Cossack ranks, ranks and epaulets. Regulations on Cossack ranks

The Cossacks have always been covered with a certain touchromance, and many consider the Cossacks as some kind of knights without fear and reproach of ancient times. However, few people know that they had a very serious organization and a clear list of titles, which is not typical for medieval knights. As the development of ranks and ranks were increasingly brought to the analogues in the regular army of Russia. Cossacks refer to received titles and implying their rights and duties much more reverent than some representatives of the army.

The Cossacks. Chines, ranks and epaulets

Originally all Cossack titles, ranks and epauletswere awarded electively. However, over time, as the Cossacks developed as troops and the development of the military affairs themselves, they were gradually supplemented, and as a result, according to the provision on the Cossack ranks and production, all such insignia are brought in a more convenient, simple and understandable form. Thanks to this, the interaction between the Cossack units and the regular army became much simpler, and as a result, the combat effectiveness of all the troops as a whole increased. Naturally, this positively influenced both the spirit of the army and the results of military operations committed jointly by regular and Cossack forces. Despite the fact that initially many representatives of the Cossack were opposed to such changes, in time they could not help but recognize positive qualities and not change their point of view. Or leave it to yourself, even if stubbornly refused to recognize but did not want to leave service to the country and the sovereign.

Lower ranks

The lowest rank was an ordinary Cossack,shoulder straps of which were not at all no skits. He corresponded to the rank of ordinary private and had the same duties. Next to him, in increasing order, was an orderly one, on the chase of which one disc was wearing. He corresponded to a corporal in ordinary troops and performed the same functions. Then came the sergeant, who was divided into a junior sergeant, a sergeant and a senior sergeant. He was an analogue of the sergeant in the standard army and had the same insignia on shoulder straps. Two scraps for the junior sergeant, three for the sergeant and one broad for the senior sergeant. The military officers not only corresponded to sergeant ranks, but also were responsible for exactly the same areas of service. To the sergeants it was customary to apply "mr. Sergeant", regardless of whether he was a senior or a junior. This is exactly what the lower ranks and shoulder straps of the Cossacks of the Russian Empire of that time looked like.

Junior ranks

As already mentioned above, as theCossack army and, as a consequence, the emergence of the need for new titles, they gradually increased in number. Thus, the Cossack ranks, ranks and epaulettes of the junior command staff looked as follows: junior sergeant-major, sergeant-major and senior sergeant-major. He was an analogue of the modern rank of ensign. Performed the duties of assistant commander in terms of providing the Cossacks with everything necessary and followed the internal order. On the epaulettes of the younger sergeant-major there was one long line, parallel to the shoulder, the sergeant-major had two small stars along the shoulder strap, and the elder sergeant-major had three. By tradition, the bearers of this rank (or rank, to be more precise) were treated only as "mister sergeant". It is absolutely not important, the junior or senior given a specific sergeant.

Senior officers

Cossack ranks and shoulder straps of the senior command staffwere more diverse. They were treated in ascending order: podhorunzhi, khorunzhiy, centurion and podeaul. Podhorunzhiy and khorunzhiy were the Cossack variant of the junior lieutenant and lieutenant, and the centurion was the senior lieutenant. They were responsible for the same elements of the fighting capacity of the Cossack army, as well as their counterparts in the regular army. Podesaul served as a captain and had all the same rights and duties as his counterpart in conventional troops. On the shoulder straps of the podhorunzhego was one long, parallel chase, directly on which was located one small asterisk. It was customary to apply to him "Mr. Podhorunzhi." In the cornet, the same long line was shared by two similar stars, and the centurion had three. On the pursuit of the captain, there were four stars at once, two of which were separated by a long line, and two were directly on it. To all, except for the burly, "your honor" was applied. It was implied that all the nobility belonged to the officers, and the attitude was appropriate. As, in fact, the demand from them, significantly increasing as more and more new titles are received.

Main ranks

Cossack titles, ranks and shoulder straps of higherthe post of Cossacks consisted of a captain, who was an analog of a major, a military sergeant, acting as a lieutenant colonel and a Cossack colonel, who was, in fact, a colonel, with all the rights and duties emerging from this title. On the epaulean epaulets, as well as in the podhorunzhego, there was one long, parallel chase, but there were no stars. The trooper of the army sergeant was decorated at once with two parallel skins and three asterisks, and on the epaulettes of the Cossack colonel there were just two skits, like the army sergeant-major, and there were no stars at all. The traditional appeal to all the main ranks is your honor. It was the senior officers, who for the most part commanded directly large forces of the Cossacks both during the conduct of hostilities and in peacetime.

Higher rank

Cossack ranks, ranks and epaulets of the highest commandthe composition is represented by only one rank - the Cossack General. The highest and most honorable position in this army, whose orders were the most priority and not subject to discussion. Pogon was absolutely without skirts, with two asterisks. This concludes the Cossack ranks and ranks, the description of which is given above. To date, this structure has not changed, and it remains the same as it was many years ago. The Cossacks now have a slightly different form than in ancient times, but they still revere the old traditions and adhere to the code of honor adopted long ago.