Cossack titles, ranks, shoulder straps. On the issue of Cossack ranks and symbolism Esaul rank correspondence

An understanding of the image of a Cossack is represented by a picture of a young man with a dashing look, an earring in his ear, a mustache, a saber and, of course, a hat on his head. This image was firmly established thanks to numerous works of literature in which the Cossacks were considered as an independent ethnic group, with their own traditions, cultural heritage, way of life. But not everyone knows for sure the history of the origin of the Cossacks in Rus', and yet there are many interesting facts in it.

History of the Russian Cossacks

Establish the origin of the term " Cossack“It’s not possible without controversy. There are several versions on this matter that contradict each other. Only about 18 official ones have been accepted. All of them are united into two groups, the main idea of ​​which is the migratory nature of the settlement of the Cossacks or the emergence of a new ethnic group as an indigenous stratum of the population. We do not set ourselves the goal of studying true story the origins of the Cossacks, since this process was quite long and it was associated with a complex mixture of different clans. The formation of the Cossack army is of interest, and here it is necessary to turn to history.

The first Cossack communities have been known since the 15th century. Initially, they were groups of free Don, Dnieper or Volga Cossacks, and only later the famous Zaporozhye Sich arose. History knows facts about the existence of Siberian and Terek groups. They were engaged in hunting and fishing, but by the 18th century they mastered agriculture. By the time they entered the military structure of the Russian Empire, the Cossacks had become a truly independent group, having income not only from fishing, but also from receiving state salaries.

In the history of battles Russian troops During the imperial era, a separate line belongs to the Cossacks. They not only took part in protecting state borders. Cossacks were always present as part of the expeditions of famous explorers.

At the end of the Patriotic War of 1812, which was marked by the Russian army storming the French capital, powerful agitation was carried out among the population aimed at demonizing the Cossack troops. Imagine the surprise of ordinary citizens when stately military men entered the capital, their entire appearance a symbol of valor, honor and justice.

Don Cossacks and Kubans

All communities were divided among themselves according to the territory of settlement:

• The Don Cossack troops were formed from representatives of the group settled along the banks of the Don River. The Donets are considered the most numerous, as they occupied the territory of Rostov, Volgograd, Voronezh, Donetsk and Lugansk region. Even the territory of Kalmykia fell under settlement by the Don Cossacks.
• The tsarist army also included troops of the Kuban Cossacks. It is not difficult to guess that the geography of the Kuban Cossacks is connected with the river of the same name. Their territory extended from the Rostov region, across the North Caucasus, to the Republic of Adygea. The Kuban people performed many military feats in the ranks of the Russian army, but they also became famous for their cultural heritage, which has recently been actively restored.

In general, if we talk about the state of the Cossacks today, it should be noted that the revival of traditions is practically a state program. President V.V. has stated this more than once. Putin.

Cossacks in the 20th century

The history of the Russian Cossacks in the 20th century is full of tragic events. After the revolution, everything that in any way reminded of the monarchy was denied, and since the Cossacks symbolized the protection and inaccessibility of the imperial throne, this class was subject to mass repression. As an army structure, the Cossack army was abolished, and the population was resettled throughout the territory of the state; there is no need to talk about imprisonment and execution.

But loyalty to their Fatherland, remaining in the blood of hereditary Cossacks, gave pulse to revival. This period came at a difficult time for the country - the time of the Great Patriotic War. On all fronts, the newly formed Cossack units heroically fought for freedom from the German invaders.

Today the SKR (Union of Cossacks of Russia) is reviving Cossack ranks and shoulder straps, as well as the order of their wearing and assignment. Popularizing the Cossacks does not turn it into a fashionable movement. Here, commitment by blood is honored, and not just the desire to join the community.

Hierarchy in the Cossack army

In the Cossack troops there were quite a large number of different ranks and ranks, largely because their initial ones were elective. These included the ataman, the canterei, centurion, hetman and foreman. After some time, to be more precise, in the fifteenth and sixteenth centuries, new military ranks, among whom is a fan, esaul , podesaul, hetman, ataman and others. It was from this that the development of the systematization of the Cossack troops began, which later made a necessary contribution to the development of the Cossacks.

