The Ranks and insignia of the Imperial Russian Armed Forces were the military ranks used by the Imperial Russian Army and the Imperial Russian Navy. Many of the ranks were derived from the German model. The ranks were abolished following the Russian Revolution, with the Red Army adopting an entirely different system.
Army ranks and rank designation The following ranks and their respective insignia were also used by the personnel of the Imperial Russian Air Service from 1912 to 1917.
Army ranks 1698–1716 Rank group General officers() Ranks
Rank group Field officers() Company officers() Ranks
Rank group Non-commissioned officers() Enlisted ranks() Ranks
1716–1722 Rank group General officers() Infantry Ranks Cavalry ranks —
Rank group Field officers() Company officers() Infantry Ranks Cavalry ranks
Rank group Non-commissioned officers() Enlisted ranks() Infantry Ranks Cavalry ranks
1722–1731 Rank group General officers() Rank code I II III IV Infantry ranks Cavalry ranks - Artillery troops ranks Engineer troops ranks
Rank group Field officers() Company officers() Cold weapon ranks insignia - Infantry and CavalryRank code V VI VII VIII IX X XII XIII XIVRank Artillery and Engineer troopsRank code V VI VII VIII IX X XII XIIIRank Life guard Preobrazhensky and Semyonovsky regimentsRank codeIVVVIVIIVIIIIXXXIIRank
Rank group Non-commissioned officers() Enlisted ranks() Cold weapon ranks insignia - - - Infantry ranks Cavalry ranks Artillery troops Engineer troops ranks Life guardPreobrazhensky and Semyonovsky regimentsRank codeXIIIXIVRank
1731–1765 Rank group General officers() Rank code I II III IV Infantry ranks Cavalry ranks - Artillery ranks Engineer troops ranks
Rank group Field officers() Company officers()Infantry Rank code V VI VII VIII IX XXI XIIXIII XIVRanks - Подпоручик PodporuchikПрапорщик (фендрик) Praporshchik (Fendrik)Cavalry Artillery and Engineer troops Rank code V VI VII VIII IX X XI XII XIII XIV Ranks - - -Life guard infantryRank codeIV VVIVIIVIIIIXX XIXII Ranks -Life guard cavalryLife company(1741–1762)Grenadier company of Preobrazhensky Regiment Rank code -II III IV VVI Ranks(Empress Elizabeth Petrovna) {| class="wikitable" ! colspan="2" |Rank group ! colspan="8" |Non-commissioned officers (Russian: Унтер-офицеры, romanized: ''Unter-ofitsery)! colspan="2" |Enlisted ranks(Russian: Нижние чины, romanized: Nizhniye Chiny)|- |-style="text-align:center;" ! colspan="2" |Infantry ranks | rowspan="4" |Фельдфебель Fel'dfebel''' | colspan="2" rowspan="4" |СержантSerzhant|ПодпрапорщикPodpraporshchik| rowspan="4" |КаптенармусKaptenarmus| rowspan="4" |ФурьерFur'er| colspan="2" rowspan="4" |КапралKapral| colspan="2" rowspan="2" |Мушкетёр, гренадёр и т.д.Mushketyor, grenadyor etc.|- |-style="text-align:center;" ! colspan="2" |Cavalry ranks |Гефрейт-капралGefreyt-kapral|- |-style="text-align:center;" ! colspan="2" |Artillery ranks | rowspan="2" |ПодпрапорщикPodpraporshchik| colspan="2" rowspan="2" |Драгун, кирасир и т.д.Dragun, kirasir etc.|- |-style="text-align:center;" ! colspan="2" |Engineer troops ranks |- |- style="background:#efefef;text-align:center;" ! rowspan="2" |Life guard infantry !Rank code |XIII | colspan="2" |XIV | colspan="7" | - |- |-style="text-align:center;" ! rowspan="2" |Ranks | rowspan="2" |Лейб-гвардии фельдфебельLeyb-gvardii fel'dfebel | colspan="2" rowspan="2" |Лейб-гвардии сержантLeyb-gvardii serzhant|Лейб-гвардии подпрапорщикLeyb-gvardii podpraporshchik| rowspan="2" |Лейб-гвардии каптенармусLeyb-gvardii kaptenarmus| rowspan="2" |Лейб-гвардии фурьерLeyb-gvardii fur'er| colspan="2" rowspan="2" |Лейб-гвардии капралLeyb-gvardii kapral| colspan="2" |Лейб-гвардии мушкетёр, гренадёр и т.д.Leyb-gvardii mushketyor, grenadyor etc.|- |-style="text-align:center;" !Life guard cavalry |Лейб-гвардии гефрейт-капралLeyb-gvardii gefreyt-kapral| colspan="2" |Лейб-гвардии драгун, кирасир и т.д.Leyb-gvardii dragun, kirasir etc.|- |- style="background:#efefef;text-align:center;" ! rowspan="2" |Life company(1741–1762)Grenadier company of Preobrazhensky Regiment !Rank code | colspan="2" |VII | colspan="4" |VIII | colspan="1" |IX | colspan="1" |X | colspan="1" |XI | colspan="1" |XII |- |-style="text-align:center;" !Ranks
