in reserve. Subhorunzhiy did not belong to the rank of officer and was a senior non-commissioned officer rank. The first officer rank in the infantry, only in wartime and for the militia, was the rank of ensign, which corresponded to the modern rank of ensign. In the Cossack troops, cavalry and gendarmerie there was no rank corresponding to the modern rank of junior lieutenant.
Cornet
Cornet- the next degree in the chief officer ranks, corresponding to a second lieutenant in the infantry or a cornet in the cavalry. According to his official position, he corresponded to a junior lieutenant in the modern army, wore shoulder straps with a blue clearance on a silver field (the applied color of the Don Army) with two stars.
Centurion
Centurion- chief officer rank in the Cossack troops, corresponding to a lieutenant in the regular army. The centurion wore shoulder straps of the same design, but with three stars, corresponding in his position to a modern lieutenant. Commanded fifty.
Podesaul
Podesaul was an assistant or deputy of the captain, commanded a Cossack hundred. The shoulder straps had the same design as the centurion, but with four stars. In terms of service position he corresponds to a modern senior lieutenant. This rank was introduced in 1884. In the regular troops it corresponded to the rank of staff captain and staff captain.
Esaul
Esauly there were general, military, regimental, hundred, village, marching and artillery. General Yesaul (two per Army) - the highest rank after the hetman. In peacetime, general esauls performed inspector functions; in war they commanded several regiments, and in the absence of the hetman, the entire Army. But this is typical only for the Zaporozhye Cossacks.
Military esauls were elected at the Military Circle (in Donskoy and most others - two per Army, in Volzhsky and Orenburg - one each). We were engaged in administrative matters. Since 1835, they were appointed as adjutants to the military ataman.
Regimental esauls(initially two per regiment) performed the duties of staff officers and were the closest assistants to the regiment commander. Hundred esauls (one per hundred) commanded hundreds. This link did not take root in the Don Army after the first centuries of the existence of the Cossacks. The village esauls were characteristic only of the Don Army. They were elected at village assemblies and served as assistants to the village atamans.
Marching esauls(usually two per Army) were chosen when setting out on a campaign. They served as assistants to the marching chieftain, in the 16th-17th centuries they commanded the army in his absence, and later they were executors of the marching chieftain’s orders.
Artillery esaul(one per Army) was subordinate to the chief of artillery and carried out his instructions.
General, regimental, village and other esauls were gradually abolished.
Only the military esaul was preserved under the military ataman of the Cossack army.
In 1798 - 1800 The rank of esaul was equal to the rank of captain in the cavalry.
Esaul, as a rule, commanded (on behalf of the senior commander) a detachment from one to several hundred. His official position corresponded to that of a modern captain. He wore shoulder straps with one gap without stars.
Military foreman
Name military sergeant major comes from the ancient name of the executive body of the Cossacks. In the second half of the 18th century, this name, in a modified form, extended to individuals who commanded individual branches of the Cossack army. Since 1754, a military foreman was equivalent to a major, and with the abolition of this rank in 1884, to a lieutenant colonel. He wore shoulder straps with two blue gaps on a silver field and three stars.
Colonel
Colonel- shoulder straps are the same as those of a military sergeant major, but without stars. Starting from this rank, the service ladder is unified with the general army one, since the purely Cossack names of ranks disappear.
Cossack general. The official position of a Cossack general fully corresponds to the general ranks of the Russian Army.
Hetman
Hetman- traditional title of the leaders of the Zaporozhye Army; In April-December 1918 - the title of the position of the head of the Ukrainian State.
Modern Cossack ranks in the Russian Federation
Lower ranks
Cossack, Prikazny, Junior constable, Sergeant, Senior constable.
"APPROVED"
Ataman of the Volga Military
Cossack society
Cossack General I. Mironov
"17" December 2012
POSITION
on the procedure for assigning Cossack ranks to Cossacks
Volga Military Cossack Society.
I. General provisions
1. The assignment of Cossack ranks is carried out in accordance with the Regulations on the procedure for assigning ranks to members of Cossack societies included in the state register of Cossack societies in the Russian Federation, approved by Decree of the President of the Russian Federation of February 9, 2010 No. 169.