From that moment on, recruitment into the Cossack troops began to number 600 people. “Head”, who was engaged in recruiting the required number of soldiers, followed the direct orders of high-ranking military personnel in the person of the governor. The set was made of “devices”, which were divided into smaller ones - hundreds. At the head of the hundreds were the centurions, under whose leadership were the fifty. Further down the hierarchy were dozens, who were therefore controlled by foremen. Each man managed his department properly.

In each Cossack settlement, Cossack soldiers were distributed, who performed almost the same duties and had the same rights as ordinary archers. The detachments in the Cossack troops were called villages, headed by atamans. Upon entering the service in one or another city, where they subsequently lived, they obeyed the city governor, carrying out all his orders and commands.

Other “guard” Cossacks, who already had a different manager, were sent to this settlement as a mansion. Their position was especially high, they were considered more elite than even the Pentecostals. In the case of the atamans, they were also highly valued, they were even put on a par with the “boyar children”, as a result of which they were awarded the honor of receiving, in addition to money, also land within the village.

As a result of the “Table of Ranks”, which came from the pen of Peter the Great, in the eighteenth century there were global changes in the Cossack ranks of the tsarist army. All ranks and ranks were ordered and distributed into one class - the first. At the end of the same century, changes occurred with the Cossack military system; they were included in the main document and now stood on a par with other ranks.

At the beginning of the nineteenth century, certain innovations occurred, as a result of which the Cossack troops were retrained. But after the monarch Alexander the Third introduced these changes, no further innovations were expected, only at the end of the nineteenth century a new title appeared - keeper .

Shoulder straps Cossacks

Although the Cossacks were considered a free formation, a strictly defined unity of command was established in the ranks of the army. After the troops were introduced into regular formations, military ranks in the Cossack troops of the tsarist army were brought into line with officer ranks. You can still compare Cossack ranks And shoulder straps, for example, with shoulder straps of the Russian or USSR army.

The junior rank of private is equivalent to the rank of Cossack. Cossack wears shoulder straps pentagonal shape blue. To the collar shoulder strap fastened with a silver button with the image of the coat of arms. The field option has also been determined shoulder strap, it is made of green cloth. The Cossack has no stripes or stripes.

Across the shoulder strap of the clerk, next in the Cossack hierarchy, there is a narrow strip in the form stripes, it is often called a strip. In the ranks of the Soviet or Russian army, a similar insignia is assigned to a corporal. Rank of clerk Cossack could only be obtained after a certain period of service. In the overwhelming majority of cases, the titles were appointed, but some of them were elected by a general meeting.

Jr constable And senior officer- these are ranks that were endowed with the same powers as non-commissioned military personnel. They were assigned organizational and command functions, subject to appropriate training. Shoulder straps The sergeant contains two or three narrow stripes. It is known that in the RA the rank of junior sergeant or sergeant is designated in this way. Stripes color – white or silver.

Staff Sergeant crowns the sergeant group of military ranks. In the Cossack army there is no such harmony. The corresponding rank is sergeant, on the shoulder strap of which there is one wide white stripe. If we draw analogies with the troops of the tsarist era, then sergeant performed the duties of a sergeant major. The basic position in the hierarchy remains identical. After this rank, a group of officer ranks begins.

Shoulder straps officers have six corners. The part of the shoulder strap facing the collar is made in the form of a trapezoid. As before, it is fastened with a button with a coat of arms, but is no longer made of cloth, but of specially woven braid. Podkhorunzhy corresponds to the rank of junior lieutenant. On the silver field, a cornflower blue gap stands out; this gap is sometimes called a stripe. IN modern army one gap indicates that the serviceman belongs to the junior officer corps. On the chase there is one sprocket, which is attached along the axis of symmetry. The edging of the shoulder strap is cornflower blue.

Complete this group cornet And centurion. If we give an analogy with modern army ranks, then in terms of status and type shoulder strap these ranks are similar to lieutenant and first lieutenant. If compared with the tsarist army, then centurion corresponded to the rank lieutenant. For these ranks, two stars are located across the shoulder strap, and three stars form a triangle.

An officer who holds a rank in the Cossack army corresponding to the army rank of major is esaul. His shoulder strap does not contain stars, but has two lumens of a cornflower blue hue. The difference between building a hierarchy is that the previous rank podesaul refers to junior officers and corresponds to a captain, while two esaul stripes indicate an increase in rank.

