Brief summary.
Epaulets on Russian military uniforms, in their unambiguous understanding and official name, appeared:
* On the uniform of the lower ranks of the Uhlan regiments in 1801.
* On an officer's uniform in 1807.
* On the uniform of the lower ranks of the dragoon regiments in 1817.
In 1827, epaulettes became a means of distinguishing between officer and general ranks.
In 1843, epaulettes became a means of distinguishing between the ranks of the lower ranks of the Uhlan and Dragoon regiments.
From 1854-56, epaulettes for officers and generals remain an accessory of only certain types of uniforms.
In 1882, the lower ranks of the army dragoon regiments lose their epaulettes. Army lancers are transformed into dragoons and thus lose their epaulettes too.
In 1908, with the revival of the army lancers' regiments, the epaulettes were returned to the lower ranks. The lower ranks do not have dragoons.
In 1917, the epaulettes on the military uniform of the Russian Army were canceled forever.
End of summary.
Epaulettes as an element of military uniform in the Russian Army appeared much later than shoulder straps. And just like shoulder straps, for a long time (until 1827) they did not play the role of a determinant of ranks.
If a shoulder strap appears on Russian military clothing in 1700 under the name "harus cord", then something similar to epaulettes appears on the shoulders of soldiers and officers only during the reign of Empress Elizabeth (1741-1761). And even then only in the Life Campaign
Reference. In the palace coup on November 25, 1741, during which the infant Emperor John Antonovich (the son of Grand Duchess Anna Leopoldovna) was deposed and Elizabeth was enthroned, the grenadier company of the Preobrazhensky Life Guards Regiment played a decisive role. The new empress generously rewarded those who elevated her to the throne. She transformed the company into a particularly privileged unit - "Leib-Campania", carrying a personal security service with her person. All the soldiers of the company received the nobility and the rank of soldier in this company was equal to the rank of second lieutenant of the army. The officers were equated with army generals. The rank of the captain of the Life Campaign was assumed by the empress herself. After her death in December 1761. Emperor Peter III at the beginning of 1762 returned the Life Campaign to the Preobrazhensky regiment as an ordinary guard company.
In the picture on the left: an officer of the Life Campaign.
An off-topic note. It is generally accepted that the Life Guards were the personal protection of royal persons, consisting of especially close loyal soldiers and officers who were ready at any time to give their lives to save the crown bearer.
They guarded them, but if you look closely at the history of the Life Guards and its officer corps, you get the feeling that it was perhaps not a defense, but a prison escort.
The Life Guards were more likely an instrument of the highest aristocracy, which allowed them to firmly hold the emperors in their hands and dictate their will. It is no coincidence that most of the guards officers, and the commanders of the guards regiments, were almost all from among the highest nobility.
In the 18th century, all Russian tsars (not excluding Peter I himself) either sat on the throne or were overthrown by the hands of the Life Guards.
The Russian emperors were not autocrats, as is commonly believed. They made all decisions proceeding not from the interests of the state or their own opinions, but from the interests of the nobility of high society. And if they were not satisfied with this or that emperor, then his days on the throne were numbered. They were prisoners of the highest aristocracy.
Nicholas I was the first who managed to crush the Russian elite. The events on the Senate Square on December 14, 1825 were not at all "the first revolutionary action of the best people of Russia." This was an unsuccessful attempt by the high society nobility to put on the throne not the energetic and imperious Nicholas, but the languid, weak-willed and obedient to the high society Constantine. The last attempt of the nobility, which is inexorably losing its significance in the life of the country, to retain its influence on the throne.
It is quite likely that the overthrow of Nicholas II in 1917 was due to the fact that the impoverished and lost its economic, and hence political significance, the higher nobility did not want to give up the emperor's control to the rapidly developing bourgeoisie. And the bourgeoisie (merchants, industrialists) saw no other way to take away real political power except to replace the autocracy regime with parliamentarism.
The creators of the well-known work "Historical Description of the Clothes and Weapons of the Russian Troops" (Part Three), describing the clothes of the Russian Army, found it difficult to name this product exactly. Obviously, they could not find a regulatory document in this regard. They call it "shoulder straps or epaulettes" because in appearance they more resemble epaulettes, and in design, shoulder straps of the first half of the 18th century. However, it is clear that these epaulette epaulettes are only a decorative element of the uniform of the Life Campaign only and do not carry a semantic load.
1763 year
April 24, 1763 in the musketeer (infantry) and grenadier regiments, in the carabinier regiments, in the field battalions, in the artillery, in the miner and pioneer companies, and since 1765 and in the newly established jaeger regiments on the left shoulder it is prescribed to have a "epaulet or epaulette" … We quote:
"On the left shoulder, to distinguish between the shelves, a thread or woolen shoulder strap or an epaulette was sewn on, in appearance and colors at the discretion of the regiment commander. a copper button under the caftan collar."
In 1764, the "epaulet or epaulette" on the left shoulder will be given to the dragoon and cuirassier regiments.
However, this "epaulet or epaulet" is worn by all ranks from private to colonel, inclusive. Those. at this time, he does not play the role of a determinant of ranks and is not a distinction mark of officers.