2. In order to streamline the rank production, Cossacks’ submissions for the assignment of a regular or extraordinary rank are constantly considered by the existing certification commissions, which should be in all military Cossack societies.
3. About the assignment of a Cossack rank to a member of the Cossack society, a corresponding entry is made in the Cossack certificate.
4. It is prohibited to assign Cossack ranks, bypassing the previous ones.
As an exception, early assignment of Cossack ranks, bypassing the previous ones, is allowed to members of Cossack societies elected to the positions of district (departmental) ataman - up to esaul and Military Ataman - up to military foreman. Subsequently, this category of persons is allowed to assign the next Cossack ranks ahead of schedule, if they have the appropriate education and undergo additional training for their position, but not earlier than after 6 months.
5. Submission for assignment (deprivation) of a Cossack rank is carried out according to the form developed by the Office of the President of the Russian Federation on Cossack Issues. Documents for the assignment of Cossack ranks must be submitted to the headquarters of the All-Russian Military District for registration and consideration by the attestation commission of the All-Russian Military District. After the decision is made by the VVKO certification commission, the documents are presented to the Military Ataman for signature.
6. Cossack ranks can be assigned to persons in service (reserve, retired) in the Ministry of Defense of the Russian Federation, the Ministry of Internal Affairs of the Russian Federation, the Federal Security Service of the Russian Federation, the FSB of the Russian Federation, the justice authorities and the prosecutor's office of the Russian Federation, in accordance with their military or special ranks and the positions they occupy in Cossack society.
II. Procedure for promotion to Cossack rank
1. A citizen of the Russian Federation who is enrolled in one of the Cossack societies of the All-Russian Military District is promoted to the rank of Cossack.
2. A Cossack, a clerk, filling a position for which the state provides for the rank of junior constable and higher is promoted to the rank of junior constable - upon expiration of his term of service in the previous rank.
3. A junior constable is promoted to the rank of constable, filling a position for which the state provides for the rank of constable and above - upon expiration of his term of service in the previous rank.
4. A non-commissioned officer filling a position for which the state provides for the rank of senior non-commissioned officer and higher is promoted to the rank of senior non-commissioned officer - upon expiration of his term of service in the previous rank.
5. A senior officer is promoted to the rank of junior sergeant, filling a position for which the state provides for the rank of junior sergeant and higher - upon expiration of his term of service in the previous rank.
6. A junior sergeant is promoted to the rank of sergeant, filling a position for which the state provides for the rank of sergeant and higher - upon expiration of his term of service in the previous rank.
7. A sergeant who fills a position for which the state provides for the rank of senior sergeant and higher is promoted to the rank of senior sergeant - upon expiration of his term of service in the previous rank.
8. A Cossack who has the military or special rank of junior lieutenant, awarded in the public service (military or otherwise), in accordance with the position held for which the rank of sub-sergeant is provided, as well as a senior sergeant who has secondary specialized education and special training, is promoted to the rank of sub-sergeant. if appropriate for the position held, for which the rank of sergeant and above is provided - after the expiration of the service period in the previous rank.
9. A Cossack who has the military or special rank of lieutenant, awarded in the public service (military or otherwise), in accordance with the position held for which the rank of cornet is provided, is promoted to the rank of cornet, as well as a sub-horunzhi who has higher education and special training, in accordance with the position held positions for which the rank of cornet and higher is provided - upon expiration of the period of service in the previous rank.
10. The rank of centurion is promoted to a Cossack who has the military or special rank of senior lieutenant, awarded in the public service (military or otherwise), if he or she qualifies for the position for which the rank of centurion is provided, as well as a cornet who has higher education and special training, if he or she meets the rank of centurion. position held, for which the rank of cornet and higher is provided - after the expiration of service in the previous rank.
11. A Cossack who has the military or special rank of captain, awarded in the public service (military or otherwise), in accordance with the position held for which the rank of captain is provided, as well as a centurion who has higher education and special training, in accordance with the position held, is promoted to the rank of captain. positions for which the rank of podesaul and higher is provided - after the expiration of service in the previous rank.
