History of Russian military ranks
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Modern Russian military ranks trace their roots to Table of Ranks established by Peter the Great. Most of the rank names were borrowed from existing German/Prussian, French, English, Dutch and Polish ranks upon the formation of Russian regular army in late 1600s.
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Muscovy
The rulers of the Kievan Rus entities had no standing army besides permanent group of personal guards, druzhina (дружи'на); members of the unit were called druzhinnik (дружи'нник). In case of emergency, a militia was raised from volunteers from the peasantry, and the druzhina served as the core of the troops. The local knyaz served as the military leader of the troops. Thus there were no need in permanent ranks or positions and they were created randomly, based on the task(s) in hand.
Upon the formation of Strelets troops, the low-level commanding officers were appointed to one of the following ranks:
- strelets (стреле́ц), a basic soldier;
- desyatnik (деся́тник, 'of ten men'), acting as sergeant/corporal;
- sotnik (со́тник, 'of hundred men'), acting as captain.
These were not personal ranks and were retained only as long as the officer held the position. For battles, the troops were organized unto temporary high-level units, usually polk (полк, Old Slavonic for group of troops), a regiment commanded by golova (голова́, head) or voevoda (воево́да); these commanding positions were not permanent and did not sustain after the battle. The cossack cavalry units had their own ranks of kazak (коза́к), yesaul (есау́л) and ataman (атама́н); they were not comparable to the strelets ranks.
Upon the formation of standing regiments (prikaz, later polk), new ranks were inserted in between of the existing grades: pyatidesyatnik (пятидеся́тник, of fifty men) acting as lieutenant, golova acting as colonel of the regiment (also, tysyatskiy (ты́сяцкий, 'of thousand men'). Later, a polugolova (полуголова́) rank was introduced; eventually golova was renamed polkovnik (полко́вник, regimental commander), and polugolova was renamed podpolkovnik (sub-polkovnik). As usual, voevoda was simply a commander of a large military group and not a rank of any kind.
At the same time, the companies of foreign mercenaries were formed; these incorporated foreign ranks of Lieutenant and Rittmeister. They were later changed into New Regiments of the Streltsy Troops and more Western ranks were adopted, including General. Finally, by 1680 the ranks of the New Regiments were unified with Strelets Troops.
| Category | Foreign regiments | Streltsy | Equivalent Western rank |
|---|---|---|---|
| Privates | Soldat (солда́т), Reiter (рейта́р), Dragoon (драгу́н) | Strelets (стреле́ц) | Private/Soldier |
| Line officers, low grade | Kapral (капра́л) | Desyatnik (деся́тник) | Corporal |
| Podpraporshchik (подпра́порщик, a rank of sub-ensign) | — | Sergeant | |
| Line officers, middle grade | Praporshchik (пра́порщик, Flag Bearer basing on Old Slavonic prapor (прапор), flag) | — | Master Sergeant/Ensign |
| Leytenant, Poruchik (лейтена́нт, пору́чик; the latter is based on Polish porucznik) | Pyatidesyatnik (пятидеся́тник) | Lieutenant | |
| Kapitan, Rotmistr (капита́н, ро́тмистр; the latter is adaptation of German Rittmeister) | Sotnik (со́тник) | Captain | |
| Line officers, high grade | Mayor (майо́р) | — | Major |
| Podpolkovknik, also polupolkovnik (подполко́вник, полуполко́вник, a sub-polkovnik) | Polugolova, also pyatisotenny golova (полуголова́, пятисо́тенный голова́) | Lieutenant Colonel | |
| Polkovnik (полко́вник, from Russian polk for regiment) | Golova, also polkovnik ( голова́, полко́вник) | Colonel | |
| Generals | General-Mayor (генера́л-майо́р) | — | Major General |
| General-Poruchik (генера́л-пору́чик) | — | Lieutenant General |
Russian Empire
During the beginning of 1700s, military ranks were frequently changed by the tsar during efforts to reform the army and create a strong Navy. These many changes were routinely documented into Army's Rules of Engagement since 1716, until they were finally incorporated into the first variant of Table of Ranks in 1722. Comparing to Strelets Troops, a few more non-commissioned ranks were added, the soldier rank was replaced with many speciality ranks and a few more General ranks were added. The naval ranks were created from the scratch.