The picture on the right shows an infantry regiment officer. Signs of his officer's dignity are the officer's scarf on his belt and a gorget (neck badge, breastplate, officer badge), which we see on the chest.
On his left shoulder we see "epaulette or epaulette", which since 1763 has been performing the task of identifying servicemen in regiments or, as it was then written, "… so that the regiments have some kind of external difference from one another."
They are described as follows:
* towel or braid shoulder length and 1 inch wide (4.4cm.), * hooper (transverse interception), * brush 1-2 inches long (4.4-8.8cm.).
This so-called towel and wrapper was woven from braids and cords of various colors. Brush made of cords, also in various colors.
At the same time, the "epaulette or epaulette" of the lower ranks and officers differed from each other in quality. If the lower ranks used wool for the epaulet, then the officers used gold and silver yarn instead of white and yellow wool.
At the time of the publication of the Historical Description, volume four, the archives preserved drawings of only twenty-seven infantry (musketeer) regiments. However, even these drawings cannot be considered a means of identifying a regiment, since, as indicated above, "… a chase or epaulette, the appearance and colors at the discretion of the regiment commander". Those. the regiment commander himself decided which shoulder straps the regiment should wear. The commander has changed, the shoulder straps also change.
Therefore, we will give only one example - "shoulder straps or epaulettes" of the ranks of the Absheron Infantry Regiment (in the picture on the right).
From the author. Let the reader decide for himself whether it is a shoulder strap or an epaulette. The author still considers them to be shoulder straps, based on the design. The hand hanging at the end, which covers the shoulder, is not yet a reason to believe this is an epaulette. Although outwardly, the resemblance is considerable. A real epaulette, which will appear at the beginning of the 19th century and will last until the second decade of the 20th century, will be very different in its design.
However, in the 18th century, epaulette epaulettes will play only a decorative role and as a means of distinguishing the servicemen of one regiment from another. Note that it is extremely difficult, if not impossible, to determine a specific regiment by the type of epaulette epaulette.
These epaulette epaulettes will be worn by Russian soldiers and officers until the accession of Emperor Paul I. The change in uniform made by Paul will abolish them.
We can say that the prehistory of the epaulette, which began in 1741, will end in 1796.
September 17, 1807 - the birthday of the real officers' epaulettes of the Russian Army. True, the day before, namely September 16, 1807, one epaulette on the left shoulder was received by the generals and officers of His Imperial Majesty's suite. They have an aiguillette on their right shoulder. When they receive the two epaulettes is unclear. The historical description is silent on this score.
We quote:
… - the generals and the headquarters and chief officers of the Grenadier regiments, instead of shoulder straps, were ordered to wear epaulettes, with a cloth, in the color of these shoulder straps, a field. two golden braids …
The headquarters officers had epaulettes with a thin one, while the generals had a thick, groovy fringe, and all of them generally passed through a shoulder strap or a counter-flight made of the same braid as on the epaulettes, fastening with a button sewn to the uniform at the collar."
In this quote, I fully retained the spelling of that time, replacing only the letters that are not in our alphabet today.
The picture on the left shows the epaulettes arr. 1807.
Please pay attention to the shape of the epaulettes. The root is not rectangular, as it will become later, but tapering towards the field. Also, the field is not round, but oval.
For generals, the field of the epaulette is also cloth, and not gold, as will be done later. Also, there is no encryption on the epaulettes.
Encryptions from a gold or silver cord (on the instrument metal of the regiment) indicating the division number will be entered on the epaulettes only on December 19, 1807.
Reference. An epaulette consists of a spine, brim, neck, fringe and lining.
The spine is the top of the epaulette. At the upper end of the spine there is a buttonhole (slot) with the help of which the epaulette is fastened to a button sewn at the collar of the uniform. The lower edge of the spine passes into the field.
The field is the oval or round part of the epaulette. Ciphers and / or monograms are placed on the field.
The field and the spine of army epaulettes are woolen in color, as are the shoulder straps of the lower ranks. The field and the spine of the Guards epaulettes, as well as the general's epaulettes are entirely gold or silver
The neck is three or four gold or silver braids that go around the field of the epaulette.
A fringe is a gold or silver thread hanging from the neck. Ober-officer epaulettes do not have a fringe, staff officers have a thin, and generals have a thick fringe.
Lining is a cloth lining of epaulettes. The color is the same as the color of the field and the spine. If the regiment has edging on the shoulder straps, then the color of the lining is the epaulette of the edging color.
On the uniform, the epaulette is threaded with a spine under a galloon loop (at different times it was called a shoulder strap, counter-epaulette, counter-racer), which is sewn onto the shoulder of the uniform and is fastened with a spine to a button on the shoulder of the uniform at the collar.
That is, the epaulette lies on the shoulder completely free and is secured only with a button. Counter-race keeps him from sliding forward or backward.