12. A Cossack who has the military or special rank of major, awarded in the public service (military or otherwise), in accordance with the position held for which the rank of esaul is provided, is promoted to the rank of esaul, as well as a podesaul who has higher education and special training, in accordance with the position held positions for which the rank of esaul and higher is provided - after the expiration of service in the previous rank.
13. The rank of military foreman is promoted to a Cossack who has a military or special rank of lieutenant colonel, awarded in the public service (military or otherwise), in accordance with the position held for which the rank of military foreman is provided, as well as an esaul who has higher education and special training, with in accordance with the position held, for which the rank of military sergeant is provided and above - upon expiration of the period of service in the previous rank.
14. A Cossack who has a military or special rank of colonel, awarded in the public service (military or otherwise), in accordance with the position held for which the rank of Cossack colonel is provided, as well as a military sergeant major who has higher education and special training, is promoted to the rank of Cossack colonel. in accordance with the position held, for which the rank of Cossack colonel and higher is provided - after the expiration of the period of service in the previous rank.
III. The procedure for submitting documents for the assignment of Cossack ranks
1. Submissions for the assignment of Cossack ranks to district (departmental) atamans of the VVKO (esul, military foreman, Cossack colonel), after considering the official by the certification commission of the VVKO, are drawn up by the headquarters of the VVKO, the section “Bases for the submission” is signed by the Troop Ataman, who is also in the section “Conclusion of officials persons" petitions for the assignment of the Cossack rank.
2. Submissions for the assignment of Cossack ranks to officials of the Military Board of the All-Russian Military District are drawn up by the headquarters of the All-VVKO after consideration by the certification commission of the Air Force, the section “Bases for the submission” is signed by the immediate superior of the official, in the section “Conclusion of officials” they apply for the assignment of a Cossack rank: when assigning the main ranks - the immediate superior of the official and the Troop Ataman, when representing junior and senior ranks - the immediate superior.
3. Submissions for the assignment of Cossack ranks to atamans of farm, village, city, district, yurt Cossack societies, after consideration by the certification commissions of the relevant Cossack societies, are drawn up by the headquarters of the district (departmental) Cossack society, the section “Bases for the submission” is signed by the district (departmental) ataman, aka in the section “Conclusion of Officials” he petitions for the assignment of the Cossack rank.
4. Submissions for the assignment of Cossack ranks to members of the boards of district (departmental) Cossack societies, after consideration by the certification commission of the corresponding district (department) Cossack society, are drawn up by the headquarters of the district (departmental) Cossack society, the section “Bases for the submission” is signed by the immediate superior, in the section “Conclusion of officials persons" apply for the assignment of Cossack: main ranks - the immediate superior of the official, the district (departmental) ataman and the Military Ataman, junior and senior ranks - the immediate superior of the district (departmental) ataman.
5. Submissions for the assignment of Cossack ranks to officials of the farm, stanitsa, city, district, yurt Cossack society are drawn up and petitions for the assignment of Cossack ranks by the ataman of the corresponding farm, stanitsa, city, district, yurt Cossack society. The section “Grounds for assignment” is signed by the ataman (KhKO, SKO, GKO, SKO), in the section “Conclusion of officials” they apply for the assignment of a Cossack rank: main ranks - ataman (KhKO, SKO, GKO, RKO, SKO), district (department ) ataman and Troop Ataman, junior and senior ranks - ataman (KhKO, SKO, GKO, RKO, SKO), district (department) ataman, lower ranks - ataman (KhKO, SKO, GKO, RKO, SKO).
IV. The right to sign orders on assigning Cossack ranks to members of the All-Russian Military District.
1. The highest rank - Cossack general - President of the Russian Federation.
2. The main ranks are esaul, military foreman, Cossack colonel - Plenipotentiary Representative of the President of the Russian Federation in the Volga Federal District.
3. Junior and senior ranks - junior sergeant, sergeant, senior sergeant, sub-horunzhiy, cornet, centurion, podesaul - Ataman of the Volga military Cossack society.
4. Lower ranks - Cossack, clerk, junior constable, constable, senior constable - Ataman of the district (department) Cossack society.
Chief of staff
Volga Military Cossack Society
Cossack Colonel B. Kumaneev