The next level is associated with the rank of military sergeant major. There is still a difference here, since there are three stars on the chase of this officer. That is, it is clear that there is no usual addition of stars, as in RA. This rank corresponds to the rank of lieutenant colonel (two stars with two ranks). Unity in the rank of colonel is being restored. Cossack Colonel is considered to be in the same rank as Colonel RF Armed Forces.

The correspondence between the ranks of the Cossack army and the ranks of the Armed Forces is clearly regulated for effective assistance. Separate formations of the Cossack army are involved in patrolling and to control order in crowded places, although they operate under the auspices of voluntary organizations.

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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, the Cossack troops were introduced one system all ranks (military ranks). 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 meetings and were assistants to the village atamans. Marching esauls (usually two per Army) were selected when setting out on a campaign. Performed the functions of assistants to the marching ataman, in the XVI - XVII centuries in his absence, they commanded the army, and later 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, subject to the position held for which the states provide for 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 Order 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 Decree of the President of the Russian Federation dated December 10, 2010 No. 171 “On the uniform and insignia of rank of members of Cossack societies included in the state register of Cossack societies in the Russian Federation” established insignia of rank (epaulettes). Other Cossack associations are prohibited from having similar insignia. Insignia by rank (epaulettes) in each military Cossack society have their own colors with edging and gaps (at 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 Sergeant Senior sergeant Junior sergeant Sergeant Major sergeant Senior, main and highest ranks Senior ranks Main ranks Highest rank Sub-horunzhiy Corunzhiy Sotnik Podesaul Esaul Troop sergeant-major Cossack colonel Cossack general U 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.

Cossack ranks- these 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.

Story

The first ranks (positions) of the Cossacks () - 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 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 sergeant major;
• 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.

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, Ukrainian - Znachkovy.

Uryadnik

The ranks of junior sergeant and senior sergeant corresponded to junior non-commissioned officer and senior non-commissioned officer, respectively; the number of stripes is also typical for modern non-commissioned officers, the Ukrainian - Young Vistun, Vistun, Senior Vistun.

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 for drill training, internal order and economic affairs. The rank of sergeant corresponded to the rank of sergeant major in the infantry, the Ukrainian - Young chotar,Chotar, Elder Chotar.

Podkhorunzhy

According to the regulations of 1884, introduced by Alexander III, the next rank in the Cossack troops, but only for wartime, was “under-short”, 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”, Ukrainian - Pidhorunzhiy.

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, Ukrainian - Cornet.

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 senior lieutenant. Commanded fifty, Ukrainian - Centurion.

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, the Ukrainian - Pidosavul.

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. Ukrainian - Osavul.

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 ataman, in the 16th - 17th centuries they commanded the army in his absence, and later they were executors of the marching ataman’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 a 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

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 (until 1884 - with two stars), Ukrainian - Military foreman.

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 regiment commanders, Ukrainian - Colonel.

Ataman Pokhodny

Ataman Pokhodny - shoulder straps are the same as those of the general staff. 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 the Terek, Kuban, Astrakhan, Ural, Semirechensk, Transbaikal, Amur and Ussuri Cossack troops.

August Ataman of all Cossack Troops

An honorary rank assigned since 1827 to the Heir Tsarevich before his accession to the throne.

Hetman

Hetman- traditional title of leaders. 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 constable, Sergeant, Senior constable

Junior ranks

Junior Sergeant, Sergeant, Senior Sergeant.

Senior ranks

Podkhorunzhiy, Khorunzhiy, Sotnik, Pod'esaul.

Despite the fact that the Cossacks from ancient times were the personification of freedom and disobedience, discipline reigned in their military formations and a strict hierarchical structure operated. The first Cossack ranks (ranks) and shoulder straps appeared in the 15th-16th centuries, but with the development of the Cossack movement, each army formed its own new positions and insignia. To date, 16 Cossack ranks have been officially approved in Russia as special ranks, and their uniforms and shoulder straps have also been established.

The history of the emergence of Cossack positions

In the 16th century, when the Cossacks transformed into a powerful military organization, becoming part of the armed forces of the Russian state, Cossack ranks (ranks) and shoulder straps (insignia) appeared. In 1772, Peter I established and enshrined in the “Table of Ranks” a unified system of military, court and civil ranks, and a few years later the officer positions of the Cossack troops were also included there.

