French Armed Forces ranks

This article covers the rank insignia of the French armed forces today. These also include:

• the national gendarmerie
• the fire brigade of Paris ( Paris Fire Brigade , BSPP). She belongs to the pioneer group and wears the corresponding badges of rank. During parades in army uniform the rifle is wielded, while in fire brigade uniform an ax is carried.
• the professional fire brigade of Marseille ( Bataillon de marins-pompiers de Marseille , BMPM). She belongs to the Navy and has the appropriate rank badges. In the case of parades, the rifle is wielded in the naval uniform, whereas in the firefighter uniform an ax is carried.

The ranks of the Ancien Régime can be found in the appendix .

Special position

The ranks Maréchal de France (Marshal of France) and Amiral de France (Admiral of France) are currently not awarded. The badges of rank consist of seven stars.

The last Marshal of France was Marie-Pierre Kœnig (1898–1970), who was awarded this title posthumously in 1984.

The last admiral of France was Trehouard de Beaulieu, who was awarded this title in 1869.

So far the only Amiral de la flotte was François Darlan , who was awarded this title in 1939.

Rank	comment	Service position	Badge of rank
Maréchal de France (Marshal of France)	(currently not available)	Army Commander in Chief
Amiral de France (Admiral of France)	(currently not available)	Naval Commander in Chief

army

In the army , there are three groups of officers of combat troops, the experts and the "Corps of Engineering and Management" (Corps technique et administratif - CTA). In the case of male officers, the traditional "mon" is placed in front of the rank in the salutation. However, this only indirectly refers to the term “my” (as it would be translated), as it is a corruption of “monsieur”. For this reason it is not used by female officers. These are addressed directly with their rank. For some officers, such as the Commissaires de l'Armée de terre (Corps de commissaires de l'Armée de terre), or the military pastors, however, the salutation "Monsieur / Madame" is used. According to the Règlement de discipline générale, subordinates are only addressed with their rank (and name). The hunters on foot ( Chasseurs à pied ) and the mountain hunters ( Chasseurs alpins ) have blue epaulets because they wear a blue uniform (tenue bleue).

The rank badges of the armies blindée et cavalerie (tanks and cavalry) are, in contrast to the other branches of arms, the same as those of the hunter troops.

Generals - Officiers généraux

The name General is derived from the term Capitaine général , the captain who was in command of the entire army.
The generals are divided into two divisions:

• The first section contains the generals serving in the troops, the delegated generals and the inactive generals.
• The second section contains all the generals who are at the disposal of the Ministry of Defense.

Rank	Salutation	Service position	Badge of rank
Général d'armée	mon général (female: général )	Army Commander
General de corps d'armée	mon général (female: général )	Corps commander
General de division	mon général (female: général )	Division commander
General de brigade	mon général (female: général )	Brigade commander

Staff officers - Officiers supérieurs

Rank	Salutation	Service position	Badge of rank
Colonel	mon colonel (female: colonel )	Regimental commander
Lieutenant-colonel	mon colonel (female: colonel )	Regimental commander
Commandant - only without troop command - otherwise: Chief de bataillon in the infantry, the engineers and the telecommunications Chef d'escadrons in the cavalry Chef d'escadron in the artillery and transport supply officer Chef d'escadrille in the army aviation (Aviation Légère de l'Armée de Terre)	mon commandant (female: commandant )	Battalion commander or commander of a groupe d'escadrons

Subalternoffiziere - Officiers subalternes

Rank	Salutation	Service position	Badge of rank
Capitaine	mon capitaine (female: capitaine )	Head of a company , escadron , battery or escadrille (in the arms blindée et cavalerie : "Capitaine commandant d'unité élémentaire")
Lieutenant	mon lieutenant (female: lieutenant )	Platoon leader
Sous lieutenant	mon lieutenant (female: lieutenant )	Platoon leader
aspirant	mon lieutenant (female: lieutenant )	Platoon leader
Élève officier	mon lieutenant (female: lieutenant )	Officer students of: EP , École spéciale militaire de Saint-Cyr (ESM) , Ecole militaire interarmes (EMIA), École militaire du corps technique et administratif (EMCTA), École militaire supérieure d'administration et de management (EMSAM), Élève officier en formation initiale en Allemagne (EOFIA), Élève-officier de réserve (EOR).

NCOs - Sous-officiers

Rank	Salutation	Service position	Badge of rank
major	major	Platoon leader or function in the regimental staff
Adjudant chief	mon adjudant chief or female: adjudant chief in the cavalry: mon lieutenant or female: lieutenant	Platoon leader
Adjudant	mon adjudant or female: adjudant in the cavalry: mon lieutenant or female: lieutenant	Platoon leader
Sergent-Chef Maréchal des logis-Chef (Mounted Troops),	boss	Group leader and deputy platoon leader
Sergent Maréchal des logis (Mounted Troops) An additional narrow strand no longer exists since the abolition of compulsory military service, as it was used to mark long-serving soldiers.	Sergent Maréchal des logis	Squad leader
NCO student / élève sous-officier of the École nationale des sous-officiers d'active (ENSOA)	élève sous-officier

