Chorąży

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Chorąży ("Standard-bearer") is a military rank in Poland and neighboring countries. A chorąży was once a knight who bore a standard — the emblem of an armed troop, a province (województwo), a land (ziemia), a duchy, or the kingdom. This function later evolved into a non-hereditary noble title.

From the end of the 14th century in the Kingdom of Poland and the Grand Duchy of Lithuania, and later in the Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth, there were four "central" Chorąży positions:

• Grand Standard-Bearer of the Crown;
• Grand Standard-Bearer of Lithuania;
• Court Standard-Bearer of the Crown;
• Court Standard-Bearer of Lithuania.

At the same time, Chorąży was also an honorary office in a land.

From the 16th century, Chorąży was the title of the military leader of a Cossack community, and later a rank in the Cossack Hosts. The title was officially recognized in the 1792 Table of Ranks.

In the Republic of Poland in 1919-1922 and from 1963 in the People's Republic of Poland (from 1989, in contemporary Poland), it has been an officer's rank, above sergeant and below second lieutenant. Warrant Officer OR-7, OR-8, OR-9. Between 1944 and 1957, it was the lowest officer's rank.

[edit] See also

• Ensign (military rank)
• Offices in Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth