In Sparta, however, the title was ' polemarchos'. The rank that was subordinate to a top general was a taxiarchos or taxiarhos, something akin to the modern brigadier. Particular assignments, however, might have been given to individual generals inevitably there was a regular division of responsibilities. There was no hierarchy among them, however, a basic form of democracy was in effect: For example, at the Battle of Marathon in 490 BC, the generals determined the battle plan by majority vote. The ten generals were equal to one another. Originally these generals worked together with the old polemarchos ('warlord') but over time the latter figure was absorbed into the generalship: each of the ten generals would rotate as polemarch for one day, and during this day his vote would serve as tie-breaker if necessary. Strategos literally means 'army leader' and so it is usually translated as ' general'.

6.2 Military ranks and insignia of various nationsįrom 501 BC, the Athenians annually elected ten individuals to the rank of strategos, one for each of the ten 'tribes' that had been created with the founding of the democracy.

2.1 High command in post-classical armies.

Communist states have sometimes abolished ranks (e.g., the Soviet Red Army 1918–1935, the Chinese People's Liberation Army 1965–1988, and the Albanian People's Army 1966–1991 ), but they had to re-establish them after encountering operational difficulties of command and control. Within modern armed forces, the use of ranks is almost universal. As rank increases, pay-grade follows, but so does amount of responsibility. Rank is not only used to designate leadership, but to establish pay-grade as well. Ranking systems have been known for most of military history to be advantageous for military operations, in particular with regards to logistics, command, and coordination as time went on and military operations became larger and more complex, military ranks increased and ranking systems themselves became more complex. Usually, uniforms denote the bearer's rank by particular insignia affixed to the uniforms. The military chain of command constructs an important component for organized collective action. It incorporates the principles of exercising power and authority into the military chain of command – the succession of commanders superior to subordinates through which command is exercised.

The military rank system defines dominance, authority, and responsibility in a military hierarchy. Military ranks are a system of hierarchical relationships, within an armed forces, police, intelligence agencies or other institutions organized along military lines.

Where did s rank come from