Team ranks - Militaires du rang

Rank	Salutation	Service position	Badge of rank
Caporal-chef de première classe (introduced in 1999)	caporal boss	Deputy group leader
Caporal-chef (Brigadier-chief of the mounted troops)	caporal boss	Deputy group leader
Caporal (Brigadier in the Mounted Troop)	caporal	Deputy group leader
Soldat de première class No official rank - non-commissioned officer	soldier or première class	No authority. But in special cases it can be used as a caporal or brigadier.
Soldier de deuxième classe	soldier

Administrative branch of the land forces - Commissariat de l'armée de terre

The commissioners are addressed as “monsieur le…” or “madame le…” (sometimes also “madame la…”) commissaire. Its task is the general military and financial administration of the army. (The purely military form of address "mon capitaine or capitaine" was generally tolerated.)

Since January 1, 2010, the “Corps des commissaires de l'armée de terre” has merged into the central “Service du commissariat des armées” .

Rank	Salutation	Service position	Badge of rank
Commissaire général de corps d'armée	Monsieur le commissaire général	Director General of the Military Administration
Commissaire general de division	Monsieur le commissaire général	Deputy Director General of the Military Administration
Commissaire general de brigade	Monsieur le commissaire général	Director of the Military Administration
Commissaire colonel	Monsieur le or Madame le commissaire
Commissaire lieutenant-colonel	Monsieur le or Madame le commissaire
Commissaire commandant	Monsieur le or Madame le commissaire
Commissaire capitaine	Monsieur le or Madame le commissaire	Head of the general and financial administration of a force
Commissaire lieutenant	Monsieur le or Madame le commissaire
Commissaire sous-lieutenant	Monsieur le or Madame le commissaire

Air Force - Armée de l'air

The rank designations of the Luftwaffe differ only for the generals from those of the Army.

Since January 1, 2010, the “Corps des commissaires de l'air” has merged into the central “Service du commissariat des armées”.

The Air Force personnel are divided into three groups:

• Navigational personnel - le corps du personnel navigant;
• Maintenance staff - le corps des mécaniciens;
• Base staff - le corps des bases.

Each of the members of this corps has a special colored nameplate as a characteristic:

• Navigation staff: red with a star
• Maintenance staff: purple with a gear
• Base staff: blue with no badge
• Management: otter brown with an acanthus leaf

The shoulder pieces, which were previously equipped with a circumferential cord in the relevant color, are only continued by the Air Force Commissioners and Air Force doctors.

The Air Force pioneers wear special rank badges made of black velvet with borders in the weapon color of the pioneers and the Luftwaffe eagle (called Charognard - vulture).

Generals - Officiers généraux

Rank	Salutation	Service position	Badge of rank
Général d'armée aérienne GAA	mon général female: général	Commander of an Air Force Army
General de corps aérienne GCA	mon général female: général	Commander of an air force corps
General de division aérienne GDA	mon général female: général	Commander of an air force division
General de brigade aérienne	mon général female: général	Commander of an Air Force Brigade

Staff and subaltern officers - Officiers supérieurs et subalternes

Rank	Salutation	Service position	Badge of rank
Colonel - Colonel COL	mon colonel female: colonel	Regimental commander
Lieutenant-Colonel - Lieutenant-colonel LCL	mon colonel female: colonel	Regimental / squadron commander
Major - Commandant CDT	mon commandant female: commandant	Season chief
Captain - Capitaine CNE	mon capitaine female: capitaine	Season chief
First Lieutenant - Lieutenant LTT	mon lieutenant female: lieutenant	Platoon leader
Lieutenant - Sous-lieutenant SLT	mon lieutenant female: lieutenant	Platoon leader
Ensign - Aspirant ASP	mon lieutenant female: lieutenant	Platoon leader

Officer students - Élèves officiers

Rank	Salutation	Service position	Badge of rank
Aspirant ASP - Second year pupil at the air training school (École de l'air) or the first year at the air force training school (École militaire de l'air) (regulation since September 2009)	mon lieutenant female: lieutenant	-
Aspirant première année - first year pupil at the aerial training school (former rank: Élève Officier EO - regulation since September 2009)	mon lieutenant female: lieutenant	-
Officer trainee in the navigation branch - Élève-officier du personnel navigant	mon lieutenant female: lieutenant	-

NCOs - Sous-officiers

Rank	Salutation	Service position	Badge of rank
major	major	Platoon leader
Adjudant chief	mon adjudant chef or female: adjudant chef	Platoon leader
Adjudant (officer candidate) Adjudant Préselection rank ADJ Adjudant présélectionné rang en vue de prétendre au grade de Lieutenant.	mon adjudant or feminine: adjudant	Platoon leader
Adjudant	mon adjudant or feminine: adjudant	Platoon leader
Sergent-chef (officer candidate) Présélection Rank Sergent-chef préselectionné rang en vue de prétendre au grade de Lieutenant.	boss	Group leader and deputy platoon leader
Sergent chief SGC	boss	Squad leader
Sergent SGT	sergent	Squad leader

