Table of Ranks
The Imperial Russian Army introduced this rank first in middle of the 17th century, by the Strelets so-called New Order Regiments , reflected in the Table of Ranks. A "Poruchik" was normally assigned to assistant commanding officer of a company, later platoon. In 1798 this particular rank designation was replaced by Lieutenant beginning with the Russian Guards, followed by other military units, and legalised by the Table of Ranks.