''Maréchal de camp'' (sometimes incorrectly translated as
field marshal) was a
general officer
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.". OED ...
rank used by 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 ...
until 1848.
The rank originated from the older rank of
sergeant major general (
French
French (french: français(e), link=no) may refer to:
* Something of, from, or related to France
** French language, which originated in France, and its various dialects and accents
** French people, a nation and ethnic group identified with Franc ...
: ''sergent-major général''). Sergeant major general was third in command in an army, after the
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 ...
and the
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 th ...
. One of his tasks was to dispose the troops on the battlefield. It was also known in the French army as the "battle sergeant" (fr: ''sergent de bataille''). In English-speaking countries, the rank of sergeant major general became known as simply
major general
Major general (abbreviated MG, maj. gen. and similar) is a military rank used in many countries. It is derived from the older rank of sergeant major general. The disappearance of the "sergeant" in the title explains the apparent confusion of ...
.
Background and history
The ''maréchal de camp'' rank was the junior of the two officer general ranks of the French Army, the senior being lieutenant general. The rank of
brigadier
Brigadier is a military rank, the seniority of which depends on the country. In some countries, it is a senior rank above colonel, equivalent to a brigadier general or commodore, typically commanding a brigade of several thousand soldiers. ...
was intermediate between those of
colonel
Colonel (abbreviated as Col., Col or COL) is a senior military officer rank used in many countries. It is also used in some police forces and paramilitary organizations.
In the 17th, 18th and 19th centuries, a colonel was typically in charge ...
and ''maréchal de camp'', but was not considered a general officer rank. Nevertheless, when rank insignia were introduced in the 1770s, the brigadier insignia was one star on each epaulette, that of the ''maréchal de camp'' two stars. However the ''maréchal de camp'' was entitled a general's uniform, the ''brigadier des armées du roi'' still wore his regiment's uniform.
When the rank of brigadier was abolished in 1788, ''maréchals de camp'' assumed command of
brigade
A brigade is a major tactical military formation that typically comprises three to six battalions plus supporting elements. It is roughly equivalent to an enlarged or reinforced regiment. Two or more brigades may constitute a division.
...
s in the French Army, but kept their two-star insignia. In 1793, during the
French Revolution
The French Revolution ( ) was a period of radical political and societal change in France that began with the Estates General of 1789 and ended with the formation of the French Consulate in November 1799. Many of its ideas are conside ...
, the rank was renamed
brigade general
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 ...
(''général de brigade''), as the brigade was its normal command. With the
Bourbon Restoration Bourbon Restoration may refer to:
France under the House of Bourbon:
* Bourbon Restoration in France (1814, after the French revolution and Napoleonic era, until 1830; interrupted by the Hundred Days in 1815)
Spain under the Spanish Bourbons:
* Ab ...
in 1815, the rank of brigade general became once again ''maréchal de camp'', but was changed back again to brigade general after the
French Revolution of 1848.
See also
* ''
Mestre de camp''
References
Military ranks of France
{{Mil-hist-stub