Starshina
Encyclopedia
Starshina, or Starshyna initially was a Cossacks officership
, but in Soviet times was used as the top non-commissioned officer
.
Among Cossacks and in Ukraine, starshina was a collective noun for categories of officership or a military elite: junior starshina , general starshina , military starshina , substarshina . Later sometime after the Khmelnytsky's Uprising it also was associated with the Ukrainian nobility which derived out of the officership and dictated whom to be the Hetman in XVII. The some members of starshina became disloyal not only to the Hetman and the Tsar, but also to their own people. Such disposition greatly contributed to the numerous conflicts and uprisings in Ukraine at that time. Coincidentally during this period the territory of Ukraine changes its borders regularly among Moscow, Ottoman Empire, and Poland.
In Tsardom of Russia
and later Imperial Russia of 17-20th centuries a volostnoy starshina was a chief of a volost
(a rural administrative unit). He was in charge of the distribution of taxes, resolving conflicts within obshchina
, distribution of the usage of community lands, assigning people for military service, etc.
The rank of voiskovoi starshina ( - "Starshina of the Army (Host)
") was introduced into Russian military ranks in 1826, as equivalent of a Lieutenant Colonel
in the Cossack
cavalry
.
In the Soviet Army
, a starshina was the highest non-commissioned officer
among conscripts; this was changed by reintroduction of the higher-ranking praporshchik
in 1972. In the Soviet Navy
, it was introduced in 1942 as a petty officer
rank; every enlisted seaman
ranking above Matrose
, 1st class is a starshina of various ranks.
The starshina as an enlisted rank is still used in the military ranks of the Russian Federation, Bulgaria and Ukraine.
Officer (armed forces)
An officer is a member of an armed force or uniformed service who holds a position of authority. Commissioned officers derive authority directly from a sovereign power and, as such, hold a commission charging them with the duties and responsibilities of a specific office or position...
, but in Soviet times was used as the top non-commissioned officer
Non-commissioned officer
A non-commissioned officer , called a sub-officer in some countries, is a military officer who has not been given a commission...
.
Among Cossacks and in Ukraine, starshina was a collective noun for categories of officership or a military elite: junior starshina , general starshina , military starshina , substarshina . Later sometime after the Khmelnytsky's Uprising it also was associated with the Ukrainian nobility which derived out of the officership and dictated whom to be the Hetman in XVII. The some members of starshina became disloyal not only to the Hetman and the Tsar, but also to their own people. Such disposition greatly contributed to the numerous conflicts and uprisings in Ukraine at that time. Coincidentally during this period the territory of Ukraine changes its borders regularly among Moscow, Ottoman Empire, and Poland.
In Tsardom of Russia
Tsardom of Russia
The Tsardom of Russia was the name of the centralized Russian state from Ivan IV's assumption of the title of Tsar in 1547 till Peter the Great's foundation of the Russian Empire in 1721.From 1550 to 1700, Russia grew 35,000 km2 a year...
and later Imperial Russia of 17-20th centuries a volostnoy starshina was a chief of a volost
Volost
Volost was a traditional administrative subdivision in Eastern Europe.In earlier East Slavic history, volost was a name for the territory ruled by the knyaz, a principality; either as an absolute ruler or with varying degree of autonomy from the Velikiy Knyaz...
(a rural administrative unit). He was in charge of the distribution of taxes, resolving conflicts within obshchina
Obshchina
Obshchina or Mir ) or Selskoye obshestvo were peasant communities, as opposed to individual farmsteads, or khutors, in Imperial Russia. The term derives from the word о́бщий, obshchiy ....
, distribution of the usage of community lands, assigning people for military service, etc.
The rank of voiskovoi starshina ( - "Starshina of the Army (Host)
Cossack host
A Cossack host or Cossack viysko was an administrative subdivision of Cossacks in Imperial Russia...
") was introduced into Russian military ranks in 1826, as equivalent of a Lieutenant Colonel
Lieutenant colonel
Lieutenant colonel is a rank of commissioned officer in the armies and most marine forces and some air forces of the world, typically ranking above a major and below a colonel. The rank of lieutenant colonel is often shortened to simply "colonel" in conversation and in unofficial correspondence...
in the Cossack
Cossack
Cossacks are a group of predominantly East Slavic people who originally were members of democratic, semi-military communities in what is today Ukraine and Southern Russia inhabiting sparsely populated areas and islands in the lower Dnieper and Don basins and who played an important role in the...
cavalry
Cavalry
Cavalry or horsemen were soldiers or warriors who fought mounted on horseback. Cavalry were historically the third oldest and the most mobile of the combat arms...
.
In the Soviet Army
Soviet Army
The Soviet Army is the name given to the main part of the Armed Forces of the Soviet Union between 1946 and 1992. Previously, it had been known as the Red Army. Informally, Армия referred to all the MOD armed forces, except, in some cases, the Soviet Navy.This article covers the Soviet Ground...
, a starshina was the highest non-commissioned officer
Non-commissioned officer
A non-commissioned officer , called a sub-officer in some countries, is a military officer who has not been given a commission...
among conscripts; this was changed by reintroduction of the higher-ranking praporshchik
Praporshchik
Praporshchik is a rank in the Russian military.-Imperial Russia:Praporshchik was originally a name of a junior commissioned officer rank in the military of the Russian Empire equivalent to ensign...
in 1972. In the Soviet Navy
Soviet Navy
The Soviet Navy was the naval arm of the Soviet Armed Forces. Often referred to as the Red Fleet, the Soviet Navy would have played an instrumental role in a Warsaw Pact war with NATO, where it would have attempted to prevent naval convoys from bringing reinforcements across the Atlantic Ocean...
, it was introduced in 1942 as a petty officer
Petty Officer
A petty officer is a non-commissioned officer in many navies and is given the NATO rank denotion OR-6. They are equal in rank to sergeant, British Army and Royal Air Force. A Petty Officer is superior in rank to Leading Rate and subordinate to Chief Petty Officer, in the case of the British Armed...
rank; every enlisted seaman
Seaman
Seaman is one of the lowest ranks in a Navy. In the Commonwealth it is the lowest rank in the Navy, followed by Able Seaman and Leading Seaman, and followed by the Petty Officer ranks....
ranking above Matrose
Matrose
Matrose is a German term for sailor. It may also refer to:* Matrose, the lowest enlisted rank in the German Navy* Matrose, a rank in the Kriegsmarine* матрос, an enlisted rank in the Bulgarian Navy* матрос, an enlisted rank in the Ukrainian Navy...
, 1st class is a starshina of various ranks.
The starshina as an enlisted rank is still used in the military ranks of the Russian Federation, Bulgaria and Ukraine.