The Constable of France (french: Connétable de France, from

Latin Latin (, or , ) is a classical language belonging to the Italic languages, Italic branch of the Indo-European languages. Latin was originally a dialect spoken in the lower Tiber area (then known as Latium) around present-day Rome, but through ...

for '

count Count (feminine: countess) is a historical title of nobility in certain European countries, varying in relative status, generally of middling rank in the hierarchy of nobility. Pine, L. G. ''Titles: How the King Became His Majesty''. New York ...

of the stables') was lieutenant to the

King of France France was ruled by monarchs from the establishment of the Kingdom of West Francia in 843 until the end of the Second French Empire in 1870, with several interruptions. Classical French historiography usually regards Clovis I () as the fir ...

, the first of the original five Great Officers of the Crown (along with

seneschal The word ''seneschal'' () can have several different meanings, all of which reflect certain types of supervising or administering in a historic context. Most commonly, a seneschal was a senior position filled by a court appointment within a royal, ...

, chamberlain,

butler A butler is a person who works in a house serving and is a domestic worker in a large household. In great houses, the household is sometimes divided into departments with the butler in charge of the dining room, wine cellar, and pantries, pantry ...

, and

chancellor Chancellor ( la, cancellarius) is a title of various official positions in the governments of many nations. The original chancellors were the of Roman courts of justice—ushers, who sat at the or lattice work screens of a basilica or law cou ...

) and the commander-in-chief of the Royal Army. He was, at least on paper, the highest-ranking member of the

French nobility The French nobility (french: la noblesse française) was a privileged social class in France from the Middle Ages until its abolition on June 23, 1790 during the French Revolution. From 1808 to 1815 during the First Empire the Emperor Napol� ...

. The was also responsible for military justice and served to regulate the

Chivalry Chivalry, or the chivalric code, is an informal and varying code of conduct developed in Europe between 1170 and 1220. It was associated with the medieval Christian institution of knighthood; knights' and gentlemen's behaviours were governed b ...

. His jurisdiction was called the Constabulary (; or in modern French orthography which sticks closer to the correct pronunciation: ). The office was established by King

Philip I Philip(p) I may refer to: * Philip I of Macedon (7th century BC) * Philip I Philadelphus (between 124 and 109 BC–83 or 75 BC) * Philip the Arab (c. 204–249), Roman Emperor * Philip I of France (1052–1108) * Philip I (archbishop of Cologne) (1 ...

in 1060 AD, with Alberic becoming the first Constable. The office was abolished in 1627, with an

edict An edict is a decree or announcement of a law, often associated with monarchism, but it can be under any official authority. Synonyms include "dictum" and "pronouncement". ''Edict'' derives from the Latin edictum. Notable edicts * Telepinu Proc ...

, by

Cardinal Richelieu Armand Jean du Plessis, Duke of Richelieu (; 9 September 1585 – 4 December 1642), known as Cardinal Richelieu, was a French clergyman and statesman. He was also known as ''l'Éminence rouge'', or "the Red Eminence", a term derived from the ...

, upon the death of , in order to strengthen the immediate authority of the King over his army. The position was officially replaced by the purely ceremonial title "Dean of Marshals" (), who was in fact the most senior "

Marshal of France Marshal of France (french: Maréchal de France, plural ') is a French military distinction, rather than a military rank, that is awarded to generals for exceptional achievements. The title has been awarded since 1185, though briefly abolished ( ...

" (); as the word is used in French mainly in the sense of "the eldest". The later title

Marshal General of France Marshal General of France, originally "Marshal General of the King's camps and armies" (french: maréchal général des camps et armées du roi), was a title given to signify that the recipient had authority over all of the French armies, in the da ...

or more precisely "Marshal General of the King's camps and armies" () was bestowed on the most outstanding military leaders. The recipient had command authority over all the French armies and garrisons who were engaged in war, and was senior to the , but had none of the extended political powers of the earlier "Constable of France".

Badge of office

Constable of France sword-J 26-IMG 1795-gradient

The badge of office was a highly elaborate sword called '' Joyeuse'', after the legendary sword of

Charlemagne Charlemagne ( , ) or Charles the Great ( la, Carolus Magnus; german: Karl der Große; 2 April 747 – 28 January 814), a member of the Carolingian dynasty, was King of the Franks from 768, King of the Lombards from 774, and the first E ...