In the photo on the right: Epaulette of the second lieutenant of the Volynsky Life Guards Regiment. The field of the epaulette is gold, as it should be in the guard (the instrument color of the Volyn regiment is gold). Silver stars. It is clearly seen that the epaulette is threaded with the spine under the counter-race. There are no ciphers or monograms on the epaulette. After all, there were no ciphers in the guard, and the monogram was worn only in the companies of His Majesty. On the right, the picture shows the shoulder of a uniform without an epaulette with a braid counter-racer sewn on.
End of help.
From the author. It was believed that the button was sewn to the shoulder of the uniform, and the epaulette was fastened to the button with its slit in the spine. However, a completely different method of attaching the epaulette was practiced. The button with its loop was inserted from above into a very small hole in the epaulette. From below, a lace was threaded through the loop. On the shoulder of the uniform at the collar, two holes were made, trimmed with metal rings (eyelets). The epaulette was pushed under the counter-race, the lace was threaded through the eyelets and tied from the inside of the uniform.
However, this is how the officer's shoulder straps were usually fastened. The fact is that the officer's epaulet and epaulette are quite tough and it is difficult to fasten them on a button. And the shoulder strap takes on a sloppy look if you use the official method of fastening.
By the way, please pay attention to the collar. In the guard, each regiment had only the sewing assigned to it on the collar of its uniform. Very expensive (more expensive than the uniform itself). Therefore, it is very easy to identify the person depicted in photographs and paintings.
On the same day, September 17, 1807, epaulettes were extended to infantry (musketeer), jaeger, cuirassier, dragoon, uhlan regiments.
Foot and horse artillery (officers and generals) will receive epaulettes only on January 3, 1808. The field and spine are red, the galloon spine, neck and fringe are gold. Encryption with a golden cord is the number of the artillery brigade. Artillery generals have epaulettes without encryption.
Garrison artillery (officers and generals) will receive epaulettes only on November 22, 1808.
Officers and generals of sapper and pioneer units will receive epaulettes as well as artillery on January 3, 1808. The field and the spine are red, the galloon spine, the braids and the fringe are silver. With a silver cord, the cipher is the battalion number. Engineering generals have epaulettes without encryption.
On January 31, 1808, generals and officers of the Corps of Engineers received epaulettes (field and garrison engineers. But the field and the spine of the epaulette are entirely silver, not cloth.
On May 16, 1808, garrison regiments and battalions receive epaulettes.
Thus, epaulettes immediately become a means of determining the category of rank - chief officer, staff officer or general. But the specific rank of the epaulette officer cannot be determined during this period. This could only be done with gorgets. But their officers were worn only in the ranks. It was completely impossible to distinguish the ranks of the generals among themselves, since the generals did not have gorgets. The stars on the epaulettes will appear only in 1827.
Recall that the color of the shoulder straps of the lower ranks, and, accordingly, the color of the field and the spine of the officers' epaulettes was determined in the infantry by the serial number of the regiment in the division:
1st regiment of the division - red field, 2nd regiment of the division - white field, 3rd regiment of the division - yellow field, 4th division regiment - dark green with red piping, Fifth regiment of the division - blue field.
Within the framework of the article, it is not possible to describe all the colors of the epaulet fields in the shelves of other types of weapons. I recommend referring to the articles describing the shoulder straps of the 19th century for help.
It is curious that on the same day, September 17, 1807, epaulettes were also given to the lower ranks of the Uhlan regiments. Only their fringe was not hanging, but thick, hard.
Anticipating objections, I will say that this is indicated in the Historical Description (Part 11, p. 71).
In the picture on the right: a non-commissioned officer of the Lithuanian Uhlan regiment.
Some idea of the epaulettes of the lower ranks of the Uhlan regiments is given by a photograph (on the left) from the site of the "VIK Lithuanian Ulan regiment" (reconstruction).
So it should be borne in mind that in the 19th century, epaulettes were not exclusively the property of an officer's uniform. Somewhat later, in addition to the lower ranks of the Uhlan regiments, epaulettes would appear among the lower ranks of the dragoon regiments (1817).
And the main feature of an officer's rank throughout almost the entire 19th century will be an officer's scarf.
In the army cavalry, epaulettes for officers and generals were introduced in the same order as in the guards cavalry. Of course, the field and the spine of the epaulette were woolen, as in the whole Army. At the same time, hussar officers began to wear epaulettes only on vice-uniforms, and epaulettes would never appear on dolomans and mentics.
Guard
On the same day as in the Army, i.e. On September 17, 1807, the Guard received an epaulette. But unlike the Army, only one on the left shoulder. Aiguillette remained on the right shoulder. And only on March 27, 1809, officers and generals of the guard received epaulettes on both shoulders, while losing the aiguillette.
From the author. Due to the fact that the upper braided part of the aiguillette rests entirely on the shoulder, this is misleading for many uniformists. They believe that this is a shoulder strap or a special epaulette. However, the Historical Description unambiguously calls this element of the uniform on the right shoulder an aiguillette and reinforces the text with a drawing, where the aiguillette is shown in its entirety separately.
The field and the spine of the epaulette in the Guards Infantry are entirely gold.
On September 17, 1807, officers of the Guards heavy cavalry received an epaulet on their left shoulder. In the Life Guards Cavalry Regiment, the field and the epaulette spine are gold, and in the Cavalry Regiment they are silver.