In 1828, during the reign of Emperor Nicholas I, a unified system of Cossack titles and ranks, shoulder straps and distinctions was introduced, which included:

• staff officers (senior officers) - colonels, lieutenant colonels and military sergeants;
• chief officers (junior officers) - esauls, centurions, cornets;
• lower ranks - sergeants, constables, clerks and Cossacks (private soldiers).

Until 1880, there were no changes to this system, but then the rank of sub-prisoner was introduced. In 1884, instead of lieutenant colonel, the rank of military foreman was established, which previously corresponded to army major, and another new rank was appointed - podesaul, which is analogous to staff captain in the Russian cavalry imperial army. In general, the hierarchy of the Cossack army included more than a dozen ranks, starting with ordinary Cossacks and ending with general.

Cossacks

Ordinary Cossacks occupied the lowest level hierarchical ladder in the Cossack army. They did not have any insignia on their shoulder straps and performed the same functions as ordinary infantry in the army.

Orders

The clerks had a little more power. They had one stripe on their shoulder straps, and their duties corresponded to the duties of a corporal in the infantry.

Officers

This category of Cossacks included junior constables, constables and senior constables. They were equal to junior non-commissioned officers, non-commissioned officers and senior non-commissioned officers of the Russian Army. These Cossack ranks (ranks) and their shoulder straps with a certain number of stripes correspond to modern non-commissioned officers.

Sergeants

The last and highest rank among the lower Cossack ranks. In addition to the Cossacks, it existed in the non-commissioned officer environment of army cavalrymen and mounted cavalrymen. In the gendarmerie and the army, the sergeant served as the closest assistant to the commander of a hundred, battery or squadron. He was involved in drill training, internal order and economic affairs. The position of sergeant-major corresponded to the rank of sergeant-major in the Russian infantry forces.

Podkhorunzhie

According to the provision introduced by the Russian Emperor Alexander III in 1884, the sub-horunzhiy belonged to the Cossack ranks (ranks) and shoulder straps, introduced only for periods of military conflicts. The subhorunzhiy in the Cossack troops was the equivalent of a sub-ensign in the army infantry and an ensign in the current army. He belonged not to the officers, but to the non-commissioned officers.

The first officer rank in the infantry, introduced only during wars and militias, was ensign, whose title and duties have been preserved in the modern army. In those days, in the Cossack troops, gendarmerie and cavalry, there was no rank that would correspond to the current rank of junior lieutenant.

Cornets

A cornet is one of the chief officer ranks, which in its official position is analogous to a second lieutenant in the infantry and a cornet in the cavalry of the tsarist army, as well as a junior lieutenant in the modern army. The holders of this Cossack rank (rank) have shoulder straps of the Don Army: on a silver field there is a blue gap and two stars.

Centurions

This is another chief officer rank that operated in Cossack military units. Sotniki performed the same functions as lieutenants in the Russian army. They commanded fifty and also wore, according to their Cossack rank (rank), shoulder straps of the Don Army, only with three stars.

Podjesauly

Cossacks in this rank served as assistants or deputies to esauls and commanded hundreds of Cossacks. The difference in shoulder straps between the Cossack ranks (ranks) of centurion and captain was only one - four stars. In terms of their official position, these representatives of the command staff of the Cossack army corresponded to staff captains and staff captains who served in the regular Russian troops, and modern senior lieutenants.

Esauly

Initially, artillery, marching, village, hundred, regimental, military and general esauls operated in the Cossack troops. Depending on the functional responsibilities and place of service, there were differences among the Cossack esauls in Cossack ranks (ranks) and shoulder straps.

• Artillery esaul there was one for the entire army. He was subordinate to the chief of artillery and had to carry out his instructions.
• Marching esauls in the amount of two people per army were chosen before going on a campaign. They were assistants to the marching ataman and carried out his orders. In the 16th and 17th centuries, in the absence of a marching ataman, marching esauls took command of the army.
• Regimental esauls(initially two per regiment) performed the functions of staff officers and were the first assistants to the regimental commander.
• Hundred esauls one was elected for every hundred. The hundredth esaul commanded a hundred. This position operated in the Don Army only during the first centuries of its existence, and then was abolished.
• Stanitsa esauls were only in the Don Army. They helped the village atamans, and elected them at village gatherings.
• Military esauls were determined by elections at the Military Circle. Most of the Cossack Troops had two military esauls, while the Orenburg and Volzhsky Troops had one each. Cossacks in this rank were initially involved in administrative affairs, and from 1835 they began to serve as adjutants of the military ataman.
• General Captain was the highest rank after the hetman. During military conflicts, they took command of several regiments, and if the hetman was absent, then the entire Army. In peacetime, general captains carried out inspection activities.