. Joyeuse was a sword made with fragments of different swords and used in the Sacre of the French Kings since at least 1271. It was contained in a blue scabbard embellished with royal symbol, the

fleur-de-lis The fleur-de-lis, also spelled fleur-de-lys (plural ''fleurs-de-lis'' or ''fleurs-de-lys''), is a lily (in French, and mean 'flower' and 'lily' respectively) that is used as a decorative design or symbol. The fleur-de-lis has been used in the ...

, in column order from hilt to point. Traditionally, the constable was presented with the sword on taking his office by the King himself.

Authority

After the abolition of the office of

Sénéchal Senechal or Sénéchal may refer to: People * Florian Sénéchal, French racing cyclist * Marjorie Senechal (née Wikler), American mathematician and historian of science * Michel Sénéchal, French tenor * Robert Sénéchal, French industrialis ...

in 1191, the Connétable became the most important officer in the army, and as First Officer of the Crown, he ranked in ceremonial precedence immediately after the peers. He had the position of Lieutenant-general of the King within the kingdom. The constable had under his command all military officers, including the powerful maréchaux; he was also responsible for the financing of the army, and administering military justice. The official name of the jurisdiction was ''la connétablie'' (the constabulary), which he exercised with the assistance of the '' Maréchaux de France'' (Marshals of France). This paralleled the

Court of the Lord Constable A court is any person or institution, often as a government institution, with the authority to adjudicate legal disputes between parties and carry out the administration of justice in civil, criminal, and administrative matters in accorda ...

, later called ''curia militaris'' of

Court of Chivalry His Majesty's High Court of Chivalry is a civil law (i.e., non common law) court in English and Welsh law with jurisdiction over matters of heraldry. The court has been in existence since the fourteenth century; however, it rarely sits. The so ...

, which existed in England at that time.

Persons subordinate to the Constable of France

(''Maréchal de France''). However, during exceptional times the Marshal of France could be senior to the Constable, depending on the decisions of the King *

Colonel-general Colonel general is a three- or four-star military rank used in some armies. It is particularly associated with Germany, where historically general officer ranks were one grade lower than in the Commonwealth and the United States, and was a r ...

– a special category of general in the Royal French army, commanding all the regiments of the same branch of service (i.e. Cavalry, Dragoons, Infantry et al.) *

General A general officer is an officer of high rank in the armies, and in some nations' air forces, space forces, and marines or naval infantry. In some usages the term "general officer" refers to a rank above colonel."general, adj. and n.". O ...

Lieutenant-general Lieutenant general (Lt Gen, LTG and similar) is a three-star military rank (NATO code OF-8) used in many countries. The rank traces its origins to the Middle Ages, where the title of lieutenant general was held by the second-in-command on the ...

– the highest regular general officer rank of the French army to which a career army officer could be promoted on the basis of seniority and merit, and not noble blood *''

Maréchal de camp ''Maréchal de camp'' (sometimes incorrectly translated as field marshal) was a general officer rank used by the French Army until 1848. The rank originated from the older rank of sergeant major general (French: ''sergent-major général''). ...

'' (literally ''(Military) Camp Marshal''), not to be confused with

Field Marshal Field marshal (or field-marshal, abbreviated as FM) is the most senior military rank, ordinarily senior to the general officer ranks. Usually, it is the highest rank in an army and as such few persons are appointed to it. It is considered as ...

) – the lowest general officer rank, in later times renamed ''Major-général'' and equivalent to the present-day ''

général de brigade Brigadier general or Brigade general is a military rank used in many countries. It is the lowest ranking general officer in some countries. The rank is usually above a colonel, and below a major general or divisional general. When appointed to ...

'' (''brigadier-general'') *''

Porte-Oriflamme The Oriflamme (from Latin ''aurea flamma'', "golden flame"), a pointed, blood-red banner flown from a gilded lance, was the battle standard of the King of France in the Middle Ages. The oriflamme originated as the sacred banner of the Abbey of S ...