Rank	Salutation	Service position	Badge of rank
Senior Corporal - Caporal-Chef CLC (Candidate Sergeants)	caporal	Deputy Platoon leader / group leader
Longer-serving corporal - Caporal-chief CLC	caporal	Deputy Platoon leader / group leader
Hauptgefreiter - Caporal-Chef CLC	caporal	Squad leader
Corporal - Caporal CAL	caporal	Deputy Squad leader
Aviateur de première classe AV1 (no official rank - non-commissioned officers)	aviateur	Deputy Squad leader
Flieger - Aviateur AVT	aviateur	-

Administrative branch of the Air Force

Rank	Salutation	Service position	Badge of rank
Commissaire général de corps aérien (CRE GCA)	mon général female: général
Commissaire general de division aérienne (CRE GDA)	mon général female: général
Commissaire général de brigade aérienne (CRE GBA)	mon général female: général
Commissaire colonel (CRE COL)	mon colonel female: colonel
Commissaire lieutenant-colonel (CRE LCL)	mon colonel female: colonel
Commissaire commandant (CRE CDT)	mon commandant female: commandant
Commissaire capitaine (CRE CNE)	mon capitaine female: capitaine
Commissaire lieutenant (CRE LTT)	mon lieutenant female: lieutenant
Commissaire sous-lieutenant (CRE SLT). Second year pupil of the "École des commissaires de l'air"	mon lieutenant female: lieutenant
Commissaire aspirant (CRE ASP). Student in the first year of the "École des commissaires de l'air"	mon lieutenant female: lieutenant

Naval Forces - Navy National

Admirals - Officiers amiraux

Rank	Salutation	Service position	Badge of rank
( Admiral ) - Amiral	Amiral female: Amiral
Vice-Admiral - Vice-amiral d'escadre	Amiral female: Amiral
Rear Admiral Vice-amiral	Amiral female: Amiral
Flotilla Admiral Contre-Amiral	Amiral female: Amiral

The term Admiral / Amiral comes from the Arabic. Amir al-bahr means something like prince of the sea

Staff and subaltern officers - Officiers supérieurs et subalternes

Rank	Salutation	Service position	Badge of rank
Sea captain - Capitaine de Vaisseau	Commandant female: Commandant
Senior engineer - engineer en chef	Commandant female: Commandant
Frigate Captain - Capitaine de Frégate	Commandant female: Commandant
Corvette Captain - Capitaine de Corvette	Commandant female: Commandant
Lieutenant - Lieutenant de Vaisseau	Capitaine female: Capitaine
First lieutenant at sea - Enseigne de vaisseau de première classe	Lieutenant female: Lieutenant
Lieutenant of the Sea - Enseigne de vaisseau de deuxième classe	Lieutenant female: Lieutenant
Aspirant of the École Navale	Lieutenant female: Lieutenant
Élève-Officier First year officer student at the French Naval School	Monsieur female: Madame

Senior NCOs - Officiers mariniers supérieurs

Rank	Salutation	Service position	Badge of rank
Staff Captain - Major	major
Chief Boatswain - Maître principal	Cipal
Chief Boatswain - Premier Maître	patron

NCOs - Officiers mariniers subalternes

Rank	Salutation	Service position	Badge of rank
Boatswain - Maître	patron
Maat - Second maître	boss
Quartermaster - Second maître maistrancier	Maître
Quartermaster pupil - Éleve maîstrancier	Maître

Team ranks - Equipage

Rank	Salutation	Service position	Badge of rank
Corporal - Quartier maître de 1ère classe	Choufe
Corporal - Quartier maître de 2ème classe	Crabe
Matelot breveté (no official rank - non-commissioned officers)
Sailor - Matelot

Medical service / Pharmaceutical service / Dental service / Veterinary service -
Médecin / Pharmacien / Dentiste / Vétérinaire

Service position	Salutation	Badge of rank
Médecin général des armées General Doctor of the Armed Forces (no rank, only one position for the director of the medical service and the general inspector of the medical service. The rank is "Médecin chef des services hors classe")	mon général female: général
Médecin / Pharmacien / Surgery-dentist chef des services hors classe Senior chief of the medical service	mon général female: général
Vétérinaire chef des services hors classe Senior Chief of the Veterinary Service	mon général female: général
Médecin / Pharmacien / Surgery-dentist chief of services de class normal Chief of the medical service	mon général female: général
Vétérinaire chef des services de normal class Chief of the Veterinary Service	mon général female: général
Médecin / Pharmacien / Surgery-dentiste / vétérinaire chef des services hors classe Senior chief of the medical service as commander of a school, a hospital or an inspection ec	mon général female: général
Médecin / Pharmacien / Surgical dentist / vétérinaire chef des services class normal Head of the medical service as commander of a school, a hospital or an inspection ec	mon général female: général

