Chorąży

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Chorąży (Standard-bearer) is a military rank in Poland and in neighborhing countries. In old-time Poland a knight who bore a standard, sign of an armed troop, of a voivodship, a land, a duchy or the kingdom.

Since the end of the 14th century in the Grand Duchy of Lithuania and Kingdom of Poland, later in Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth, existed four offices of a Chorąży:

• Great Chorąży of the Crown
• Great Chorąży of Lithuania
• Court Chorąży of the Crown
• Court Chorąży of Lithuania

At the same time Chorąży was also a honorary district office.

In the Republic of Poland in 1919-1922 and since 1963 in the People's Republic of Poland (from 1989, the contemporary Poland), it was an officer rank, ranking above a Sergeant and below a Second Lieutenant. Between 1944 and 1957 it was the lowest officer rank.

From the XVI century on, 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.

[edit] See also

• Offices in Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth