Colonel General (France)
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A Colonel General was an officer of the
French army The French Army, officially known as the Land Army (, , ), is the principal Army, land warfare force of France, and the largest component of the French Armed Forces; it is responsible to the Government of France, alongside the French Navy, Fren ...
during the
Ancien Régime ''Ancien'' may refer to * the French word for " ancient, old" ** Société des anciens textes français * the French for "former, senior" ** Virelai ancien ** Ancien Régime ** Ancien Régime in France {{disambig ...
, the French Revolution, the
Napoleonic era The Napoleonic era is a period in the history of France and history of Europe, Europe. It is generally classified as including the fourth and final stage of the French Revolution, the first being the National Assembly (French Revoluti ...
and the Bourbon Restoration. The positions were not military ranks, but rather offices of the crown. The position was first created under François I. The Colonels General served directly below the
Marshals of France Marshal of 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 (1793–1804) and for a period ...
, and they were divided by their branch of service. By the end of the Ancien Régime, the Colonels General were: *Colonel General of the
Infantry Infantry, or infantryman are a type of soldier who specialize in ground combat, typically fighting dismounted. Historically the term was used to describe foot soldiers, i.e. those who march and fight on foot. In modern usage, the term broadl ...
*Colonel General of the
Cavalry Historically, cavalry (from the French word ''cavalerie'', itself derived from ''cheval'' meaning "horse") are groups of soldiers or warriors who Horses in warfare, fight mounted on horseback. Until the 20th century, cavalry were the most mob ...
*Colonel General of the
Dragoon Dragoons were originally a class of mounted infantry, who used horses for mobility, but dismounted to fight on foot. From the early 17th century onward, dragoons were increasingly also employed as conventional cavalry and trained for combat wi ...
s *Colonel General of the Hussards *Colonel General of the Cent-Suisses and Grisons *Colonel General of the
Gardes Françaises The French Guards (, ) were an elite infantry regiment of the French Royal Army. They formed a constituent part of the maison militaire du roi de France ("military household of the king of France") under the Ancien Régime. The French Guards, ...
Judging the position of Colonel General of the Infantry to be too powerful,
Louis XIV LouisXIV (Louis-Dieudonné; 5 September 16381 September 1715), also known as Louis the Great () or the Sun King (), was King of France from 1643 until his death in 1715. His verified reign of 72 years and 110 days is the List of longest-reign ...
suppressed the position in 1661 and only appointed Colonels General of honorific branches like the Colonel General of the Dragoons (created in 1668), the Colonel General of the Cent-Suisses and Grisons, who oversaw the Swiss regiments of the
Maison du Roi The Maison du Roi (, 'King's Household') was the royal household of the King of France. It comprised the military, domestic, and religious entourage of the French royal family during the Ancien Régime and Bourbon Restoration in France, Bourbon R ...
, and the Colonel of the Gardes Françaises. The position was reinstated under
Louis XV Louis XV (15 February 1710 – 10 May 1774), known as Louis the Beloved (), was King of France from 1 September 1715 until his death in 1774. He succeeded his great-grandfather Louis XIV at the age of five. Until he reached maturity (then defi ...
. Most of these offices were eliminated at the time of the French Revolution, during which there was a Colonel General of the
National Guard National guard is the name used by a wide variety of current and historical uniformed organizations in different countries. The original National Guard was formed during the French Revolution around a cadre of defectors from the French Guards. ...
, but they were reinstated by
Napoleon I Napoleon Bonaparte (born Napoleone di Buonaparte; 15 August 1769 – 5 May 1821), later known by his regnal name Napoleon I, was a French general and statesman who rose to prominence during the French Revolution and led Military career ...
. Under the Bourbon Restoration, certain titles were accorded to members of the royal family. After 1830, the position was eliminated.


Colonels General of the Ancien Régime


Infantry

* 1546 : Jean de Taix * ???? : Charles de Cossé-Brissac * 1547 : Gaspard de Coligny,
Admiral of France Admiral of France () is a French title of honour. It is the naval equivalent of Marshal of France and was one of the Great Officers of the Crown of France. History The title was created in 1270 by Louis IX of France, during the Eighth Crusad ...
* 1555 : François de Coligny, seigneur d'Andelot * 1558 : Blaise de Montluc,
Marshal of France Marshal of France (, plural ') is a French military distinction, rather than a military rank, that is awarded to General officer, generals for exceptional achievements. The title has been awarded since 1185, though briefly abolished (1793–1804) ...
* 1560 : Charles de La Rochefoucauld, seigneur de Randan * 1562 : Sébastien de Luxembourg, duc de Penthièvre * ???? : Timoléon de Cossé-Brissac * 1569–1581 : Philippe Strozzi, seigneur d'Épernay and de Bressuire * 1581–1642 : Jean Louis de Nogaret de La Valette, duc d'Épernon * 1642–1661 : Bernard de Nogaret de La Valette d'Épernon * 1721–1730 : Louis d'Orléans, Duke of Orléans * 1780–1790 : Louis Joseph de Bourbon, Prince of Condé


