Insignia of the ranks of the Russian Army. XVIII-XX centuries

The insignia for ordinary ensigns was the ensign's shoulder straps with a large (larger than officer's) asterisk in the upper third of the shoulder strap on the line of symmetry. The rank was assigned to the most experienced non-commissioned officers, with the outbreak of the First World War, it began to be assigned to ensigns as an encouragement, often immediately before the first senior officer rank (ensign or cornet) was awarded.

Until 1907, contrary to a common misconception, the rank of warrant officer did not exist, as well as positions, so called ensigns who acted as officers and, by their legal status, were equated with ensigns, but for some reason did not wear an officer's harness.

Zauryad ensigns had an officer's uniform, but without epaulets and with special distinctions on shoulder straps; they received allowances according to the officer's position; they had disciplinary power on an equal footing with junior officers, and they themselves were subject to penalties established for officers. During demobilization, all warrant officers, not excluding those who had not completed their mandatory terms of active service, were given the opportunity to take advantage of the transfer to the reserve, or - having an educational qualification and not having passed the age of 28 - enter cadet schools to acquire the right to be promoted to officers, or enter the sergeant major positions in the troops. In the latter case, they retained their rank and uniform, and at the same time acquired the right to the maintenance and benefits assigned to super-enlisted sergeant majors.

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See what "Zauryad-ensign" is in other dictionaries:

    In the Russian army since 1891 the rank of non-commissioned officer admitted in wartime to the position of junior officer. In the navy, the rank of ensign was assigned (since 1905) to mechanics, navigators and captains of the merchant fleet, who were called up in wartime for ... Big Encyclopedic Dictionary

    Zauryad ensign, zaurid ensign ... Spelling Dictionary

    In the Russian army since 1891 the rank of non-commissioned officer admitted in wartime to the position of junior officer. In the navy, the rank of ensign was awarded (since 1905) to mechanics, navigators and captains of the merchant fleet, who were called up in wartime to ... ... encyclopedic Dictionary

    ensign- zaur poison ensign, and ... Russian spelling dictionary

    ensign- Zaurya / d great / guard, Zaurya / d great / guard ... merged. Apart. Through a hyphen.

    ensign- zauryad / ensign / ... Morphemic spelling dictionary

    Zauryad in the Russian Empire is a legal term that meant that a person who sent a position or performed duties enjoyed the rights and benefits that accompanied the position or duty, but which according to ... Wikipedia

    1. unfold The first part of compound words that introduces meaning: ordinary, ordinary, unremarkable (ordinary official, etc.). 2. outdated. The first part of compound words, introducing meaning: occupying a position without an appropriate rank, diploma, etc. ... ... Modern explanatory dictionary of the Russian language Efremova

    - (pre-rev. official). The first part of compound words in the meaning. performing some position, but not having the corresponding rank, for example. ordinary ensign, ordinary doctor. Explanatory Dictionary of Ushakov. D.N. Ushakov. 1935 1940 ... Explanatory Dictionary of Ushakov

    ZAURYAD ... (obsolete). The first part of compound words with meaning. occupying a position without the appropriate rank or training, education, e.g. ordinary ensign, ordinary doctor. Explanatory dictionary of Ozhegov. S.I. Ozhegov, N.Yu. Shvedova. 1949 1992 ... Explanatory dictionary of Ozhegov

The position of ensign appeared in the Russian Streltsy army shortly after the appearance of warrant officers proper - junior officers who were initially responsible in battle for the movement and preservation of the banner (ensign) of the streltsy hundred. Due to the high responsibility of the task being performed, the most intelligent "low" sergeants were appointed as assistants to the ensign, which led to the fact that ensigns began to be considered the most senior among non-commissioned officers. In the campaign, it was they, and not ensigns, who carried the banner of the unit.

Sub-ensign (belt-ensign) of the 33rd Staro-Ingermanland Regiment, standard junker of the 7th Dragoon Novorossiysk Regiment and sub-ensign of the Life Guards of the Ural Cossack squadron.


