In the Zaporozhian Host, the political, social, and military organization of Ukrainian cossacks, the title "polkovnyk" indicated a high military rank among the Ukrainian Cossack "starshyna" (officers); a polkovnyk commanded one or more military detachments during land and naval military actions in the 16th to 18th centuries. In the 18th century, a "polkovnyk" was a leader of a "palanka", a territorial unit of the Zaporozhian Host. The military council elected a "palanka polkovnyk" to serve for a term of one year. He represented the Kosh Otaman in the "palanka" and had significant powers, including the right to condemn Cossacks to the death penalty. At the time of liquidation of the Zaporozhian Host by the Russian government in 1775, there were eight "palanka polkovnyks". As symbol of office a "polkovnyk" wore a "pernach" (a mace with a hexagonal head; see also "bulawa") in his belt.