The officers were styled according to their rank as defined by the Table.
1731-1798
By 1731, the ranks of both enlisted staff and commissioned/non-commissioned officers were somewhat settled; these ranks survived until the Russian Revolution with only minor adjustements.
Captain-Poruchik rank is comparable to Lieutenant Captain. Note that Poruchik can sometimes be styled as Porutchik, as it was originally written by the tsar.
commissioned officers of artillery, engineers enjoyed a handicap of 1 grade, and the Leib Guard enjoyed a handicap of 2 grades.
| Grade | Category | Army, Infantry | Cavalry (since 1731) | Artillery, Engineer |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| I | Generals | General-Fieldmarshal (генерал-фельдмаршал) | none | none |
| II | General en Chief (генера́л-анше́ф) | General of the Cavalry (генера́л от кавале́рии) | General Feldzeugmeister (генера́л-фельдцейхме́йстер) | |
| III | General-Poruchik (генера́л-пору́чик) | |||
| IV | Major General (генера́л-майо́р) | |||
| V | Staff Officers | Brigadier (бригади́р) (until 1798) | Polkovnik (полко́вник) | |
| VI | Polkovnik (полко́вник) | Sub-Polkovnik (подполко́вник) | ||
| VII | Sub-Polkovnik (подполко́вник) | Major (майо́р) | ||
| VIII | Premier Major (премье́р-майо́р) Second Major (секу́нд-майо́р) |
— | ||
| Über-Officers | — | Captain (капита́н) | ||
| IX | Captain (капита́н) | Rittmeister (ро́тмистр) | Captain-Poruchik (капита́н-пору́чик) (until 1731 and since 1765) | |
| X | Captain-Poruchik (капита́н-пору́чик) (until 1731) | Poruchik (пору́чик) | ||
| XI | Poruchik (пору́чик) (since 1765) | Sub-Poruchik (подпору́чик) (since 1765) | ||
| XII | Poruchik (пору́чик); Sub-Poruchik (подпору́чик) since 1765 | Sub-Poruchik (подпору́чик) (until 1765) | ||
| XIII | Sub-Poruchik (подпору́чик) (until 1765) | Bayonet-Junker (штык-ю́нкер); Praporshchik (пра́порщик) since 1765 | ||
| XIV | Praporshchik/Fähnrich (пра́порщик/фе́нрих (фендрик)) | Cornet (корне́т) | — | |
| Under-Officers | Senior Sergeant (ста́рший сержа́нт); Feldwebel (фельдфе́бель) (1765-1826); Sub-Praporshchik (подпра́порщик) (1826-1884); Ordinary Praporshchik (зауряд-пра́порщик) (since 1884) | Wachtmeister (вáхмистр) (until 1884); none (since 1884) | Feldwebel (фельдфе́бель) (1765-1826); Sub-Praporshchik (подпра́порщик) (1826-1884); Ordinary Praporshchik (зауряд-пра́порщик) (since 1884) | |
| Junior Sergeant (мл́адший сержа́нт); Sergeant (сержа́нт) (1765-1798); Portupey Praporshchik (пра́порщик)) (1798-1826); Feldwebel (фельдфе́бель) (1826-1884); Sub-Praporshchik (подпра́порщик) (since 1884) | Estandart Junker (эстандáрт-ю́нкер) (1798-1826); Feldwebel (фельдфе́бель) (1826-1884); Wachtmeister (вáхмистр) (since 1884) | Portupey Junker (портупéй-ю́нкер) (1798-1826); Feldwebel (фельдфе́бель) (1826-1884); Sub-Praporshchik (подпра́порщик) (since 1884) | ||
| Sub-Praporshchik (подпра́порщик) (until 1826); Sergeant (сержа́нт) (1826-1884); Feldwebel (фельдфе́бель) (1884-1917) | Gefreit-Corporal(гефре́йт-капра́л) (1731-1765); Sub-Praporshchik (подпра́порщик) (1765-1826); Feldwebel (фельдфе́бель) (1884-1917) | Sub-Praporshchik (подпра́порщик) (until 1826); Feldwebel (фельдфе́бель) (1884-1917) | ||