On March 27, 1809, officers and generals of these regiments received epaulettes on both shoulders, while losing the aiguillette.
At the same time, officers and generals received epaulettes in the guards hussar regiment. Hussar officers began to wear gold epaulettes only on vice uniforms, and epaulettes would never appear on dolomans and mentics.
When the Ulansky Life Guards regiment was formed in 1809, the officers and generals of the regiment received the same epaulettes as in the rest of the Guards cavalry.
Guards artillery (officers and generals) received epaulettes in the same order and at the same time as the rest of the guards.
The officers and generals of the Life Guards Sapper Battalion, when formed in December 1812, received the same epaulettes as the Guards artillery, but silver, not gold.
From January 26, 1808, the epaulettes of all generals, regardless of the Rodavoys, become the same. The field and the spine of the epaulette are a golden matting with a small checkered pattern, the lining is red, the fringe is golden twisted, which immediately received the common name "caterpillars". The epaulette spine is trimmed with narrow galloon.
From time to time, various kinds of monograms will appear on the epaulette field, and much later, asterisks, meaning the rank of general.
In the picture on the right: General's epaulette arr. 1808.
Apparently, the adjutant generals were the first to receive the imperial invoice metal monogram on epaulettes in 1813.
In the picture on the left: Adjutant General Epaulette arr. 1813 in the monogram of Emperor Alexander I. Pay attention - the epaulette spine is no longer trimmed with gold galloon.
In February 1817, the lower ranks of the Dragoon army regiments and the Life Guards of the Dragoon regiment received epaulettes from a yarn cord. Thus, by this time, officers, generals of all branches of the army and the lower ranks of the Uhlan and dragoon regiments have epaulettes by this time.
Pictured left: Private Dragoon of the Kinburn Dragoon Regiment. In the shelves where the instrument metal was gold, the epaulettes of the lower ranks were yellow woolen, and in the shelves where the instrument metal was silver - white.
In December 1825, instead of the usual encryption, his monogram under the crown appears on the epaulets of the officers of His Royal Highness Prince Eugene of Wiertemberg in Grenadier.
The author was unable to find information about the existence of other monograms on the epaulettes at that moment, except for the monogram of Emperor Alexander I on the epaulettes of the adjutant generals. Apparently, the appearance of the monogram of Prince Eugene on epaulettes instead of the usual number or letter cipher marked the beginning of this practice.
And already in January 1826 a second monogram appeared on the epaulettes. This time they were received by the Moscow Grenadier Regiment, which, on the occasion of the appointment of the Highest Chief, now became known as Prince Paul's Grenadier Regiment of Mecklenburg.
In the picture on the right: an officer's epaulette of the grenadier regiment with the monogram of Prince Paul of Mecklenburg.
From the author. This, somewhat later, the highest patronage will become simply an honorary title and will give the right to wear a regimental uniform. And in the first half of the 19th century, the Highest Chief was largely responsible for the condition of the regiment, he was obliged to take care of its well-being, to allocate his own funds to improve the lives of its officers and soldiers. He is obliged to periodically visit the regiment, to know personally the officers of the regiment. So patronage was not only an honor, but also a hefty burden.
I remind you that the field and the spine of the epaulette in the grenadier regiments for this period were yellow. In the Moscow regiment, the instrument metal, and, accordingly, the braid and harnesses of the epaulettes are gold. The monogram is also embroidered gold or metal consignment note.
Please note that in 1825 the epaulette spine is already rectangular, not tapering. But the field is still not round, but oval, as was the case with the epaulettes arr. 1807.
1827 year
January 1, 1827 became the milestone date in the insignia of the ranks of the Russian Army. If until that day the ranks of officers could only be distinguished by gorgets (breast, neck, officer insignia), and even then only in the ranks (gorgets were worn only when in the ranks), now the insignia of distinction between officer and general ranks in all branches of the military have become stars on epaulettes.
Sprockets are metal forged in the color opposite to the instrument metal. Those. silver epaulettes on gold, and gold on silver.
From the author. The historical description does not indicate the size of the stars. According to one secondary data for all ranks, the size of the stars is the same - 1/4 inches (11 mm.). According to some other sources, not 11, but 13 mm. The author is inclined to consider the size as 11 mm. more accurate, since it is almost exactly 1/4 inch. Indeed, at that time all such sizes were counted in fractions of a vershok. If we try to figure out the size of 13 mm. in inches, it turns out that 4/16 inches is 11.1 mm, and the nearest larger size 5/16 inches is 13.875 mm., rounded 14 mm. That is to say, fractions less than 1/8 have never been used.
The highest command determined the number of stars on the epaulettes:
* 1 asterisk - ensign, * 2 stars - second lieutenant, * 3 stars - lieutenant, * 4 stars - staff captain, * no stars - captain, * 2 stars - major, * 3 stars - lieutenant colonel, * no asterisks - Colonel, * 2 stars - Major General, * 3 stars - lieutenant general, * without asterisks - general (… from infantry, … from cavalry, … from artillery, general engineer).