'' – a prestigious honorary position, not an army rank, which gave the right to carry the King's royal banner (called ''Oriflamme'') into battle *

Grand Master of Crossbowmen The Master of Crossbowmen (french: Maître des Arbalétriers) or more precisely, Master of Arbalesters or Master of Archers was the title of a commander of the Infantry of the French army (the "host") in the Middle Ages and the Renaissance. The pos ...

(''Grand-Maître des Arbalétriers du Roi'') who was in charge of all archers in the army *

Grand Master of Artillery The Grand Master of Artillery or Grand Maître de l'artillerie was one of the Great Officers of the Crown of France during the Ancien Régime. The position of Grand Master of Artillery replaced the earlier position of Grand Maître des arbalétrie ...

(''Grand-Maître de l'Artillerie royale''). From the beginning of the 17th century, the Grand Master of the Artillery became a Great Officer of the Crown an immediate subordinate of the King and was no longer under the command of the Constable. ''NOT UNDER THE AUTHORITY OF THE CONSTABLE:'' * The title " Lieutenant-general of the Realm" (''Lieutenant général du royaume'') was not a military rank, but a royal appointment. It was bestowed by the King of France during times of crisis (civil war, a severe illness of the King, war with other

realms A realm is a community or territory over which a sovereign rules. The term is commonly used to describe a monarchical or dynastic state. A realm may also be a subdivision within an empire, if it has its own monarch, e.g. the German Empire. Ety ...

such as England etc.) on a royal prince of the blood of his choice; who thus became the Commanding general of the entire kingdom, in effect, with supreme command over the civil service, the army and even the ''Connétable de France'', until the moment the King chose to take back the supreme authority in his own hands.

Constables of France

Note that there are gaps in the dates as the position was not always filled following the demise of its occupant.

Constables of the Kings of France

The Capétien Dynasty *Baldric de Dreux, 20 May 1043–1069 *Walter (Baldric's deputy), 1048 *Alberic (Baldric's deputy), 1060 *Gauthier, 1069–1071 *Adelelme, 1071–1075 *Adam le Isle, 1075–1085 *Thibaut, Seigneur de Montmorency, 1085–1107 *Gaston de Chanmont, 1107–1108 *Hugues le Borgne de Chanmont, 1108–1135 *

Mathieu de Montmorency Mathieu Jean Felicité de Montmorency, duc de Montmorency-Laval (10 July 1767 – 24 March 1826) was a French statesman during the French Revolution and Bourbon Restoration. He was elected as the youngest member of the National Assembly in 178 ...

(died 1160), 1138–? *Simon de Neauphle-le-Chateau, 1165–? *

Raoul I de Clermont Raoul I the Red of Clermont (before 1140 — killed 15 October 1191) was a French nobleman, and Count of Clermont-en-Beauvaisis from 1161 until his death. He was the eldest son of Renaud II, Count of Clermont-en-Beauvaisis, and his second wife (Clem ...

(died 1191), 1174–1191 *Dreux IV de Mello (1148–1218), 1194–1218 * Mathieu II le Grand, Baron de Montmorency (died 1231), 1218–1231 * Amaury de Montfort (died 1241), 1231–1240 *

Humbert V de Beaujeu Humbert V de Beaujeu (1198 – mid 1250) was Constable of France (1240) under King Louis IX. He was maternal grandson of Baldwin V, Count of Hainaut and nephew of Isabelle of Hainaut, queen consort of king Philip II of France. He married Marguer ...

(died 1250), 1240–1250 * Gilles de Trasignies (died 1276), 1250–1276 *Humbert VI de Beaujeu (died 1285), 1277 * Raoul II de Clermont (died 1302), 1277–1302 *

Gaucher V de Châtillon Gaucher V de Châtillon ( 1249 in Châtillon-sur-Marne – 1329), Lord of Châtillon, Count of Porcien, was constable of Champagne in 1284 and then Constable of France (1302–1329) during the reigns of five different kings. He was also t ...