Service position	Salutation	Badge of rank medicin	Badge of rank pharmacist	Badge of rank dentists
Médecin / pharmacien / surgeons-dentiste en chef après cinq ans d'ancienneté Senior physician in the medical service and the dental service, senior pharmacist in the pharmaceutical service after five years of service	mon colonel female: colonel
Médecin / pharmacy / surgery-dentiste en chef Senior physician in the medical service and the dental service, chief pharmacist in the pharmaceutical service	mon colonel female: colonel
Médecin / pharmacien / surgery-dentiste principal Senior field doctor in the medical service and the dental service, senior field pharmacist in the pharmaceutical service	mon colonel female: colonel
Médecin / pharmacy / surgery-dentist Military doctor / pharmacist	Monsieur le docteur female: Madame la docteur
Médecin: à partir de la septième année jusqu'au doctorat Assistant doctor when entering the seventh year of training	Monsieur le docteur female: Madame la docteur		-	-
Aspirant médecin / pharmacien (à partir de la quatrième année) Aspirant entering the fourth year of training
élève-officier médecin / pharmacien (première année) First year medical officer student

The rank badges of the veterinarians correspond to those of the hunter troop, with a crown of lily blossoms instead of the hunter's horn and dark gray piping.

The medical service also includes a military nursing service in the hospitals of the armed forces - Militaires infirmiers et techniciens des hôpitaux des armées (MITHA) . These are the medical and paramedical staff as well as the nurses in the military hospitals.

Rank	Salutation	Service position	Badge of rank
Directeur des soins de 1re classe		Director 1st class of the inpatient medical service
Directeur des soins de 2nd class		Director of the 2nd class of the inpatient medical service
Capitaine	mon capitaine (female: capitaine )	Cadre supérieur santé
Lieutenant	mon lieutenant (female: lieutenant )	Cadre santé
"Adjudant-Chef; sometimes Major"		Infirmier
"Sergent chef, sometimes adjudant"		Infirmier

General Directorate for Armaments and Equipment - Direction générale de l'armement (DGA)

Rank	Salutation IA and IETA	Salutation OCTAA	Ingénieurs de l'armement (IA)	Ingénieurs des études et techniques de l'armement (IETA)	Officiers du corps technique et administratif de l'armement (OCTAA)
General de classe exceptionnelle	mon géneral female: géneral			-	-
General de hors class	mon géneral female: géneral			-	-
General de 1st class	mon géneral female: géneral	mon géneral female: géneral
General of the 2nd class	mon géneral female: géneral	mon géneral female: géneral
"Boss" (with more than 2 years of service) (IA) - "Boss 1st class" (IETA and OCTAA)	Monsieur le ingénieur and Madame le ingénieur	Monsieur le officier and Madame le officier
"Chef" (with less than 2 years of service) (IA) - "Chef 2nd class" (IETA and OCTAA)	Monsieur le ingénieur and Madame le ingénieur	Monsieur le officier and Madame le officier
"Principal"	Monsieur le ingénieur and Madame le ingénieur	Monsieur le officier and Madame le officier
"Ingénieur" - 4th - 9th Level IA and 6-10. Level IETA / "Officier" 6. – 10. Level OCTAA	Monsieur le ingénieur and Madame le ingénieur	Monsieur le officier and Madame le officier
"Ingénieur" - 3rd + 4th Level IA and 2. – 5. Level IETA / "Officier" 2. – 5. Level OCTAA	Monsieur le ingénieur and Madame le ingénieur	Monsieur le officier and Madame le officier
"Ingénieur" - 1st level IA and IETA / "Officier" 1st level OCTAA	Monsieur le ingénieur and Madame le ingénieur	Monsieur le officier and Madame le officier
"Ingénieur-aspirant" (only IETA)	"Aspirant"		-		-

Armed Forces Fuel Force - Service des essences des armées (SEA)

The SEA consists of the ranks of the crew up to the Brigadier-Chef de 1ère classe, the corps of the SAE and the "Soutien pétrolier" (fuel support), the officers of the "Corps technique et administratif" (OCTASEA) , who are assigned to the generals, and the engineers the fuel supply - "Ingénieurs militaires des essences", (IME)

Rank	Salutation	Service position	Badge of rank
General engineer 1st class - Ingénieur général de première classe	mon général female: général
General engineer 2nd class - Ingénieur général de deuxième classe	mon général female: général
Chief Engineer 1st Class - Ingénieur en chef de première classe	Monsieur le ingénieur female: Madame le ingénieur
Chief Engineer 2nd Class - Ingénieur en chef de deuxiéme classe	Monsieur le ingénieur female: Madame le ingénieur
Engineer principal	Monsieur le ingénieur female: Madame le ingénieur

Defense Infrastructure Management (Service d'infrastructure de la défense - SID)

The SID consists of military engineers with officer rank, known as Ingénieurs militaires d'infrastructure de la défense (engineers of defense infrastructure management).

Rank	Salutation	Service position	Badge of rank
Engineer général hors class	Monsieur / Madame
Engineer général de première classe	Monsieur / Madame
Engineer général de deuxième classe	Monsieur / Madame
Engineer en chef de première class	Monsieur / Madame
Engineer en chef de deuxième class	Monsieur / Madame
Engineer principal	Monsieur / Madame
Engineer (6 to 10 years of service)	Monsieur / Madame
Engineer (service period 2 to 5 years)	Monsieur / Madame
Engineer (1st year of service)	Monsieur / Madame
aspirant	Monsieur / Madame

General Inspectorate of the Armed Forces - Contrôle général des armées

The "Corps du contrôle général des armées" is the auditing authority of the French armed forces. It is made up of members of the general rank, but their insignia differ entirely from the French model.