| colspan="1" |CержантSerzhant| colspan="1" |Вице-сержантVitse-serzhant|ПодпрапорщикPodpraporshchik| - |ФурьерFur'er|КапралKapral| colspan="2" | - |Лейб-кампанеецLeyb-kampaneets''
1765–1798 Rank groupGeneral officers() Rank code I II III IV Infantry ranks Cavalry ranks(also сossacks ranksfrom 1796) - Rank code - II III IV Artillery ranks - Engineer troop ranks Rank code -
Rank groupField officers() Company officers() Rank code V VI VII VIII IX X XI XII XIII XIV Infantry ranks - - Cavalry ranks(also сossacks ranksfrom 1796) Rank code V VI VII VIII IX X XI XII XIII XIV Artillery ranks - - Rank code IV V VI VII VIII IX X XI XII Guard infantry ranks - - Life guard cavalry ranks -
Rank group Non-commissioned officers() Enlisted ranks() Infantry ranks Cavalry ranks(also сossacks ranksfrom 1796) Artillery ranks Engineer troop ranks Rank code XIII XIV Guard infantry ranks Life guard cavalry ranks
1798–1800 Rank group General officers() Field officers() Company officers() Non-commissioned officers() Enlisted ranks() Rank code I II III IV V VI VII VIII IX X XI XII XIII XIV Infantry ranks - Cavalry and Cossacks ranks - - Artillery ranks - - Engineer troops ranks Rank code - IV V VI VII VIII IX X XI XII XIII XIV Guard infantry ranks - - - - Guard cavalry ranks -
1800–1826 Rank group General officers() Field officers() Company officers() Non-commissioned officers() Enlisted ranks() Rank code I II III IV V VI VII VIII IX X XI XII XIII XIV Infantry ranks - - Cavalry and Cossacks ranks - - Artillery ranks (Abolished in 1811) (Implement in 1811) Engineer troops ranks Rank code Old Guard (Units that became the Life Guards before 1813) IV V VI VII VIII IX X XI XII XIII XIV Young Guard (Units that became the Life Guards after 1813) V VI VII VIII IX X XI XII XIII XIV Guard infantry ranks - - - - Guard cavalry ranks -
1826–1884 Rank group General officers() Field officers() Company officers() Non-commissioned officers() Enlisted ranks() Rank code I II III IV V VI VII VIII IX X XI XII XIII XIV Infantry Epaulettes - - - Infantry shoulder board Infantry ranks Cavalry ranks - - Cossacks ranks - - Artillery ranks - Engineer troops ranks Rank code Old Guard (Units that became the Life Guards before 1813) IV V VI VII VIII IX X XI XII XIII XIV Young Guard (Units that became the Life Guards after 1813) V VI VII VIII IX X XI XII XIII XIV Guard infantry ranks - - - - Guard cavalry ranks - Rank code - III IV V VI VII VIII IX X XI XII XIII XIV Palace Grenadier Company - - - - -
1884–1917 Rank group General officers() Field officers() Company officers() Non-commissioned officers() Enlisted ranks() Rank code I II III IV V VI VII VIII IX X XI XII XIII XIV Infantry Epaulettes - - - - Shoulder boards (full dress) Shoulder board(field or service uniform) Ranks Rank code I II III IV V VI VII VIII IX X XI XII XIII XIV Cavalry Epaulettes - - - - - Shoulder knots Shoulder straps Shoulder straps(field uniform) Ranks (War time only) Rank code I II III IV V VI VII VIII IX X XI XII XIII XIV Cossacks Shoulder straps - - - Shoulder straps(field uniform) Ranks Rank code I II III IV V VI VII VIII IX X XI XII XIII XIV Artillery Epaulettes - - - - Shoulder straps Shoulder straps(field uniform) Ranks Rank code I II III IV V VI VII VIII IX X XI XII XIII XIV Engineer troops Epaulettes - - - - Shoulder straps Shoulder straps(field uniform) Ranks Rank group General officers() Field officers() Company officers() Non-commissioned officers() Enlisted ranks() Rank code V VI VII VIII IX X XI XII XIII XIV Guard Infantry Epaulettes - - (Reservist) - Shoulder straps Shoulder straps(field uniform) Ranks Rank code V VI VII VIII IX X XI XII XIII XIV Guard Cavalry Epaulettes - - - - - - Shoulder knots Shoulder straps Shoulder straps(field uniform) Ranks (War time only) Rank code V VI VII VIII IX X XI XII XIII XIV Guard Cossacks Shoulder straps - - - - Shoulder straps(field uniform) Ranks Rank code - III IV V VI VII VIII IX X XI XII XIII XIV Palace Grenadier Company Shoulder straps - - - - - Shoulder straps(field uniform) Ranks
Other regiments and cadet corps The following shoulder board insignias of the Imperial Army used by specific units and cadet corps are illustrated below:
Naval ranks and rank insignia 1696–1706 Rank group Flag officers() Officers() Ranks
Rank group - - Ranks
1706–1713 Rank group Flag officers() Officers() Ranks
Rank group - Enlisted ranks() Ranks
1713–1720 Rank group Flag officers() Officers() Ranks This title was held only by captains of galleys, half-galleys, and other small rowing vessels. It was abolished in 1717.
Rank group Enlisted ranks() Ranks
1720–1722 Rank group Flag officers()Ranks Ship Artillery - Medical -- Rear services -
Rank group Officers()Ranks Ship - Artillery - Soldiers - Medical - Rear services -
Rank group Non-commissioned officers() Enlisted ranks()Ranks Ship - Artillery - - Soldiers - Medical - Rear services - -
1722–1732 Rank group Flag officers() Rank code I II III IV Ranks
Rank group Field officers() Rank code V VI VII VIII IX Ranks
Rank group Field officers() Rank code X XI XII XIII XIV Ranks -
Rank group Non-commissioned officers() Enlisted ranks() Ranks
1732–1751 Rank group Flag officers() Field officers() Company officers() Rank code I II III IV V VI VII VIII IX X XI XII XIII XIV Ranks - - - - -
Rank group Non-commissioned officers() Enlisted ranks() Ranks
1751–1758 Rank group Flag officers() Field officers() Company officers() Non-commissioned officers() Enlisted ranks() Rank code I II III IV V VI VII VIII IX X XI XII XIII XIV Ranks - - - -
1758–1764 Rank group Flag officers() Field officers() Company officers() Non-commissioned officers() Enlisted ranks() Rank code I II III IV V VI VII VIII IX X XI XII XIII XIV Ranks - - -
1764–1798 Rank group Flag officers() Field officers() Company officers() Non-commissioned officers() Enlisted ranks() Rank code I II III IV V VI VII VIII IX X XI XII XIII XIV Ranks - - - -
1798–1827 Rank group Flag officers() Field officers() Company officers() Non-commissioned officers() Enlisted ranks() Rank code I II III IV V VI VII VIII IX X XI XII XIII XIV Shoulder straps1803-1807 Admiral Collar Left shoulder pad only - - Officer collar without shoulder pads - - NCO collar Enlisted collar Ranks - - - -
1827–1884 Rank group Flag officers() Field officers() Company officers() Non-commissioned officers() Enlisted ranks() Rank code I II III IV V VI VII VIII IX X XI XII XIII XIV Maritime service Epaulettes1830-1855 - - - Epaulettes1855-1904 Ranks - - - A graduate of the Naval School. Depending on the grades received at the final exam, it could belong to the XIV or XIII class. This rank existed from 1860 to 1882. Rank code I II III IV V VI VII VIII IX X XI XII XIII XIV Shore Establishment and Marines Epaulettes1830-1855 - - Epaulettes1855-1867 Epaulettes1867-1904 Ranks - -
1884–1907