Ataman - Uses in Ukraine

Uses in Ukraine

Otamans were usually elected by the Host Council or could have been appointed, especially during the military campaigns. The appointed Otamans were called Acting Otaman (Наказний отаман).

In the Cossack Hetmanate, leaders of non-Cossack military units (artillery, etc.) were also called Otamans. In the Cossack Hetmanate, the title was used for the administrative purposes, such as the head of the city, City Otaman (Городовий Отаман). Later such administrative uses were adopted by the Kuban Cossacks and were common in Kuban Oblast with different variations.

There were various types of Otaman:

• Army Otaman (Військовий отаман) was a title of an executive officer in the Zaporizhian Host;
• Campaign Otaman (Похідний отаман);
• Kosh Otaman (Кошовий отаман);
• Kurin Otaman (Курінний отаман) was a commander of a kurin;
• Sotenny Otoman (Сотенний отаман) and City Otaman (Городовий Отаман) were Sotnyk's lieutenants. Those titles were introduced during the Hetmanate in the 17th century. Together with Osaul (Осавул; aide-de-camp) and Chorąży (Хорунжий; flag-bearer) Otoman has helped Sotnyk in administrative affairs.
• Village Otoman (Сільський отаман) was an administrative rank of 17th-18th centuries;
• Okrug Otaman (Окружний отаман) was a territorial leader,
• Stanytsia Otaman (Станичний отаман) was a territorial leader,
• Khutir Otaman (Хутірський отаман) was a territorial leader.

Otamans were also in charge of general- and regimental-size artillery units, as well as any volunteer military formations and the Zholdak cavalry.