Rank	Salutation	Service position	Badge of rank
General Inspector of the Armed Forces - Contrôleur général des armées	mon général female: général
Stage manager of the armed forces - Contrôleur des armées	mon général female: général
Assistant stage manager of the armed forces - Contrôleur adjoint des armées	mon général female: général

National gendarmerie

The national gendarmerie consists of military personnel who are subordinate to the Ministry of the Interior. However, they are still subject to military discipline.

Generals - Officiers généraux

Rank	Salutation	Service position	Badge of rank
Army General - Général d'armée	mon général female: générale	Director General of the National Gendarmerie
Corps General - Général de corps d'armée	mon général female: générale	Head of Administration of the Directorate-General
Divisional General - Général de division	mon général female: générale	Regional commander of the gendarmerie. Local commander of a defense and security zone.
Brigadier General - Général de brigade	mon général female: générale	Regional commander of the gendarmerie

Staff officers - Officiers supérieurs

The ranks are identical to those of the reservists.

Rank	Salutation	Gendarmerie départementale	Gendarmerie mobile	Republicaine Guard	Corps technique et administratif
Colonel	mon colonel female: colonelle
Lieutenant-colonel	mon colonel female: colonelle
Commandant Chef d'escadron or Commandant in the "Corps technique et administratif"	mon commandant female: commandante

Subalternoffiziere - Officiers subalternes

The ranks are identical to those of the reservists.

Rank	Salutation	Gendarmerie départementale	Gendarmerie mobile	Republicaine Guard	Corps technique et administratif
Capitaine	mon capitaine female: capitaine
Lieutenant	mon lieutenant female: lieutenante
Sous-lieutenant - officer student in the second year at the EOGN (École des officiers de la gendarmerie nationale) - NCOs of the reserve as titular officers (Art. 19-1)	mon lieutenant female: lieutenante
Aspirant - aspirants from the gendarmerie from a traineeship - aspirants from the PEOR (peloton des élèves officiers de réserve) - students of the École polytechnique and the ENSIETA ( École nationale supérieure de techniques avancées Bretagne ) on an internship	mon lieutenant female: lieutenante
Élève-officier - First year officer student at the EOGN (École des officiers de la gendarmerie nationale)	mon lieutenant female: lieutenante

NCOs - Sous-officiers

The ranks are identical to those of the reservists, with the exception of "gendarme"

Rank	Salutation	Gendarmerie départementale	Gendarmerie mobile	Republicaine Guard	Corps technique et administratif
major	major
Adjudant chief	mon adjudant-chef female: adjudante-cheffe
Adjudant	mon adjudant feminine: adjudante
Maréchal des logis chief	boss
Gendarme or Garde de carrière	Gendarme or Guard Sometimes addressed as chief by the non-commissioned officers of the Ėcoles de gendarmerie . However, does not comply with the regulations. Gendarme is the correct rank and is equivalent to a sergent / sergent chief in the force.				-
Gendarme ou garde active or the reserve					-
Maréchal des logis	maréchal des logis	-
Non-commissioned officer students from entering the "École de sous-officiers de la gendarmerie nationale" (ESOG) or the "Corps de Soutien Technique et Administratif de la Gendarmerie Nationale" (CSTAGN)

Team ranks - Militaires du rang

The ranks are identical to those of the voluntary auxiliary gendarme and reservists.

Rank	Salutation	Service position	Rank badge
Maréchal des logis	maréchal des logis
Brigadier chief	brigadier chief
Brigadier	brigadier
Gendarme adjoint de 1ère classe (no official rank - non-commissioned officers)	No title
Gendarme adjoint de 2ème classe	no title

Military chaplaincy - Aumôniers militaires

The military chaplains are among the officers and are generally addressed as "Monsieur (or Madame ) l'aumônier" in accordance with the regulations in correspondence .

In practice, the forms of address of the individual religions differ from one another:

• Catholic chaplains of the land and air forces are addressed as “padre” according to the regulations, but “mon père” is usually used. On board ships, the clergyman is referred to as "Monseigneur" or "Bohut".
• Protestant military pastors are called "Pasteur".
• Israelite pastors are called "Monsieur le rabbin"
• Islamic clergymen are addressed as "monsieur" until a settlement based on traditional customs is in place.