In Russia, in the 17th-20th centuries, a sub-ensign is one of the non-commissioned officer ranks, first introduced by the Decree "On Military Ranks" in 1680 for all regiments - archery, soldiers and reiters, in status higher than a corporal and lower than an ensign. In 1698-1716, before the adoption of the Petrine Military Regulations, the ensign was lower in status than the captain and higher than the sergeant. In 1716-1722, before the adoption of the Table of Ranks, the ensign was higher in status than a corporal and lower than a captain, then until 1765 - above a captain and below a sergeant. In 1765-1798 - above the captain and below the junior sergeant, in 1798-1826 - above the junior non-commissioned officer and below the sergeant. In the guard, since 1838, the rank of ensign was abolished and restored only in 1884, although it was retained as an optional rank for students of educational institutions of the guard, equal to the rank of cadet, until 1859. In the life campaign in 1741-1761, ensigns belonged to the VIII class of the Table along with the furiers and vice sergeants, that is, they were equated with captain-lieutenants of the guard.


Lieutenant of the Reiter regiments. 1680s.

Lieutenant Dudnikov. Portrait by V. A. Poyarkov.

In the portrait of the full St. George Dudnikov, on the shoulder straps of a lieutenant, the sergeant-major's insignia sewn on top are clearly visible.
Since 1716, in accordance with the Charter of Peter the Great, ensigns were entrusted with the duty of commanding the stragglers on the march and supervising the sick and wounded on the march. Ensigns of Russian origin received 13 rubles of annual salary. Ensigns from foreigners were paid 72 rubles each. In 1731, this difference was eliminated, and 72 rubles a year were paid to all ensigns. From 1800 to 1826, after the abolition of the rank of sergeant, the lieutenant occupied a position between the junior non-commissioned officer and the sergeant major, and from 1826 until the introduction in 1907 of the rank of an ordinary warrant officer, the ensign becomes the most senior of the non-commissioned officer ranks, taking a position above the sergeant major and below ensign. The reason for this movement was not only the fact that, in accordance with formal logic, the ensign should be located under the ensign, but also the fact that since the abolition of the rank of sergeant, the commanders of the plutongs (platoons) were the ensigns. In general, during the 18th-19th centuries, the terms of reference of ensigns and the requirements for the level of their military and general education have changed several times. From the middle of the 18th century until the reform of 1826, the rank was also a kind of analogue of the rank of volunteer - it automatically produced persons who had a complete classical secondary education and, as a result, the right to be promoted to chief officer. Before the introduction of the system of cadet schools, students of higher military educational institutions were made ensigns. Moreover, in those days, even the epaulette of a lieutenant was the same as the epaulette of a cadet. It was an ordinary soldier's epaulette, sheathed along the side edges and the upper edge with a narrow gold galloon. In 1880-1903, cadets who graduated from infantry cadet schools were automatically promoted to ensigns before they were awarded the first chief officer rank. Until 1880 and since 1903, junkers were issued as lieutenants to the troops from most military educational institutions, who did not show even minimal success in their studies or who committed some particularly discrediting misconduct, and therefore released in the 3rd category (i.e., not made at the time of graduation to senior officers), they could not be further promoted to sword-belt ensigns or ensigns, they could not serve the rank of ensign, but retained the right to be promoted immediately to second lieutenants, subject to long-term impeccable service and successful passing of exams in the ensign training program stock. In practice, such proceedings usually took place in the third year of service, and examinations were taken quite formally.

Lieutenant of the 10th Novoingermanland Infantry Regiment Grigory Selinchuk, March 1916.

After the assignment of platoon commanders to the regular category of chief officers, only assistant platoon commanders began to produce ensigns. Since 1907, the title was awarded exclusively to extra-conscripts. Their epaulettes acquired a hexagonal shape, like those of officers. On the chase, the ensigns had a longitudinal stripe of a harness galloon 5/8 inches wide in color according to the regiment's instrument metal. In addition to this patch, they wore transverse patches for their position. Two stripes - for the positions of a separated non-commissioned officer, three stripes - for the positions of a platoon non-commissioned officer, one wide - for the positions of a sergeant major. In other positions, ensigns did not have transverse stripes. The salary of a lieutenant in 1913 was 28.5 rubles per month in the first three years of service and 33.5 rubles in the next. For the passage of the first two years of service, the ensign received a 150-ruble lump-sum allowance, and for 10 years of continuous service - a lump-sum allowance of a thousand rubles.

It should be borne in mind that since 1826, in the guard (in the so-called "old guard"), ensigns were equal to army lieutenants, but did not belong to the corresponding class of the Table of Ranks, in contrast to the sergeants and sergeants of the guard who were previously listed older than them. Since 1843, in legal terms, junkers have been equated with ensigns and the same insignia has been established for them - epaulets trimmed along the edge with a narrow gold galloon. Sub-ensigns (usually from the nobility) appointed to act as officers (commanders of separate units, etc.) wore a belt with a chief officer galloon and an officer's lanyard on edged weapons, and until 1907 were called sword-ensigns or, in the absence of grounds for subsequent promotion to chief officer - warrant officer (until 1884), although, contrary to common misconception, this was not a separate rank or position at that time. According to the status of the harness-ensign was equal to the harness-junker. Despite the general similarity to the point of indistinguishability of the status of the sword-belt ensign and the ordinary ensign until 1907, the fundamental difference between them was that the sword-ensign under no circumstances could wear an officer's uniform and insignia, was not titled "your honor", i.e. e. remained precisely a non-commissioned officer, albeit performing chief officer duties.

In the event that a non-commissioned officer was promoted to lieutenant for distinction or as a candidate for production to chief officer, he wore non-commissioned officer insignia on his previous rank (sergeant major or senior, separated non-commissioned officer) on the pursuit of a lieutenant over a galloon.

The epaulette of a lieutenant in the position of sergeant major. 2nd Siberian Rifle Adjutant General Count Muravyov-Amursky Regiment.

Since 1801, non-commissioned officers from the nobility, who served at least three years in the rank, received the right to be promoted to ensign upon retirement. Other non-commissioned officers, upon dismissal on indefinite leave or resignation, could be encouraged by the assignment of the next rank. In practice, non-commissioned officers were most often promoted to ensigns or conductors. The position of the guards ensigns was special - even without being promoted to the guards, ensigns could retire with an “army rank” or enter the civil service. At the same time, for example, until 1859, a lieutenant of the guard could retire or be transferred to the army as an army lieutenant. For the cavalry, such practice in the production of cornets was allowed only on condition that they passed the exam in the training program for cavalry junkers.

According to the statute of the insignia of the Military Order (St. George's Cross) of 1913, any military personnel awarded with his 1st degree were automatically made into ensigns (of course, in those branches of service and units where this title existed), and those awarded with the 2nd degree were made in ensigns upon retirement or in the reserve. With the outbreak of the First World War, this rule began to be systematically violated.

On November 23, 1917, the rank of ensign was abolished, like all other ranks, ranks and titles.

In 1891-1917. The rank of Zauryad Ensign was introduced by order of the military department No. 137 dated May 25, 1891, according to which, with a lack of officers in wartime, lower ranks belonging to the following categories were allowed to fill vacant officer positions with the assignment of the rank of Ensign Ensign:

    having an educational qualification (higher or secondary, albeit incomplete, education) non-commissioned officers from volunteers of the 1st category, as well as from drawers and hunters;

    sergeant-majors (wahmisters) and senior non-commissioned officers who do not have an educational qualification, mainly from extra-conscripts or extra-conscripts of the lower ranks.

The renaming of non-commissioned officer ranks into Zauryad ensigns was allowed only in the same military units where these ranks were in the service. Non-commissioned officers called up from the reserve could become ensigns only after a month's probation. Renaming into Zauryad ensigns was carried out on the proposal of the unit commander by the authority of the head of the division or a person enjoying equal rights. They could be deprived of their rank of Zauryad-ensign only by court or administrative order by the authority of the corps commander. In both cases, they were transferred to other parts. Zauryad warrant officers with an educational qualification could be promoted to ensign without an exam for military distinctions, and then, for new military distinctions, to the next officer ranks. In exceptional cases, for example, for a particularly outstanding feat, Zauryad ensigns, both with and without educational qualifications, could, with the permission of the emperor, be made directly to. During the demobilization of the army, all Zauryad ensigns, incl. and those who had not completed their term of active military service were given the right either to take advantage of the transfer to the reserve or resignation, or to continue their service. The ensigns who remained in the service, having an educational qualification, could enter cadet schools, and those who did not have an educational qualification could occupy sergeant major positions. Both of them retained the title of Zauryad Ensign.

According to the order of the military department No. 330 of June 27, 1912, the rank of ensign was retained only for persons in active service in sergeant major positions, as well as for persons listed in the reserve and subject to transfer to the reserve, for the duration of the state in the reserve and in in the event of a call-up from the reserve.

The title of Zauryad Ensign was abolished on the basis of the decree of the Council of People's Commissars of December 16 (29), 1917, "the equalization of all military personnel in rights."