(1249–1329), 1307–1329 The Valois Dynasty *

Raoul I of Brienne, Count of Eu Raoul I of Brienne (died 19 January 1344, Paris) was the son of John II of Brienne, Count of Eu and Jeanne, Countess of Guînes. He succeeded his father as Count of Eu in 1302, and his mother as Count of Guînes in 1332. In 1329, he was named C ...

and Guînes (d. 1344), 1329–1344 * Raoul II of Brienne, Count of Eu and Guînes (died 1350), 1344–1350 * Charles de la Cerda (died 1354), 1350–1354 * Jacques de Bourbon, Count of La Marche, (1319–1362) 1354–1356 *

Walter VI of Brienne Walter VI of Brienne (c. 1304 – 19 September 1356) was a French nobleman and crusader. He was the count of Brienne in France, the count of Conversano and Lecce in southern Italy and claimant to the Duchy of Athens in Frankish Greece. Lif ...

(c. 1304–1356), 1356 * Robert Moreau de Fiennes (1308–1372), 1356–1370 *

Bertrand du Guesclin Bertrand du Guesclin ( br, Beltram Gwesklin; 1320 – 13 July 1380), nicknamed "The Eagle of Brittany" or "The Black Dog of Brocéliande", was a Breton knight and an important military commander on the French side during the Hundred Years' Wa ...

(1320–1380), 1370–1380 * Olivier V de Clisson (1336–1407), 1380–1392 * Philip of Artois, Count of Eu (1358–1397), 1392–1397 *

Louis de Sancerre Louis de Sancerre (1341 or 1342 – 6 February 1402; aged 60-61) was a Marshal of France and Constable of France during the Hundred Years' War. Early life Sancerre was born as the second son of count Louis II de Sancerre and Béatrix de Ro ...

(1341–1402), 1397–1402 *

Charles d'Albret Charles I d'Albret (December 1368 – 25 October 1415) was the Lord of Albret and the Constable of France from 1402 until 1411, and again from 1413 until 1415. He was also the co-commander of the French army at the Battle of Agincourt where he ...

, Comte de Dreux (died 1415– Agincourt), 1402–1411 * Waleran, Count of Saint Pol (died 1415), 1411–1413 *

, Comte de Dreux (died 1415– Agincourt), 1413–1415 * Bernard VII, Count of Armagnac (died 1418), 1415–1418 *

Charles II, Duke of Lorraine Charles II (11 September 1364 – 25 January 1431), called the Bold (french: le Hardi) was the Duke of Lorraine from 1390 to his death and Constable of France from 1418 to 1425. Charles joined the Barbary Crusade, fought at Nicopolis, and aided ...

(1365–1431), 1418–1424 * Humphrey Stafford, 1st Duke of Buckingham (1430) * John Stewart, 2nd Earl of Buchan (c. 1381–1424), 1424 *

Arthur III, Duke of Brittany Arthur III ( br, Arzhur), more commonly known as Arthur de Richemont (24 August 139326 December 1458), was briefly Duke of Brittany from 1457 until his death. He is noted primarily, however, for his role as a leading military commander during ...

(1393–1458), 1425–? *

John Talbot, 1st Earl of Shrewsbury John is a common English name and surname: * John (given name) * John (surname) John may also refer to: New Testament Works * Gospel of John, a title often shortened to John * First Epistle of John, often shortened to 1 John * Second ...

(1384/1390–1453), 1445–1453 (appointed by

Henry VI of England Henry VI (6 December 1421 – 21 May 1471) was King of England and Lord of Ireland from 1422 to 1461 and again from 1470 to 1471, and disputed King of France from 1422 to 1453. The only child of Henry V, he succeeded to the English throne ...

in his position as King of France) *

Louis de Luxembourg, Count of Saint-Pol Louis de Luxembourg, Count of Saint-Pol, of Brienne, de Ligny, and Conversano (1418 – 19 December 1475) belonged to the Ligny branch of the House of Luxemburg and was Constable of France. Life Saint-Pol was the eldest son of Peter of Luxembou ...

Richard Vaughan, ''Charles the Bold'', (Boydell Press, 2002) 250–251. (1418–1475), 1465–? *

John II, Duke of Bourbon Jean (John) de Bourbon, Duke of Bourbon (1426 – 1 April 1488), sometimes referred to as John the Good and The Scourge of the English, was a son of Charles I of Bourbon and Agnes of Burgundy. He was Duke of Bourbon and Auvergne from 1456 to ...

