Kapitan (appointment, later rank) was used first in the middle age in France in order to designate leaders of the military districts or regions.

In the 19th century it became gradually a military rank, and was used in combination with other noun, e.g. Stabs-kapitan (ru: штабс-капитан Russian Imperial Army) Kapitan-leytenant (naval forces).

The rank designation Kapitan contains a common syllable and historical roots in a number of European countries at the one hand.

In Russia, the military rank Kapitan was introduced in the 16th century to foreign officers, appointed to commander of company-sized units.

(en: Staff captain) Some examples of rank insignia (epaulette, shoulder board), used by RIA IRA, are shown below: In the armed forces of the Soviet Union (later Russian Federation) the Kapitan´s rank (to Army, Air Force, and Navy land services) was introduced by disposal of the Central Executive Committee of the Soviet Union and the Council of People's Commissars, from September 22, 1935.