| Kaptenarmus (каптена́рмус) | ||||
| Farrier (фурье́р) | ||||
| Corporal (капра́л) | ||||
| Privates | Gefreiter (гефре́йтор) | |||
| Musketeer, Fusilier, Grenadier, Pikenier etc. (мушкетё́р, фузилё́р, гренадё́р, пикинё́р и т.д.) | Dragoon, Hussar, Cuirassier, Uhlan, Lancers, Cossack etc. (драгу́н, гуса́р, кираси́р, улáн, ланцéр, каза́к и т.д.) | Cannoneer, Handlageer, Sapper, Pioneer, Miner, Pontooner etc. (канони́р, гандлаге́р, сапё́р, пионе́р, минё́р, понтонё́р и т.д.) | ||
| Grade | Category | Rank |
|---|---|---|
| I | Admirals | General Admiral (генера́л-адмира́л) |
| II | Admiral (адмира́л) | |
| III | Vice Admiral (ви́це-адмира́л) | |
| IV | Schout-bij-nacht (шаутбейна́хт); Counter Admiral since 1724 (ко́нтр-адмира́л) | |
| V | Staff Officers | Captain-Commander (until 1826) (капита́н-командо́р); Captain of Brigadier rank (1764-1798) (капита́н брагади́рского ра́нга) |
| VI | Captain, 1st rank (капита́н 1-го ра́нга) | |
| VII | Captain, 2nd rank (капита́н 2-го ра́нга) | |
| VIII | Captain-Poruchik (until 1784) (капита́н-поручи́к); Captain-Lieutenant(since 1784) | |
| IX | Über-Officers | Lieutenant (лейтена́нт) or Poruchik (пору́чик) (since 1884) |
| X | Under-Lieutenant (ýндер лейтена́нт) (until 1724); Poruchik (пору́чик) (until 1884); Midshipman (ми́чман) (since 1884) | |
| XI | Ship Secretary (корабе́льный секрета́рь) (until 1834); Podporuchik (подпору́чик) (until 1884) | |
| XII | Midshipman (ми́чман) (1864-1884) | |
| XIII | Midshipman (ми́чман) (1758-1864) | |
| XIV | ||
| Under-Officers | Stuurman, (шту́рман) | |
| Skipper (шки́пер) | ||
| Unteroffizier (у́нтер-офице́р) (since 1758); |Midshipman (ми́чман) (until 1758) | ||
| Bootsmann (бо́цман); Shchieman (Schoonerman) (шхи́ман) | ||
| Sub Skipper (подшхи́ман); Sub Stuurman, (подшту́рман); Bootsmannmaat (боцманма́т); Shchiemanmaat (шхимана́т) | ||
| Quartermaster (квартирмéйстер) | ||
| Privates | Matrose, 1st rank (матро́с 1-й статьи́) | |
| Matrose, 2nd rank (матро́с 2-й статьи́) | ||
1798-1884
In 1798-1884 timeline, the General ranks were streamlined and a Brigadier was abolished. The Captain-Poruchik rank was reestablished again, this time as Stabbs-Captain. Courious Second Major and Premier Major ranks were united. In 1826, Russian Army adopted shoulder insignia and distinct Cossack cavalry ranks.
1884-1917
In 1884, a Major and Captain-Lieutenant ranks were abolished again and the ranks below were shifted several grades up. The latter was not reintroduced until 1907, but then again abolished in 1911.
RSFSR and Soviet Union
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1917-1925
The October Revolution of 1917 abolished the privileges of the Russian nobility (Dvoryanstvo). The Table of Ranks was abolished and so were personal military ranks. The army and the navy returned to a system of positional ranks that were acronyms of the full position names. For example, komdiv was an acronym of Division Commander; likewise kombat stood for Battalion Commander, etc. These acronyms have survived as informal position names to the present day.