(1426–1488), 1483–1488 The Valois Angoulême Dynasty *

Charles III, Duke of Bourbon Charles III, Duke of Bourbon (17 February 1490 – 6 May 1527) was a French military leader, the count of Montpensier, Clermont and Auvergne, and dauphin of Auvergne from 1501 to 1523, then duke of Bourbon and Auvergne, count of Clermo ...

(1490–1527), 1518–1523 *

Anne de Montmorency Anne, Duke of Montmorency, Honorary Knight of the Garter (15 March 1493, Chantilly, Oise12 November 1567, Paris) was a French soldier, statesman and diplomat. He became Marshal of France and Constable of France and served five kings. Early lif ...

, Grand Maitre de France (1492–1567), 1538–1567 The

Bourbons The House of Bourbon (, also ; ) is a European dynasty of French origin, a branch of the Capetian dynasty, the royal House of France. Bourbon kings first ruled France and Navarre in the 16th century. By the 18th century, members of the Spani ...

Henri I de Montmorency Henri I de Montmorency (15 June 1534 in Chantilly, Oise – 2 April 1614), Marshal of France, and Constable of France, seigneur of Damville, served as Governor of Languedoc from 1563 to 1614. Biography Born on 15 June 1534, Henri was the son ...

(1570–1621), 1593–1621 * Charles d'Albert, duc de Luynes (1621), 1621 *

François de Bonne, duc de Lesdiguières François () is a French masculine given name and surname, equivalent to the English name Francis. People with the given name * Francis I of France, King of France (), known as "the Father and Restorer of Letters" * Francis II of France, King ...

(1543–1626), 1622–1626

First French Empire

During the

Consulate A consulate is the office of a consul. A type of diplomatic mission, it is usually subordinate to the state's main representation in the capital of that foreign country (host state), usually an embassy (or, only between two Commonwealth co ...

regime (1799–1804), the deposed Bourbon dynasty, through the Comte d'Artois, allegedly offered

Napoléon Bonaparte Napoleon Bonaparte ; it, Napoleone Bonaparte, ; co, Napulione Buonaparte. (born Napoleone Buonaparte; 15 August 1769 – 5 May 1821), later known by his regnal name Napoleon I, was a French military commander and political leader wh ...

, at that time

First Consul The Consulate (french: Le Consulat) was the top-level Government of France from the fall of the Directory in the coup of 18 Brumaire on 10 November 1799 until the start of the Napoleonic Empire on 18 May 1804. By extension, the term ''The Co ...

of the Republic, the title of "Constable of France" if he would restore the Bourbons as

Kings of France France was ruled by monarchs from the establishment of the Kingdom of West Francia in 843 until the end of the Second French Empire in 1870, with several interruptions. Classical French historiography usually regards Clovis I () as the fir ...

. Bonaparte declined the offer. However, in 1808, Emperor Napoléon I (since 1804) did himself appoint the

Grand Dignitaries of the French Empire The Grand Dignitaries of the French Empire ( French: ''Grands Dignitaires de l'Empire Français'') were created in 1804 by the Constitution of the Year XII, which established Napoleon Bonaparte, previously First Consul for Life, as Emperor of t ...

(''Grands Dignitaires de l'Empire Français''), among them his younger brother

Louis Bonaparte Louis Napoléon Bonaparte (born Luigi Buonaparte; 2 September 1778 – 25 July 1846) was a younger brother of Napoleon I, Emperor of the French. He was a monarch in his own right from 1806 to 1810, ruling over the Kingdom of Holland (a French ...

, (in 1806

King of Holland The monarchy of the Netherlands is a constitutional monarchy. As such, the role and position of the monarch are governed by the Constitution of the Netherlands. Consequently, a large portion of it is devoted to the monarch. Roughly a third of ...

by decision of his brother) as Constable, and

Marshal of the Empire Marshal of the Empire (french: Maréchal d'Empire) was a civil dignity during the First French Empire. It was created by '' Sénatus-consulte'' on 18 May 1804 and to a large extent reinstated the formerly abolished title of Marshal of France. Ac ...