Over time, Cossack ranks (ranks) and shoulder straps of village, regimental, general and other esauls were abolished. Only the position of military captain, subordinate to the appointed ataman of the Cossack army, has been preserved. By 1800, the rank of esaul was equal to the rank of cavalry captain. Usually the senior commander entrusted the captain with command of a detachment, which could consist of one or several hundred. In terms of his official position, he corresponded to a modern captain. In accordance with the Cossack ranks and titles, the esauls did not have insignia in the form of stars on their shoulder straps, and only one gap was provided.

Military sergeants

From the second half of the 18th century, Cossacks who commanded individual branches of the Cossack army began to be called military elders. In terms of their duties, they were equated to majors, and after the abolition of the major rank in 1884, to lieutenant colonels. Military sergeants wore shoulder straps with three stars, which were located on a silver field between two blue stripes of clearance.

Colonels

This is the last rank and rank of the Cossack army. The shoulder straps of colonels are the same as those of military sergeants, only without stars. After the rank of colonel, the names of purely Cossack ranks disappear, and then the service hierarchy is unified with the army one.

Generals

The official position of Cossack generals fully corresponds to the general ranks (lieutenant general, major general) that operated in the Russian Army. They addressed them as “Your Excellency.” They wore shoulder straps with two or one star on a silver field.

Atamans marching

This title was awarded to Cossack generals in wartime. The design of their shoulder straps was the same as that of the generals. The marching atamans monitored the conservation and proper use of the Cossack troops.

Military atamans assigned

These ranks were awarded to the chief commanders of the civil and military administration of the Siberian, Don, Amur and Caucasian Cossack troops.

Atamans are assigned

Chiefs with such Cossack ranks (ranks) and shoulder straps are in the Kuban, Terek, Astrakhan, Ural and Semirechensky Troops. They addressed them as “Your Excellency.”

Hetman

The highest title, which was traditionally awarded to the leaders of the Zaporozhye Army, and from April to December 1918, this was the name of the position of the head of the Ukrainian State.

Modern Cossack ranks, ranks and shoulder straps in Russia

According to the State Register of Cossack Societies of the Russian Federation, approved by Presidential Decree in 2010, modern Cossack ranks are divided into higher, main, senior, junior and lower. The ataman of the departmental Cossack society has the right to assign lower ranks, and the military ataman has the right to assign junior and senior ranks. The rank of esaul and higher is assigned by the Chairman of the Council for Cossack Affairs, who is the plenipotentiary representative of the President of the Russian Federation, and the rank of Cossack general is awarded by the President himself.

To date, eleven military Cossack societies have been entered into the state register on the territory of the Russian Federation, having their own governing bodies.

The State Register of Cossack Societies of the Russian Federation provides for the following ranks:

• Cossacks and clerks - lower ranks;
• junior sergeants, sergeants, senior sergeants, junior sergeants, sergeants, senior sergeants - junior ranks;
• under-horunzhie, cornet, centurion and under-cauli - senior ranks;
• esauls, kuren and Cossack colonels - the main ranks;
• Cossack generals are the highest rank.

Rank system

According to the established rules, officer ranks are assigned to Cossacks who have a military or special rank of officer, which they were awarded in military or other public service, as well as the Cossacks with higher education and special training corresponding to the position held, for which the state provides for an officer rank.

Cossacks who have served the required period of service in the previous junior rank are promoted to the next junior rank.

The rank of Cossack is received by persons enrolled in one of the Cossack units, and the rank of clerk is received by Cossacks who have served the required period of service in their rank.