In the picture on the right: the epaulette of the warrant officer of the Kiev grenadier regiment and the epaulette of the lieutenant of the Lutsk grenadier regiment.
Asterisks were placed on the sides of the encryption, and the third and fourth above the encryption.
Let me remind you that the category of rank (chief officer, staff officer, general) was determined by the fact that the chief officers had no fringe on their epaulettes, staff officers had thin fringes, and generals had thick ones.
I also remind you that in the infantry regiments the color of the field of the epaulette depended on the number of the regiment in the division, and numbered codes were placed on them indicating the number of the regiment. Or the monogram of the highest Chief.
From the author. It remains unknown why the major and the major general received not one, but two stars, although it would be more logical to start with one star in each group of ranks, or according to the German system - the junior rank in each category without stars. But now there is no one to ask about it. The creators of this system have long gone into oblivion.
The distinction between officers' ranks by the number of stars on epaulettes, and later on epaulets, will remain unchanged in the Russian Army until December 16, 1917, when the new government will not abolish the ranks themselves and all the insignia.
Unless the rank of major will be canceled in 1884, and staff officers' ranks will start with three stars at once (lieutenant colonel).
During the reign of Nicholas I, quite a few monograms of the Highest Chefs and others will appear on the epaulets of officers. This "fashion" will continue under other emperors. Moreover, some regiments of the Russian Army will replace the time of their existence by five or six monograms. Therefore, we will not describe them here.
On October 13, 1827, the lower ranks of the army dragoon and lancers' regiments on uniforms instead of woolen epaulettes with fringes introduced epaulettes of a new pattern (scaly without fringe with cloth lining and cloth counter-racer in the color of the tunic collar. On the edges of the counter-race. metal in the color of the instrument metal of the shelf (yellow or white metal. Lining in the color of the collar of the uniform.
In the picture on the right: epaulettes of the lower ranks of the army dragoon regiments arr. 1827
On October 13, officers of the army dragoon and uhlan regiments were also assigned scaly epaulettes, but of a slightly different type. In general, the design repeats the design of infantry epaulets, but the spine is covered with metal scales, and the field is covered with a convex plate. A galloon counter-chase, which would later be called the "page gimlet". On the field, as well as on infantry epaulets, stars and ciphers or monograms are placed.
Also, like the infantry dragoon officer's epaulettes, they have a neck made of twisted harnesses, and the staff officers and generals have a fringe.
In the picture on the left: Officer's epaulette dragoon arr. 1827 with a counter race. Encryption and asterisks are not shown.
In the photo on the right: epaulette of the lieutenant of the dragoon regiment arr. 1827. The field and scales on the spine are silver, the stars are gold. The lining is red according to the instrument color of the shelf.
In April 1843, insignia of ranks in the form of transverse stripes on shoulder straps were introduced in the infantry and other types of troops. Similar stripes appear on the epaulettes of the lower ranks of the dragoon and uhlan regiments. Both army and guards. These patches are sewn over a cloth counter-ratchet, the width of which is made depending on the number of patches placed on it by rank..
Note: In the cavalry of this period, the senior sergeant is equal to the sergeant major of the infantry, the junior sergeant is equal to the senior non-commissioned officer in the infantry. A dragoon non-commissioned officer is equal to a junior non-commissioned officer in the infantry.
End of note.
1) The senior officers have a wide gold braid of the "half-staff" pattern, 2) The harness-cadets and cadets have a narrow gold braid of the "army" pattern
3) The junior sergeants have a narrow white woolen trim, sewn in 3 rows.
4) For non-commissioned officers - the same and also sewn trim in two rows
5) For corporals - the same and also sewn trim in one row.
Note that on greatcoats, the lower ranks of the dragoon and lancers' regiments wore shoulder straps, as in other types of troops. The patches by rank on the dragoon and uhlan shoulder straps were similar to those that were sewn on epaulettes, but naturally, without a counter-race.
April 29, 1854 year is the second milestone date in the history of epaulettes. They begin to give way to the officer's shoulder straps. For wartime officers, marching overcoats of a soldier type with officer's shoulder straps are introduced to officers. Until that time, officers and generals wore epaulettes on all types of uniforms, with the exception of overcoats, on which they did not wear anything on their shoulders.
And already on March 12, 1855, Emperor Alexander II, who ascended the throne, ordered to replace epaulettes for everyday wear with epaulettes on the newly introduced vice-half caftans.
Between 1854 and 1859, epaulettes become the only accessory for uniforms when worn as ceremonial or weekend wear. At the same time, if the officer wears shoulder straps, then the counter-racer is located under the shoulder strap (at first it was ordered to thread the shoulder strap under the counter-racer like an epaulette). And if you need to wear epaulettes, the shoulder straps are unfastened and epaulettes are put on.
In the picture on the left: Adjutant General A. N. Kuropatkin in a ceremonial uniform with epaulets. Minister of War 1898-1904
In 1857, in March, the types and colors of the epaulettes of the army units were determined (Order of the Military Department No. 69 1857). Epaulets are worn by:
* Generals, numbered in the army infantry, army cavalry and field artillery, with a general general vice-half-caftan with galloons - a field of epaulettes made of golden cloth; lining color epaulet red.