Cavalry

* 1548–1549 : Charles de Cossé, Count of Brissac * 1549 : Claude de Lorraine, duc d'Aumale * 1558 :
Jacques, Duke of Nemours Jacques de Savoie, duc de Nemours (12 October 153115 June 1585) was a French military commander, governor and Prince étranger, Prince Étranger. Having inherited his titles at a young age, Nemours fought for king Henri II of France, Henri II duri ...
* 1569–1571 : François de Lorraine, duc de Guise * 1571–1572 : Charles de Montmorency-Damville,
Admiral of France Admiral of France () is a French title of honour. It is the naval equivalent of Marshal of France and was one of the Great Officers of the Crown of France. History The title was created in 1270 by Louis IX of France, during the Eighth Crusad ...
* 1572–1574 : Guillaume de Montmorency, seigneur de Thuré * 1574–1585 :
Jacques, Duke of Nemours Jacques de Savoie, duc de Nemours (12 October 153115 June 1585) was a French military commander, governor and Prince étranger, Prince Étranger. Having inherited his titles at a young age, Nemours fought for king Henri II of France, Henri II duri ...
* 1585–1586 : Charles, Duke of Aumale * 1586–1588 : Jean-François, maréchal de La Guiche * 1588–1589 : Charles de Valois, comte d'Auvergne * 1589–1595 : duc des Ursins * 1595–1604 : Charles de Valois, comte d'Auvergne * 1604–1616 :
Jacques, Duke of Nemours Jacques de Savoie, duc de Nemours (12 October 153115 June 1585) was a French military commander, governor and Prince étranger, Prince Étranger. Having inherited his titles at a young age, Nemours fought for king Henri II of France, Henri II duri ...
* 1616–1618 : Charles de Valois, duc d'Angoulême * 1618–1618 : François de Valois, comte d'Alès * 1618–1626 : Henri, Duke of Rohan * 1626–1643 : Louis de Valois, comte d'Alès * 1643–1653 : Louis Emmanuel de Valois, duc d'Angoulême * 1653–1657 : Louis de Lorraine, duc de Joyeuse * 1657–1675 : Henri de la Tour d'Auvergne-Bouillon, vicomte de Turenne * 1675–1705 : Frédéric Maurice de La Tour d'Auvergne * 1705–1740 : Henri Louis de La Tour d'Auvergne * 1740–1759 : Godefroy Charles Henri de La Tour d'Auvergne * 1759–1790 : marquis de Béthune


Dragoons

* 1668–1672 : Antonin Nompar de Caumont, duc de Lauzun * 1672–1678 : Nicolas d'Argouges, marquis de Rannes * 1678–1692 : Louis François de Boufflers,
Marshal of France Marshal of France (, plural ') is a French military distinction, rather than a military rank, that is awarded to General officer, generals for exceptional achievements. The title has been awarded since 1185, though briefly abolished (1793–1804) ...
* 1692–1703 : René de Froulay, comte de Tessé,
Marshal of France Marshal of France (, plural ') is a French military distinction, rather than a military rank, that is awarded to General officer, generals for exceptional achievements. The title has been awarded since 1185, though briefly abolished (1793–1804) ...
, général des Galères * 1703–1704 :
Antoine V de Gramont Antoine de Gramont, 4th Duke of Gramont (January 1672 – 16 September 1725), Duke of Guiche, was a Marshal of France. Early life French military figure and member of the Gramont family, House of Gramont, he was the oldest child of Antoine Charle ...
,
Marshal of France Marshal of France (, plural ') is a French military distinction, rather than a military rank, that is awarded to General officer, generals for exceptional achievements. The title has been awarded since 1185, though briefly abolished (1793–1804) ...
, colonel général des Gardes Françaises * 1704–1734 : François de Franquetot de Coigny,
Marshal of France Marshal of France (, plural ') is a French military distinction, rather than a military rank, that is awarded to General officer, generals for exceptional achievements. The title has been awarded since 1185, though briefly abolished (1793–1804) ...
* 1734–1748 : Jean Antoine François de Franquetot, duc de Coigny, killed in a duel * 1748–1754 : François de Franquetot de Coigny,
Marshal of France Marshal of France (, plural ') is a French military distinction, rather than a military rank, that is awarded to General officer, generals for exceptional achievements. The title has been awarded since 1185, though briefly abolished (1793–1804) ...
* 1754–1771 : Marie Charles Louis d'Albert, duc de Chevreuse and de Luynes * 1771–1783 : François-Henri de Franquetot de Coigny * 1783–1790 : Louis Joseph Charles Amable d'Albert, duc de Chevreuse and de Luynes