Sources: Orders for the military. department. 1891 No. 137; 1912 No. 330; Volkov S.V. Rus. officer corps. M., 1993; New Encyclopedic Dictionary / Ed. I.F. Brockhaus, I.A. Efron. SPb., b.g. T. 18; Decrees of the Soviet power. M, 1957. T. 1.

V.P. Ponomarev

Zauryad cornet- naming in the Russian army of a person belonging to the Cossack military service class and performing the duties of the corresponding Cossack chief officer during service, but not having the right to be promoted to a military rank.

A similar method of forming the officer cadre of the Cossack units was also resorted to in cases where, although the units themselves did not consist of foreigners, due to the urgency of the formation or the remoteness of the theater, it was impossible to staff them with combatant Cossack officers within a reasonable time.

With the introduction of governor-generalships, governor-generals were given the right to promote to Cossack ranks ordinary. Since that time, the Cossack ranks ordinary began to be assigned to Cossacks who were not in military service, but acting as officials of local Cossack self-government - village chiefs, local atamans, etc. these positions they were usually subordinated to a combatant chief officer below them in rank, and even sometimes were determined to be subordinate to a non-commissioned officer.

The local military authorities also often made ordinary cornets in the order of rewarding persons who were not at all in any service, but who provided certain important services to army units, as well as having the usual military ranks of Cossacks in cases where there was no other way to reward they were not. In this way, the ordinary cornets were fundamentally different from the ordinary ensigns, who, for production, necessarily had to fulfill the duties of a chief officer, and who could not receive the title of ordinary in the order of awarding.

Since the year ordinary cornets were legally equated with ordinary ensigns, however, the change in the legal status of the latter in the year (conversion of the ordinary officer rank into an ordinary military rank, also referred to the regular category of non-commissioned officers) did not affect them, in the Cossack troops, as well as in the fleet , they continued to be ordinary officers, this position was maintained in

The shoulder straps of the tsarist army of 1914 are rarely mentioned in feature films and historical books. Meanwhile, this is an interesting object of study: in the imperial age, during the reign of Tsar Nicholas II, uniforms were an object of art. Before the start of the First World War, the distinctive signs of the Russian army differed significantly from those that are used now.

They were brighter and contained more information, but at the same time they did not have functionality: they were easily visible both in the field environment and in the forest or in the snow. For this reason, with the beginning of major hostilities, the insignia were re-formed.

The ranks in the tsarist army were also different until 1917, which changed with the advent of the revolution. About what the ranks of the tsarist army of Russia were, what the shoulder straps of the old tsarist army looked like, we will tell in detail right now.

The main differences between shoulder straps and ranks

In pre-revolutionary years in Russia, instead of ranks, there were ranks - both for civilians and for military persons. They were introduced by the decree of Peter the Great in 1722, who created the "Table of Ranks". The lower ranks were followed by non-commissioned officers, then chief and staff officers. The ranks of generals were considered the highest. Read more about the ranks in the tsarist army of Russia in ascending order with shoulder straps, see below.

The first difference is in the name. Instead of a title - a rank. The second difference is in the specific names of the ranks. If now such words as corporal, private are used, then then there were scorer, volunteer.

The third difference lies in the information that is applied to shoulder straps. Now they can find information about the height of the military rank. At the same time, Greek numbers were applied large, almost in full size, on shoulder straps. They denoted the regiment to which the soldier or officer belonged. The shoulder straps also had Roman numerals and letters, they already served to separate the "height" of the position.

The fact is that in the old days there were a lot of variations of shoulder straps, but despite this, they “intersected” between different ranks. An officer's shoulder straps could be the same as a private's (in color, regiment number). Therefore, Roman numerals were additionally used, which helped to distinguish an officer from a subordinate. For the same purpose, cockades were used - small metal plaques that are attached to the front of the cap. For soldiers, they were of the same shape and color, for higher structures, they were different.

The color system is also different. Now the shoulder straps of the military differ in color depending on the type of troops. For sailors - blue, for infantry - red-yellow, at the same time the colors could vary even within the same division. So, each brigade had its own color of shoulder straps inside it, and if there was another division inside the brigade, into regiments, then each regiment had its own color of caps or a picture on the cockade. Now caps do not differ in color, only among sailors the highest ranks wear white hats.

Previously, epaulettes and monograms on them were used, but now the system in which the main thing is a beautiful and noble picture has been canceled in favor of the functional qualities of uniforms.

Why did the designation change?