Aumônier militaire-en-chef
	Armée de terre services communs	Marine national	Armée de l'air	National gendarmerie
Aumônier militaire-en-chef adjoint
Aumônier militaire regional
Aumônier militaire
Laïc - aumônier militaire aumônerie catholique de l'Armée de terre
Aumônier militaire de reserve

Ranks and positions in the royal army

Year of introduction	Name / rank	Function / position / comment
420	Duc de Province	Military commander of a province. In 987 it lost its military importance.
420	Comte	Military commander of a city. In 987 it lost its military importance.
596	Maire du Palais	Commander in Chief of the Army. Was abolished in 752.
679	Duc de France	Army commander. In 987 it lost its military importance.
752	Connétable	This office was the highest of the royal court. Only appeared in 1192 when he replaced the Grand sénéchal . It was abolished together with the Amiral de France by royal decree in January 1627.
770	Banneret	Knight with the right to use his own (square) flag (Étendard or Bannière). He was the commander of his ban ( little flag )
770	Bachelier	Knight of low rank who served as leader of a sub-unit under a "banneret". He carried a triangular pennant.
770	Écuyer	Junker. Was replaced in 1445 by "Coutilier" (about lancers).
770	page	Young nobleman in training to become a chevalier (knight) and added to such. Since 1515 the house servant was also called this. Around 1547 the name disappeared from military parlance.
770	Cadet	Young nobles in training to become chevaliers (knights). However, not in the individual training, but summarized in corps.
840	marquis	Military commander. Supervisor of public order marches and also of border sections. The unit he commanded was called the Maréchaussée and was a kind of police force.
840	baron	Officer as the commander of a fortress or a border security between the provinces.
881	Viscount	Helper or lieutenant of a Comte as a military commander of a city
978	Grand sénéchal	This rank was reserved for a senior officer in the royal court. As a military rank, he first appeared in 1060. He had the right to lead the army. Abolished in 1191.
987	governor	Holder of the civil and / or military executive branch in a province. Was abolished in 1791, but later re-established several times.
987	Lieutenant du Roi	Representative of the king in a region or a permanent place. He was subordinate to the governor. Was abolished in 1791, but later re-established several times.
987	Major de place	(German: Platzmajor) Was responsible for the details in the fortress service and reported to the respective Lieutenant de roi. Was abolished in 1791, but later re-established several times.
1110	Porte-oriflamme	Bearer of the Oriflamme This office was abolished in 1461.
1185	Maréchal de France	Exists to this day, but is currently not taken.
1197	Maître des Arbalétriers / Grand-maitre des Arbalétriers	Commander of the crossbowmen. Actually replaced in 1291 by the "Grand maître de l'artillerie", but was still in use until the reign of François I.
1291	Grand maître de l'artillerie de France / Maitre de l'artillerie	Supreme playmaker. Replaced the "Grand maître des arbalétriers".
1344	Maitre souverain de toutes les artilleries de France	For example: "Sovereign piece master over everything about French artillery"
1350	Commissaire général	For example: General Commissioner. Was inspector general of the troops
1355	Capitaine	New name for the "Chevalier banneret". The captain developed into commander of a company. The rank is still in use.
1355	Chevalier	Replaced the rank of Bachelier
1355	Maître	This rank was assigned to the non-aristocratic followers, which differentiated them from the noble chevaliers. Later the soldiers of the light cavalry were referred to as maîtres. This was true of both the hussars and the dragoons , whose companies consisted of many such "masters".
1356	Commissaire des guerres	(Approximately: War Commissioner). The "Commissaire des guerres" were under the command of the "Commissaires provinciaux" (provincial commissioners). They did not wear a uniform until 1746 and were virtually unknown in the military until 1767.
1356	Contrôleur des guerres	The “Contrôleurs des guerres” were the assistants of the “Commissaires des guerres”. This position was abolished in 1782
1378	Maître général visiteur de l'artillerie du Roi	(Approximately: general overseer of the king's artillery). Replaced the "Maitre souverain de toutes les artilleries de France"
1416	Capitaine général	The commanders of the four corps of Francs-archers received this title among others
1444	Lieutenant	Second officer in a company. The rank still exists and corresponds to the first lieutenant.
1444	Enseigne	About: Ensign. Officer as standard bearer of the infantry or standard bearer of the cavalry.
1444	Guidon	(Approximately: Ensign.) Officer carrying the standard or guidon of the gendarmerie . Abolished in 1776.
1444	Cornette	(German: cornet). Officer carrying the standard (cornette) of a company of the "Cavalerie légère" (light cavalry). Abolished in 1776.
1444	Maréchal des logis	The "Maréchal des logis" is still in the cavalry for the rank of "Sergent" of the infantry.
1444	Trumpets	Since then the trumpeter of the French cavalry
1445	Cadet gentilhomme	Noble cadet.
1445	Coutilier	New name for the Écuyer. They were the leaders of the archers in their assigned units. The rank of Écuyer was finally abolished in 1547.
1477	Maître en chef de l'artillerie	For example: Supreme master of the artillery. New name for the "Maitre général visiteur de l'artillerie"