Louis Alexandre Berthier, the

French Army History Early history The first permanent army, paid with regular wages, instead of feudal levies, was established under Charles VII of France, Charles VII in the 1420 to 1430s. The Kings of France needed reliable troops during and after the ...

Chief of Staff The title chief of staff (or head of staff) identifies the leader of a complex organization such as the armed forces, institution, or body of persons and it also may identify a principal staff officer (PSO), who is the coordinator of the supporti ...

and Prince of

Neuchâtel , neighboring_municipalities= Auvernier, Boudry, Chabrey (VD), Colombier, Cressier, Cudrefin (VD), Delley-Portalban (FR), Enges, Fenin-Vilars-Saules, Hauterive, Saint-Blaise, Savagnier , twintowns = Aarau (Switzerland), Besançon (Fra ...

as Vice-Constable. Both titles were of a purely honorific nature, and disappeared with the Napoleonic regime's fall.

Movies

'' If I Were King'', 1938, with

François Villon François Villon ( Modern French: , ; – after 1463) is the best known French poet of the Late Middle Ages. He was involved in criminal behavior and had multiple encounters with law enforcement authorities. Villon wrote about some of these e ...

(played by

Ronald Colman Ronald Charles Colman (9 February 1891 – 19 May 1958) was an English-born actor, starting his career in theatre and silent film in his native country, then immigrating to the United States and having a successful Cinema of the United States, ...

), who was appointed by

Louis XI Louis XI (3 July 1423 – 30 August 1483), called "Louis the Prudent" (french: le Prudent), was King of France from 1461 to 1483. He succeeded his father, Charles VII. Louis entered into open rebellion against his father in a short-lived revol ...

(played by

Basil Rathbone Philip St. John Basil Rathbone MC (13 June 1892 – 21 July 1967) was a South African-born English actor. He rose to prominence in the United Kingdom as a Shakespearean stage actor and went on to appear in more than 70 films, primarily costume ...

) to be Constable of France for one week. Various versions of Shakespeare's play ''

Henry V Henry V may refer to: People * Henry V, Duke of Bavaria (died 1026) * Henry V, Holy Roman Emperor (1081/86–1125) * Henry V, Duke of Carinthia (died 1161) * Henry V, Count Palatine of the Rhine (c. 1173–1227) * Henry V, Count of Luxembourg (121 ...

'' depict Constable

, Comte de Dreux, who was appointed by

Charles VI of France Charles VI (3 December 136821 October 1422), nicknamed the Beloved (french: le Bien-Aimé) and later the Mad (french: le Fol or ''le Fou''), was King of France from 1380 until his death in 1422. He is known for his mental illness and psychotic ...

and was killed in the

Battle of Agincourt The Battle of Agincourt ( ; french: Azincourt ) was an English victory in the Hundred Years' War. It took place on 25 October 1415 ( Saint Crispin's Day) near Azincourt, in northern France. The unexpected English victory against the numeric ...

(1415). He is played by

Leo Genn Leopold John Genn (9 August 190526 January 1978) was an English actor and barrister. Distinguished by his relaxed charm and smooth, "black velvet" voice, he had a lengthy career in theatre, film, television, and radio; often playing aristocr ...

in the 1944 film, by

Richard Easton John Richard Easton (March 22, 1933 – December 2, 2019) was a Canadian actor, best known for his portrayal of Brian Hammond in the 1970s BBC serial '' The Brothers''. Life and career Easton was born in Montreal, Quebec, Canada, the son of M ...

in the 1989 film, and by Maxime Lefrancois in the 2012 film. In the 1944 film he dies in personal combat with King Henry. In the 1989 film he is depicted as falling from his horse into the mud (historical tradition holds he was drowned in the mud due to the weight of his armour, disabled by having his horse fall on him). In the 2012 film he is shot by a longbowman after stabbing the

Duke of York Duke of York is a title of nobility in the Peerage of the United Kingdom. Since the 15th century, it has, when granted, usually been given to the second son of English (later British) monarchs. The equivalent title in the Scottish peerage was ...

in the back in woodland away from the main battle.

References

External links

Heraldica
{{DEFAULTSORT:Constable Of France Military history of France Offices in the Ancien Régime Military ranks of France Military history of the Ancien Régime Kingdom of France Constables 1627 disestablishments