Hussards

* 1778–1790 :
Louis Philippe II, Duke of Orléans Louis Philippe II, Duke of Orléans (Louis Philippe Joseph; 13 April 17476 November 1793), was a French Prince of the Blood who supported the French Revolution. Louis Philippe II was born at the to Louis Philippe I, Duke of Orléans, Louis Phi ...


Cent-Suisses et Grisons

* 1568–1596 : Charles de Montmorency-Damville, Admiral of France * 1596–1605 : Nicolas de Harlay, seigneur de Sancy * 1605–1614 :
Henri, duc de Rohan Henri II de Rohan (21 August 157913 April 1638), Duke of Rohan and Prince of Léon, was a Breton-French soldier, writer and leader of the Huguenots. Early life Rohan was born at the Château de Blain (now a part of Blain, Loire-Atlantique), in ...
* 1614–1632 : François de Bassompierre, Marshal of France * 1632–1642 : César, marquis de Coislin * 1642–1643 : marquis de La Châtre * 1643–1647 : François de Bassompierre, Marshal of France * 1647–1657 : Charles de Schomberg, Marshal of France * 1657–1674 : Eugene Maurice, Count of Soissons * 1674–1710 :
Louis Auguste, Duke of Maine Louis-Auguste de Bourbon, duc du Maine (31 March 1670 – 14 May 1736) was an illegitimate son of Louis XIV and his maîtresse-en-titre, official mistress, Françoise-Athénaïs de Rochechouart, Marquise de Montespan, Madame de Montespan. The kin ...
* 1710–1755 :
Louis Auguste, Prince of Dombes Louis Auguste de Bourbon, Prince of Dombes (4 March 1700 in Palace of Versailles – 1 October 1755 in Palace of Fontainebleau) was a grandson of Louis XIV of France and of his ''maîtresse-en-titre'' Françoise-Athénaïs de Montespan. He w ...
* 1755–1762 :
Louis Charles, Count of Eu Louis Charles de Bourbon, Count of Eu (15 October 1701 – 13 July 1775) was a grandson of Louis XIV of France and his ''maîtresse-en-titre'' Madame de Montespan. He was the last member of the legitimised house of ''Maine branch of the House o ...
* 1762–1771 : Étienne François de Choiseul-Stainville, duc de Choiseul * 1771–1790 : Charles Philippe, Count of Artois, brother of
Louis XVI Louis XVI (Louis-Auguste; ; 23 August 1754 – 21 January 1793) was the last king of France before the fall of the monarchy during the French Revolution. The son of Louis, Dauphin of France (1729–1765), Louis, Dauphin of France (son and heir- ...


Gardes-Françaises

* 1661–1671 : Antoine, duc de Gramont * 1672–1692 : François d'Aubusson de La Feuillade * 1692–1704 : Louis François, duc de Boufflers * 1704–1717 : Antoine de Gramont, duc de Guiche * 1717–1741 : Louis Antoine Armand, duc de Gramont * 1741–1745 : Louis, duc de Gramont * 1745–1788 :
Louis Antoine de Gontaut Louis Antoine de Gontaut, 6th Duke of Biron (1700–1788) was Duke of Biron and a French military leader who served with distinction under Louis XV, and was made a Marshal of France in 1757. He was the fourth son of Charles-Armand de Gontaut ...
, duc de Biron


Colonels General of the Revolution

*
National Guard National guard is the name used by a wide variety of current and historical uniformed organizations in different countries. The original National Guard was formed during the French Revolution around a cadre of defectors from the French Guards. ...
:
Gilbert du Motier, Marquis de Lafayette Marie-Joseph Paul Yves Roch Gilbert du Motier de La Fayette, Marquis de La Fayette (; 6 September 1757 – 20 May 1834), known in the United States as Lafayette (), was a French military officer and politician who volunteered to join the Conti ...