* Generals, listed in the Corps of Engineers, with a general general vice-half-coat with galloons - a field of epaulettes made of silver fabric; lining color epaulet red.
* Generals and officers of the General Staff - a field of epaulettes made of silver cloth; lining color epaulet red.
* Generals and officers of the corps of topographers - a field of epaulettes made of silver cloth; the color of the lining of the epaulette is light blue.
Generals and officers of the Ministry of War and its subordinate institutions - a field of epaulettes for those in light cavalry, scaly, for those in heavy cavalry and infantry - of silver cloth; lining color epaulet red.
* Generals and officers of cuirassier regiments - a field of epaulettes made of gold or silver fabric; the color of the lining of the epaulette according to the color of the shoulder straps.
* All ranks of the dragoon and lancers regiments - the field of epaulettes is scaly; the color of the lining of the epaulette according to the color of the shoulder straps. (The lower ranks of these regiments will lose their epaulettes in 1882, which will be returned to them in 1908).
* Generals and officers of the dragoons and those revived in 1908. lancers' regiments - a scaly field of epaulettes; the color of the lining of the epaulette according to the color of the shoulder straps.
* All ranks of field horse-artillery batteries - a scaly epaulette field with an overhead silvered battery number; lining color epaulet red.
* All ranks of the 1st Horse-Pioneer Division - the field of epaulettes is scaly; lining color epaulet red.
* Generals and officers of the Training Rifle Regiments - a field of gold cloth epaulettes with a silver embroidered regiment number; the color of the lining of the epaulette is crimson.
Generals and officers of the Training Artillery Brigade - a field of epaulettes made of gold cloth; lining color epaulet red.
* Generals and officers of the Training Sapper Battalion - a field of epaulettes made of silver cloth; lining color epaulet red.
* Generals and officers of grenadier and infantry regiments - the field of epaulettes is cloth, according to the color of the shoulder straps, with the same embroidered monograms, letters and numbers as on the shoulder straps of half-caftans; the color of the lining of the epaulette according to the color of the shoulder straps.
* Generals and officers of sapper, rifle, line and internal garrison battalions, invalid companies and teams, grenadier field and garrison artillery, garrison engineers, military workers' battalions and companies, engineering parks and arsenal, prison companies the same with embroidered letters and numbers, which are on the shoulder straps of semi-caftans; the color of the lining of the epaulette according to the color of the shoulder straps.
Generals and officers of the Furshtat brigades - a field of epaulettes consisting of light cavalry troops is scaly, with cuirassier regiments made of silver cloth, with infantry troops made of light blue cloth with a silver embroidered division number; the color of the lining of the epaulette is light blue.
* Generals and officers of the Corps of Military Engineers - a field of epaulettes made of silver cloth; lining color epaulet red.
* General's adjutants and senior adjutants, duty staff officers and officers on special assignments - the field of epaulettes for light cavalry is scaly, for heavy cavalry and for infantry made of silver cloth; lining color epaulet red.
* Platz- and from-gates-majors, parade-and-bau-adjutants, chiefs of police and governors - the field of epaulettes listed in light cavalry is scaly, in heavy cavalry and in infantry made of silver cloth; lining color epaulet orange.
* General-gewaldigers, general-wagenmeisters (in the rank of colonel), corps and divisional gewaldigers and corps chief-wagenmeisters - the field of epaulettes is scaly among light cavalry, heavy cavalry and infantry made of silver cloth; the color of the lining of the epaulette is light blue.
* Courier corps - a field of epaulettes made of gold fabric; lining color epaulet red. Composed of army infantry, army cavalry, field artillery and sapper battalions - field epaulettes of gold or silver cloth; lining color epaulet red.
* According to the garrison artillery field, an epaulette is made of black cloth, the color of the lining is black epaulettes.
* All Cossack troops - the field of epaulettes in the cavalry regiments is scaly, in the foot battalions it is cloth, the color of the shoulder straps, with the same embroidered numbers as on the shoulder straps of a half-caftan; the color of the lining of the epaulettes in the Don Army is red, and in other troops - according to the color of the shoulder straps.
* Cossack horse-artillery batteries - a scaly epaulette field with a silvered overhead battery number, in the Black Sea Garrison Company from black cloth without a number; the color of the lining of the epaulette by the color of the shoulder straps
The author does not have editions of the Historical Description for the period after 1867, and does not have reliable information about changes in epaulettes between 1867 and 1910.
In 1881, Alexander III became emperor. He abolishes the division of cavalry into hussars, lancers and dragoons. Cuirassiers in the Army were abolished back in 1860. All army cavalry regiments become dragoons. Accordingly, the hussar and uhlan uniforms are abolished. At the same time, in 1882, the lower ranks of the dragoon regiments (including the former uhlan regiments) lose their epaulettes.
In the Guards in the Uhlan and Dragoon regiments, the epaulettes of the lower ranks in 1882 will not be abolished, as well as the division itself into cuirassier, dragoon, uhlan and hussar.
From the author. Emperor Nicholas II, in order to increase the prestige of military service and the army as a whole, after an offensive defeat in the Russian-Japanese war of 1904-05, will return the names of the former hussar and uhlan regiments to their names. At the same time, epaulettes will be returned to the lower ranks in the revived Uhlan regiments. Epaulettes will not be returned to the lower ranks of the dragoon regiments. The officers will not have any changes in the epaulettes. They will still have the epaulettes of the general cavalry model.
Having at its disposal a unique publication "Rules for wearing uniforms by officers of all arms and civilian ranks of the Military District" of the 1910 edition. we can accurately describe the epaulettes of the last period of the existence of the Russian Army.
At the same time, Schenck (the author of the Rules) points to a normative document - Order of the Military Department No. 69 of 1857. So, according to Schenck, as of 1910, only generals, staff officers and chief officers of the Army and Guard, as well as certain categories of military officials of the Army and Guard (military medical ranks, veterinarians and pharmacists) have epaulettes.
Epaulets are of the following designs:
1. Epolets of the guards infantry model
The spine and the field are covered with gold or silver cloth (according to the instrument metal of the shelf) of a small-check pattern. The neck consists of four cable harnesses of different thickness, the color of the instrument metal of the shelf. The lining of the color of the instrument cloth assigned to the regiment (coincides with the color of the shoulder straps of the lower ranks).
Staff officers have a thin fringe, while generals have a thick fringe.
On the field and on the spine there are asterisks by rank, encryption and who is entitled to special signs.
Sprockets are only forged metal overhead in the color opposite to the instrument metal. They are located - two stars on the sides of the encryption on the field, and the third and fourth above the encryption going out to the spine.
Special signs in the color of instrument metal.
Numbered and letter cipher embroidered or metal consignment note according to the color of the instrument metal.
Regarding the monograms on the reader's epaulettes, I refer to a separate series of articles. This topic is too diverse and complex to be described within the framework of this article.
Epaulets of this type are worn in units of the Guards infantry, Guards foot artillery, Guards cuirassier regiments, in the Life Guards Sapper Battalion, in the Guards Gendarme Squadron, in the Guards Crew, in the Guards Cossack units, all officers and garrison and local engineers), all officers and generals of directorates and institutions of the military department, all officers and generals of training units.
Photo on the right: Epaulette of Lieutenant Colonel of the 1st Battery of the Life Guards of the 2nd Artillery Brigade. As it should be - the spine, the field, the neck, the fringe and the ciphering of the color of the instrument metal of the artillery (gold), the red lining, like that of all artillery, the monogram of the Imperial Chief, General Feldzekhmeister Grand Duke Mikhail Nikolaevich.
Asterisks are silvery overhead.
2. Epolety army infantry model
Spine and field made of instrument cloth In the color assigned to the shelf. On the spine, along the edges, braid is sewn in the color of the instrument metal of the shelf (gold or silver). The same braid also runs across the field under the neck.
The neck consists of four cable harnesses of different thickness, also the color of the instrument metal of the shelf. The lining of the color of the instrument cloth assigned to the regiment (coincides with the color of the shoulder straps of the lower ranks).
Staff officers have a thin fringe, while generals have a thick fringe.
On the field and on the spine there are asterisks by rank, encryption and who is entitled to special signs.
Sprockets are only forged metal overhead in the color opposite to the instrument metal. They are located - two stars on the sides of the encryption on the field, and the third and fourth above the encryption going out to the spine.
Such epaulettes are worn by generals and officers of army grenadier and infantry regiments, army foot artillery, army artillery parks, army engineering units, foot Cossack units, and cadet schools.
Special signs in the color of instrument metal.
Numbered and letter cipher embroidered or metal consignment note according to the color of the instrument metal.
Photo on the right: Epaulette of the staff captain of the 20th sapper battalion. The spine and the field are red, as it should be in all engineering troops. Galloon on the spine, silver neck (instrument metal of the engineering troops. The encryption (number 20) is embroidered in silver. Gold metal overhead stars. Above the encryption there is a special sign of sapper battalions. There is no fringe, since this is a chief officer.
3. Cavalry-style flights
Scaly metal spine of 11 links in the color of the instrument metal of the shelf.
Convex metal field with the color of the instrument metal of the shelf.
The neck is similar to an infantry neck and consists of four cable harnesses of different thicknesses, also the color of the instrument metal of the regiment.
Staff officers have a thin fringe, and generals have a thick fringe in the same color as the spine and margin.
Lining the color of the instrument cloth assigned to the regiment (according to the color of the shoulder straps of the lower ranks).
On the field and on the spine, there are asterisks by rank (in the color opposite to the instrument metal and ciphering (in the color opposite to the instrument metal..
Such epaulettes are worn by generals and officers of the guards and army cavalry, with the exception of cuirassiers and hussars.
Explanation. Cuirassier generals and officers wear guards infantry epaulettes, and the hussars simply did not have epaulettes, since in the period under review, epaulettes were an accessory of an exclusively ceremonial uniform, and hussars, due to the peculiarities of their ceremonial uniforms (dolmans and mentics), wore cords on their shoulders.
