Fellow of the banner

Fellow of the banner (znachkovyi tovarysh). Honorific title of the lower stratum of the notable military fellows in the Hetman state, which was introduced at the end of the 17th century. The fellows of the banner were usually rich Cossacks who aided the Cossack starshyna and campaigned under the banner of a colonel, to whom they were subordinated instead of to the company system. At first colonels chose the fellows of the banner. Later this decision was made by the General Military Chancellery. From 1734 the number of fellows of the banner was fixed at 30–50 per regiment (420 altogether). The title was abolished in 1785 by the tsarist government.

[This article originally appeared in the Encyclopedia of Ukraine, vol. 1 (1984).]