1485	Sergent	Originally an officer who was responsible for the operation of the captain's company. Later became a non-commissioned officer. Still exists today.
1495	Porte cornette blanche	Royal Ensign. An officer (Enseigne) who carried the "Cornette blanche" the king's white flag (without any inscriptions, insignia or decorations).
1515	Sergent major-général de l'infanterie	Was equal to the "Chef d'État Major général". In 1670 it was renamed "Major-général".
1515	Sergent de bataille	The Sergents de bataille ensured order and discipline in the units in combat according to the orders of the "Sergent major-général". Abolished in 1668.
1515	Contrôleur general de l'artillerie	For example: General Controller of Artillery (Military Administrative Post)
1515	Sergent major	The Sergents-majors existed at the same time as the "Majors de régiments", which had existed since 1670. The latter were renamed Sergent-major in 1745. The rank was abolished in 1790, but reintroduced soon afterwards. Exists as a "major" to this day.
1534	Maréchal de camp	Higher officer rank who was appointed by a commission for a long time. Replaced by the Général de brigade in 1793 . Renamed temporarily in 1814.
1534	Aide de camp	The "Aides de camp" were assistants of the "Maréchals de camp" in matters of troop accommodation.
1534	Colonel	Was created in 1534 but was not awarded until 1543. It concerned the commanders of the "Légions nationales", which had been created by King Francis I , and then passed on to the commanders / regimental owners of the infantry. Between 1793 and 1803 the Colonel was called "Chef de brigade".
1534	Centenier	Officer of the "Légions nationales". Was under the Colonel and was abolished in 1558.
1534	Fourrier	Serious officer rank who was responsible for the accommodation of his company in detail. There were the "Fourriers généraux" and the "Fourriers majors" in the army. The Fourriers généraux (also called Fourriers marqueurs) were abolished in 1792.
1534	Caps d'escadre	Corresponded to a caporal in the infantry. An escadre of the cavalry (also called escouade) formed a quarter of a "centene" (hundred) and consisted of 25 riders.
1534	Attachment	About: Corporal. The Anspessade (or Lanspessade) was a tried and tested 1st class soldier who was assigned to support the Caporal.
1534	Tambourine	In 1558 it was renamed "Tambour major".
1534	Fifre	Pfeifer / Querpfeifer. Appeared for the first time in the "Légion romaine" set up by François I.
1535	Mestre de camp	Regimental commander of the cavalry. Corresponded to the colonel of the infantry.
1536	grenadier	Initially the name for an elite soldier.
1543	Colonel General	New name for the "Capitaine général" as the commander in chief of a branch of service. The capitaine général was then reserved for the provincial governors. The Colonel général was abolished in 1790.
1543	Surintendant général des fortifications	General-Superintendent of Fortifications. In 1693 he became “Directeur général des fortifications” (general director for fortifications). Abolished in 1762.
1543	Colonel lieutenant	Lieutenant colonel . Deputy of the Colonel as regimental commander. Was only a service position for a long time and only became a rank in 1767.
1547	Ministre de la Guerre	Minister of War. Until it was abolished in 1792, 45 people held this position.
1552	Mestre de camp general	Abolished in 1790.
1558	Aumônier	Regimental chaplain.
1558	Caporal	New name for the "Caps d'escadre"
1560	Lieutenant colonel de la cavalerie legere	Lieutenant Colonel of the Light Cavalry. Abolished in 1655.
1577	Aide major de place	Assistant to the "Major de place". Abolished in 1791.
1585	Sous lieutenant	Third officer in a company
1590	Brigadier	NCO rank in the cavalry
1598	Grand maître et capitaine général de l'artillerie	Chief piece master and captain general of the artillery. New name for the “Maître en chef de l'artillerie”. Abolished in 1755.
1602	Maréchal general des logis	For example: General Marshal Quartermaster. Abolished in 1690.
1602	Maréchal general des camps et armées du roi	About General Marshal of the King. Has only been awarded seven times in total. The last was from 1847–1848: Nicolas Jean-de-Dieu Soult
1602	Maréchal général de la cavalerie	General Marshal of the Cavalry. Abolished in 1690.
1602	Directeurs des fortifications	For example: fortress construction directors. Was renamed Directeurs du génie (Pioneer Directors) in 1690.
1602	Ingénieur ordinaire du Roi	Engineer to the king. Formed their own corps from 1690.
1613	Maréchal de bataille	Member of the cavalry. Function like “Sergent de bataille” in the infantry. Abolished in 1667.
1633	Lieutenant-General	A position that was below the rank of Maréchal de France .
1635	Intendant d'armée	Army intendants. Established in 1704.
1637	Commissaire général	For example: General Commissioner. Abolished in 1654.
1651	Aide major	Officer as an assistant to a troop commander or a field commander. Abolished in 1776.
1651	Sous-aide major	Submitted to an officer as an assistant to a troop commander or a field commander. Abolished in 1776.
1651	Surgeries	Regimental surgeon
1651	Tambour major	Drum major
1651	Trumpet major	For example: stick trumpeters. Replaced in 1788 by the name Trompette brigadier .
1657	Commissaire général des fortifications	For example: General Commissioner of Fortifications. Abolished in 1703.
1665	Skin-bois	Hautboist . Originally only established with the royal musketeers and dragoons.