Also, cavalry epaulettes are worn by all officers and generals listed in the cavalry, officers and generals of artillery, generals and officers of Cossack units (except for foot Cossacks) and all generals and officers who have been assigned a dragoon uniform.
Photo on the right: General's epaulettes of the cavalry model. Spine, field, neck and fringe of the regimental metal. Lining in the color of the instrument cloth of the shelf (red).
On the epaulettes there is a monogram bearing the character of an encryption of the color opposite to the instrument metal, i.e. gold.
Asterisks are missing, therefore these are the epaulettes of the general from the cavalry of the 18th Dragoon Seversky King of the Danish Christian IX regiment.
From the author. Of course, the 18th Dragoon regiment was not commanded by a general of such a high rank. However, officers and generals who did not serve in the regiments (in higher headquarters, directorates, departments, etc.) were usually assigned to some of the regiments. More often to those regiments in which they previously served as officers. Therefore, there is nothing surprising in such encryption.
4. Military-medical airplanes
The spine and the field are woolen or velvet black. The spine is trimmed with silver galloon. The edging on the spine is red.
The neck is not made of a plait, but a metal forged silver.
The lining of the epaulette is the color of the uniform cloth (the so-called "royal color", today called "the color of the sea wave").
Military medical veterinarians and officials and pharmacists at the headquarters officer rank have a thin fringe, and those of the general rank have a thick fringe.
On the field and on the spine are silver stars according to the class rank of a military official. Moreover, all the stars are located as on shoulder straps, i.e. for officials of officer ranks on the same line along the axis of the epaulette..
There is no information about the encryption on the epaulettes of the military-medical model.
These epaulettes are worn by military medical, military veterinary and pharmaceutical officials.
In the picture on the right: Epaulette of a military medic with the rank of actual state councilor (IV class according to the Table of Ranks), which is equal to the rank of Major General.
Formally, epaulettes on the ceremonial uniforms of officers and generals of the Russian Army existed until the abolition of all ranks and insignia in general by the decree of the All-Russian Central Executive Committee and the Council of People's Commissars on December 16, 1917, i.e. already a new power.
However, after the outbreak of the First World War in 1914, epaulettes on officers' uniforms could be seen extremely rarely. At first, wearing them, as well as wearing ceremonial uniforms, was considered simply inappropriate, since the emperor himself walks exclusively in a marching uniform. And freshly baked officers graduated from the schools of warrant officers and military schools did not need to sew expensive ceremonial uniforms and acquire even more expensive epaulettes. They knew they wouldn't have to wear them anyway.
And if we take into account that the regular officer corps, especially in the infantry, was almost completely knocked out already in 1915, then the epaulettes actually went down in history.
Forever and ever.
Even when in the Red Army in 1943 golden galloon shoulder straps glittered on the shoulders of officers, there was no longer a place for epaulettes. Although there were proposals to introduce epaulettes on the ceremonial uniforms of marshals of the Soviet Union, they were rejected by the then Soviet leadership. And I think, not because of their high cost and high consumption of gold. It's just that each type of uniform and insignia is born and dies in its own time. And epaulettes by the middle of the 20th century would have looked anachronistic.
P. S
Sometimes on the Internet there are very strange epaulettes that confuse many. The fringe of a general, and along the spine and field of the epaulette there is a gap like that of chief officers.
In fact, these are epaulettes of the tambour major in the guards regiments, i.e. conductor of the regimental orchestra of the sergeant major. Chin existed from 1815 to 1881. And these epaulettes were introduced in April 1843
In the picture on the right: the vestibule major of the Life Guards of the Lithuanian Regiment. 1844
The spine and the field of the epaulette are gold or silver (according to the color of the instrument metal of the shelf) of a small-scale pattern. Clearance and lining according to the color of the shoulder straps of the lower ranks of this regiment.
Actually, such epaulettes were for the tambour-majors a little earlier, and in 1843 a gap appeared on them, so that there were more differences from a purely general's epaulette.
The Tamburmazhora epaulette did not carry any semantic load, but was a purely decorative element of the ceremonial form, as well as the "porch" on the shoulders and the embroidery of the jacket sleeves with galloon chevrons.
It is also worth noting that for the first time asterisks on epaulettes, denoting ranks, appeared not in the army and not in the guards, but in the departments of mining and communications, where, in addition to civilian officials, there were also officers. The system of distinguishing ranks using asterisks on epaulettes appeared in these departments back in 1809 or 1810 and was more logical than the one that was introduced in the army in 1827.
Epaulettes without fringe:
* ensign - no stars, * second lieutenant - 1 asterisk, * lieutenant - 2 stars, * staff captain - 3 stars.
Fringed epaulettes
* major - 1 star, * lieutenant colonel - 2 stars, * Colonel - 3 stars.
Thick fringed epaulettes:
* major general - 1 star, * Lieutenant General - 2 stars, * General Engineer - 3 stars.
In 1827, this system of insignia in the departments was replaced by the army one.