From 1914 to 1917, several modifications were quickly introduced regarding ranks and distinguishing features in the army. First of all, with the beginning of the First World War, the color coating of shoulder straps was removed, which was noticeable at any time of the year and even in the off-season in November-April. They became a protective khaki color, which at that time was called "peas".

As can be seen from the above, before the revolution, the Russian army preferred beautiful uniforms, and a lot of attention was paid to the design component. With the beginning of serious hostilities, the military leaders came to the conclusion that the colored elements of the uniform were not functional. They betray the soldier and make him an easy target for the opponent. Therefore, even before the revolution, colors were abolished.

The next change was associated with the coming to power of new faces. Tsarism was overthrown, and with it the government wished to consign to oblivion the Table of Ranks, as well as the titles that had been introduced by Paul in the manner of the Prussian army. Therefore, many ranks were renamed. At the same time, shoulder straps and cockades went out of service. Again, they returned to the army only in 1943, and this gesture shows that not all developments of past years were failures.

In general, the change in ranks and appearance of uniforms was due to their failure in the conditions of hostilities. The constant confusion in ranks and epaulettes was a strong disadvantage of the uniform design of that time.

Compliance of old ranks with modern ranks

One hundred years have passed since the First World War, but during this time the structure of the army has not changed much. The niches of soldiers, officers, generals have been preserved in it. However, the old ranks received new, more convenient and common names.

Ranks in the old tsarist army before 1917 with shoulder straps are given in accordance with the modern Russian rank system:

  • Private, he is also a scorer, a Cossack, a volunteer, a sailor of the 2nd article, etc. The sailor of the second article was in the fleet, the Cossack belonged to the Cossack army, the scorer was ranked as a sapper infantry. Only in the cavalry, the lower ranks were called the same - private. A volunteer is an outdated concept that was used to refer to people who voluntarily went to work (an analogue of modern contract soldiers). They were distinguished by privileges in the service.
  • Corporal. Previously, only cavalry employees were called corporals, which is where most of the modern names came from. A corporal in the fleet was called a sailor of the first article, among the Cossacks a higher rank was called "order". In the artillery army and sapper divisions there was no division into corporals and privates, everyone was called "bombardiers".

  • Junior non-commissioned officer. This included Junior Fireworker, Jr. sergeant, quartermaster (in the navy).
  • Senior non-commissioned officer. This is a boatswain in the fleet, a senior officer in the Life Guards and among the Cossacks, a senior fireworks officer among sappers.
  • Feldwebel. This includes the sergeant major among the Cossacks and cavalry, the boatswain in the fleet.
  • Ensign. The conductor in the naval forces, in the infantry, the name is the same as the modern one.
  • Ensign. Podkhorunzhiy, ensign of the cavalry and the Life Guards are among the ranks associated with this rank.

Higher officer ranks

More serious officer recognition began with the receipt of the chief officer rank. Then the subordinates began to turn to the military "Your Honor." The officer's cockade on the cap, starting from this rank, is gold. Among the ranks (in ascending order) are ensign, second lieutenant, staff captain, captain, all these ranks were associated with the Table of Ranks.

The officer rank "ensign" was considered the 14th, lowest rank, the staff captain was already the 9th in honor. Due to the fact that the name "captain" was used before, confusion may arise in comparing modern and ancient military ranks. “Captain” ranks in the tsarist army until 1917 were considered such ranks as captain, Cossack captain, and only in the guards the captain was called the same as now. Therefore, answering the question "Captain - what is the title now?", You need to answer that the captain. The captain was almost equal to the staff officers, he wore eye-catching blue epaulettes.

"Elite" and general ranks

The last step, which preceded the catalog of generals, were staff officers, these are lieutenant colonels and colonels. In the Navy, they were called captains and captains of the 2nd rank. The next in rank in the army commander was already a general, and in the navy - an admiral.

Headquarters officers were called "high nobility", generals - "Your Excellency". There were divisions among the generals: major general, colonel general, engineer general, etc. The rank of general appointed the royal council. The generals were distinguished by the most elaborate military cockade, white gloves, and a large number of awards, which does not differ from the current state.

Military ranks in the tsarist army until 1917 and shoulder straps were very different from modern ones. This indicates a noticeable backwardness of the then system of names and uniforms. Now the uniform and ranks of those times can be used as a model of history, but one should not take as an example the old imperfect shoulder straps that caused confusion among the military themselves.