1667	Brigadier des armées du roi	Rank above the colonel, but not a general in the light cavalry. Also taken over by the infantry in 1688. Abolished in 1788.
1668	Inspector générale	General Inspector. A position that was not tied to a rank.
1670	Major-General	New name for the "Sergent major général".
1670	major	New name for the "Sergent major". Service position as head of the regiment administration
1688	Engineer geographe	Geography engineer. After 1777 these formed their own corps.
1690	Directeur de l'artillerie	For example: Artillery Director. New name for the "Maitres de l'artillerie" created in 1291
1692	Conseiller commissaire aux revues	For example: Advisory commissioner when inspecting the troops. 1704 merged with the Commissaires des guerres.
1692	Timbalier	Kettledrum. Only with the cavalry
1694	Directeur général	For example: General Manager. There were four for the infantry and four for the cavalry. They were assistants to the Minister of War. The post was abolished after the death of Minister of War Le Tellier in 1701.
1704	Commissaire ordonnateur en chef	New name for the "Intendants d'armée"
1704	Commissaire provincial	Provincial Commissioner. Abolished in 1790
1704	Commissaire ordonnateur	For example: Intendant
1704	Ensigne	Standard bearer / ensign of the infantry
1762	Porte-drapeau	Standard bearer / ensign of the infantry. With a royal decree of December 10th, he replaced the Ensigne - abolished again in 1792
1762	Porte-Etendard	Standard bearer / ensign of the cavalry - abolished in 1792
1762	Quartier-maître trésorier	Paymaster. Usually a sous lieutenant .
1766	Musicien	Clarinetist. This instrument was introduced to the troops in 1775.
1766	Officier d'état-major	Staff officer. Divided into three classes: Colonels , Lieutenant-colonels and Capitaine or Lieutenants First abolished in 1770, it was reintroduced in 1778, but was limited to the rank of Capitaine. Replaced in 1791 by the name Adjoint à l'état-major général .
1768	Sous-aide major de place	Subordinated to the Capitaine de la porte (captain of the gate). Abolished in 1791.
1771	Adjudant sous-officier	Replaced the ranks aide-major and sous-aide major
1774	Colonel en second	Second Colonel - Represented the regiment owner in the infantry, who often did not exercise command, e.g. B. the king. Abolished in 1788
1774	Mestre de camp en second	Second Mestre de camp - Represented the regiment owner in the cavalry, who often did not exercise command. B. the queen. Abolished in 1788
1774	Chief of Battalion	First abolished in 1776. Later re-introduced, it is still in use today. It concerns the commandant in the infantry, the hunters on foot, the pioneers and in the telecommunication troops, as long as he leads a battalion.
1774	Chef d'escadron	First abolished in 1776. Later reintroduced, it is still in use today. It is the commandant of the cavalry (here, however, as chief d'esadrons) of the artillery, the logistic force (train) and the national gendarmerie , as long as he is in charge of an escadron.
1775	Maître aumônier	Regimental chaplain
1776	Sergent major	(Approximately: Sergeant Major) Highest rank of non-commissioned officer in the infantry
1776	Maréchal des logis chief	(Approximately: Sergeant Major) Highest rank of sergeant in the cavalry
1776	Maître Sellier	Regimental saddler
1776	Maître maréchal	Stable master
1776	Maréchal-Ferrant	Fittings smith
1776	Brother	Assistant to the surgeon and bathers . Rank was abolished in 1790.
1788	Maître tailleu	Regimental tailor
1597	Maître guêtrier	Leggings Manager
1788	Maître bottier / Maître cordonnier	Cobbler / shoemaker
1788	Major in second	Deputy Major. Abolished in 1790.
1788	Caporal	about: NCO (in the infantry)
1788	Tambour brigadier	Tambour in sergeant's rank
1788	Carabinier à pied	Elite soldier
1790	Adjudant-General	The Adjudant-général replaced the “Maréchal de camp” in the role of “Chef d'état-major des armées” (for example: Chief of the Army Staff).
1790	Adjudant major	Usually a captain who was responsible for administrative tasks, for instructing the NCOs, and for discipline in his battalion.
1790	Commissaire auditeur	The “Commissaire auditeur” (commissioner- auditor ) was created to support the higher military courts . Abolished again in 1792.
1791	Adjudant de place	Created to replace the major and the sous-aide major.
1791	Aide commissaire des guerres	Assistant to the "Commissaire des guerres". In 1793 it was renamed “Adjoint au commissaire des guerres”.

literature

• Jérôme Bodin: Les officiers français, grandeur et misères. 1936-1991. Ed. Perrin, 1991, ISBN 2-262-00747-0 .
• Benoît Léger: Contribution à l'étude des tenues des vétérinaires militaires dans l'armée française au cours du XXe siècle. Thèse de doctorat vétérinaire, Toulouse, Ecole nationale vétérinaire et Université Paul-Sabatier, 2001 (240 pages, with illustrations).
• Maurice Agulhon: Les couleurs dans la politique française. In: Ethnologie française , Vol. XX, 1990/4, pp. 391–398.

Web links

Commons : Ranks of the Royal Army 1786  - Collection of pictures, videos and audio files

• Les grades de l'Armée de l'air (sur defense.gouv.fr)
• Les grades de l'Armée de terre (sur defense.gouv.fr)
• Les grades de la Marine (on defense.gouv.fr)
• Les grades de l'armée française ( Memento of November 29, 2006 in the Internet Archive )

References and comments

1. ↑ Despite its French sound, the term "commander" is unknown in the French armed forces. Instead, “Commandant” is used.