Terms of service for obtaining the subsequent Cossack rank

They are as follows:

• Cossacks - 6 months;
• orders - 3 months;
• junior officers - 3 months;
• senior officers - 3 months;
• sergeants - 3 months;
• sub-house - 6 months;
• cornets - 1 year;
• centurions - 2 years;
• podesauls - 2 years;
• Esauly - 2 years;
• military sergeants - 3 years;
• Cossack colonels and generals - terms of service in these ranks are not established.

Cossacks can receive their next rank ahead of schedule for special services to the state.

Cossack ranks (ranks): uniform and shoulder straps

The Decree of the President of the Russian Federation of 2010 established a sample form and insignia for the ranks of members of Cossack societies included in the state register of the Russian Federation. Cossack associations that are not listed in the state register are prohibited from having established insignia (shoulder straps).

In each Cossack society there are uniform Cossack titles, ranks and shoulder straps established by the register (photos of all shoulder straps are presented). As you can see, they differ in the color of the edging and gaps or fields (for junior and lower ranks).

Shoulder straps for traveling uniforms have the same design as shoulder straps for everyday uniforms. The difference is that instead of a colored (for junior ranks) and silver (for officers) field there is a khaki field. The edges and gaps on the shoulder straps remain colored.

The shape of the shoulder straps and the presence of fields, gaps and piping for the marching uniform are not specifically stipulated by regulations.

The color of buttons, stripes (for lower and junior ranks) and fields (for senior officers) is the same - silver. The color of the stars for all ranks is golden, and their diameter is 13 mm.

The color of the stripes on shoulder straps for the marching uniform for lower and junior ranks is white. The width of narrow stripes is 10 mm, wide stripes are 30 mm.

For members of Russian Cossack societies, the State Register provides different kinds forms:

• special dress uniform - intended for ceremonies and other important events;
• dress uniform - for participation in parades dedicated to public holidays, as well as annual holidays of district or military Cossack societies and in case of their participation in official events;
• ceremonial exit uniform - worn at general meetings of district and military Cossack societies and at general meetings of all Cossack societies, as well as on other occasions, for example on holidays and weekends, when visiting a temple, etc.;
• marching uniform - intended to be worn when field gatherings of the Cossack society are held, and can also be worn on other occasions as directed by the atamans;
• casual uniform - for everyday wear.

The meaning of the names of Cossack ranks

The names of Cossack ranks were formed many centuries ago, and each of them has its own meaning, reflecting the range of responsibilities of a Cossack holding a particular rank.

They are as follows:

• clerk - a Cossack who was placed in the order for the first time;
• sergeant - a Cossack who stands near the row (near the formation);
• centurion - Cossack commander of a hundred;
• colonel - regiment commander;
• ensign - a Cossack carrying a banner (in the past - ensign);
• military foreman - this name is of East Slavic origin, and means Cossacks who are senior in the Army, i.e. manage it;
• cornet - a name of Polish origin, meaning “wearing a banner”, in Russian - a banner;
• sergeant - on German means "chief";
• esaul - also means “chief”, but the name of this rank comes from the Turkic word “yasaul”.

Previously, in some Cossack troops there were ranks such as cornet, captain and corporal. The names of these ranks were also of foreign origin.

The first ranks (positions) among the Cossacks, the so-called Cossack foreman (Don, Zaporozhye, and so on) - ataman, hetman, clerk, clerk, centurion, foreman - were elected. The later appearance of ranks in the Cossack troops (colonel, ataman, military clerk, 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. 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. In the Russian Empire, persons from the Cossack class who perform the duties of the corresponding Cossack officers during service, but do not have the right to production in military rank, were called “ordinary cornet”, “ordinary centurion”, “ordinary esaul”. For example, the rank of “common cornet” was given to sergeants and constables for military distinction. On the cornet's shoulder straps they had "at the top" of the shoulder strap, across it, stripes of the rank from which they were promoted to officer rank. The mediocre officers were also distinguished from regular Cossack officers by certain details of their uniform - the absence of officer lanyards, officer braid on sword belts, etc.

Cossack ranks and titles:

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. Performed the functions of assistants to the marching ataman, in XVI-XVII centuries in his absence, they commanded the army, and later were executors of the orders of the marching ataman. 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 Alexandra III in 1884, the rank of captain was included in this rank, and therefore the rank of major was removed from the staff officer ranks, as a result of which a serviceman from captains immediately became a lieutenant colonel. 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 big 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.

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.