1925-1935
Personal ranks were not reintroduced until 1935, and General ranks were restored in May 1940. The new ranks were based on the military ranks of the Russian Empire, although they underwent some modifications; modified Imperial rank insignia were reintroduced in 1943.
1935-1943
1943-1991
In the 1970s, the non-commissioned officers serving under contract and holding Starshina (Master Sergeant) rank were reassigned to newly-created Praporshchik rank (not to be confused with similarly named Russian Empire rank of commissioned officers); starshina was reserved for conscripts only.
The table of Soviet military ranks can see in Military ranks of the Soviet Union or in the section below (as they were the same as present military ranks of the Russian Federation).
Russian Federation
The independent Russia inherited the ranks of the Soviet Union, although the insignia and uniform was altered a little. The following is a table ranks of the Armed Forces of the Russian Federation.
Russian armed forces have two styles of ranks - all-forces ranks and deck ranks (navy style ranks).
All-forces ranks are used by:
- 1. Ground Forces.
- 2. Air Force.
- 3. Strategic Missile Troops (Independent Corps).
- 4. Airborne Troops (Independent Corps).
- 5. Military Space Troops (Independent Corps).
- 6. Naval Infantry (Marine Corps) and other various shore services of the navy.
- 7. Militsiya, Internal Troops - under Ministry of Internal Affairs (MVD).
- 8. Federal Security Service (FSB), Border Guard service of the FSB.
- 9. Civil Defense Troops, Fire Rescue Service - under Ministry of Civil Defense And Emergency Situations.
Deck (Navy) ranks are used by:
- 1. Navy (Except Naval Infantry and other shore services).
- 2. Maritime Guard of the Border Service of FSB.
The highest rank for all forces is Marshal of the Russian Federation.
| Category | All-forces ranks | Deck Ranks |
|---|---|---|
|
or General Officers |
(Ма́ршал Росси́йской Федера́ции) |
|
|
(генера́л а́рмии) |
(адмира́л фло́та) |
|
|
(генера́л-полко́вник) |
(адмира́л) |
|
|
(генера́л-лейтена́нт) |
(ви́це-адмира́л) |
|
|
(генера́л-майо́р) |
(ко́нтр-адмира́л) |
|
|
or Field Grade Officers |
(полко́вник) |
(капита́н 1-го ра́нга) |
|
(подполко́вник) |
(капита́н 2-го р́анга) |
|
|
(майо́р) |
(капита́н 3-го р́анга) |
|
|
or Company Grade Officers |
(капита́н) |
(капита́н-лейтена́нт) |
|
(ста́рший лейтена́нт) |
(ста́рший лейтена́нт) |
|
|
(лейтена́нт) |
(лейтена́нт) |
|
|
(мла́дший лейтена́нт) |
(мла́дший лейтена́нт) |
|
|
or Master non-commissioned officers |
(ста́рший пра́порщик) |
(ста́рший ми́чман) |
|
(пра́порщик) |
(ми́чман) |
|
|
and Petty Officers |
(старшина́) |
(гла́вный корабе́льный старшина́) |
|
(ста́рший сержа́нт) |
(гла́вный старшина́) |
|
|
(сержа́нт) |
(старшина́ 1-й статьи́) |
|
|
(мла́дший сержа́нт) |
(старшина́ 2-й статьи́) |
|
|
seamen, airmen |
(ефре́йтор) |
(ста́рший матро́с) |
|
(рядово́й) |
(матро́с) |
See also
Links
- Ministry of Internal Affairs (MVD)
- Federal Security Service (FSB)
- Border Guard service of the FSB.
- Ministry of Civil Defense And Emergency Situations.
External links
- Federal Law No. 58-FZ from March 12, 1998 "On military duty and military service" (in Russian)
- Presidential Decree No. 531 from May 8, 2005 "On military uniform, rank insignia of the servicemen and state bodies' rank insignia" (in Russian)