Colonels General of the Napoleonic era

* Carabiniers à Cheval:
Louis Bonaparte Louis Bonaparte (born Luigi Buonaparte; 2 September 1778 – 25 July 1846) was a younger brother of Napoleon, 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 c ...
, king of Holland and Constable of the Empire *
Chasseurs à cheval ''Chasseur'' ( , ), a French term for "hunter", is the designation given to certain regiments of French and Belgian light infantry () or light cavalry () to denote troops trained for rapid action. History This branch of the French Army o ...
: Auguste Frédéric Louis Viesse de Marmont, then Emmanuel, comte de Grouchy * Chasseurs à Pied of the Imperial Guard: Jean-de-Dieu Soult, Duc de Dalmatie *
Cuirassier A cuirassier ( ; ; ) was a cavalryman equipped with a cuirass, sword, and pistols. Cuirassiers first appeared in mid-to-late 16th century Europe as a result of armoured cavalry, such as man-at-arms, men-at-arms and demi-lancers discarding their ...
s: Laurent, comte Gouvion-Saint-Cyr, then Augustin, comte Belliard *
Dragoon Dragoons were originally a class of mounted infantry, who used horses for mobility, but dismounted to fight on foot. From the early 17th century onward, dragoons were increasingly also employed as conventional cavalry and trained for combat wi ...
s: Louis, comte Baraguey d'Hilliers, then Étienne-Marie-Antoine Champion, Comte de Nansouty (1813-1814) *
Imperial Guard An imperial guard or palace guard is a special group of troops (or a member thereof) of an empire, typically closely associated directly with the emperor and/or empress. Usually these troops embody a more elite status than other imperial force ...
: Edouard Adolphe Casimir Joseph Mortier, then
Louis Gabriel Suchet Louis-Gabriel Suchet, duc d' Albuféra (; 2 March 1770 â€“ 3 January 1826), was a French Marshal of the Empire and one of the most successful commanders of the French Revolutionary and Napoleonic Wars. He is regarded as one of the greatest ...
* Grenadiers à pied of the Imperial Guard:
Louis Nicolas Davout Louis-Nicolas d'Avout (; 10 May 1770 – 1 June 1823), better known as Davout, 1st Prince of Eckmühl, 1st Duke of Auerstaedt, was a French military commander and Marshal of the Empire who served during both the French Revolutionary Wars and t ...
* Hussards: Jean Andoche Junot * Suisses:
Jean Lannes Jean Lannes, 1st Duke of Montebello, Prince of Siewierz (; 10 April 1769 – 31 May 1809), was a French military commander and a Marshal of the Empire who served during both the French Revolutionary and Napoleonic Wars. He was one of Napol ...
, duc de Montebello, then
Louis-Alexandre Berthier Louis-Alexandre Berthier, prince de Neuchâtel et Valangin, prince de Wagram (; 20 November 1753 – 1 June 1815) was a French military commander who served during the French Revolutionary Wars and the Napoleonic Wars. He was twice Minister of Wa ...
, Vice-Constable of the Empire,


Colonels General of the Restoration

* Royal Carabiniers:
Louis Antoine, Duke of Angoulême Louis Antoine of France, Duke of Angoulême (6 August 1775 – 3 June 1844) was the elder son of Charles X of France and the last Dauphin of France from 1824 to 1830. He was a ''petit-fils de France'' at birth, and was initially known as Lo ...
, eldest son of
Charles X Charles X may refer to: * Charles X of France (1757–1836) * Charles X Gustav (1622–1660), King of Sweden * Charles, Cardinal de Bourbon (1523–1590), recognized as Charles X of France but renounced the royal title See also * * King Charle ...
* Chevau-légers-lanciers: Charles Ferdinand, Duke of Berry, younger son of
Charles X Charles X may refer to: * Charles X of France (1757–1836) * Charles X Gustav (1622–1660), King of Sweden * Charles, Cardinal de Bourbon (1523–1590), recognized as Charles X of France but renounced the royal title See also * * King Charle ...
* Cuirassiers:
Louis Antoine, Duke of Angoulême Louis Antoine of France, Duke of Angoulême (6 August 1775 – 3 June 1844) was the elder son of Charles X of France and the last Dauphin of France from 1824 to 1830. He was a ''petit-fils de France'' at birth, and was initially known as Lo ...
*
Garde Nationale The National Guard () is a French military, gendarmerie, and police reserve force, active in its current form since 2016 but originally founded in 1789 during the French Revolution. It was founded as separate from the French Army and exis ...
: Charles Philippe, Count of Artois, brother of
Louis XVIII Louis XVIII (Louis Stanislas Xavier; 17 November 1755 â€“ 16 September 1824), known as the Desired (), was King of France from 1814 to 1824, except for a brief interruption during the Hundred Days in 1815. Before his reign, he spent 23 y ...
* Suisses: Henri, grandson of
Charles X Charles X may refer to: * Charles X of France (1757–1836) * Charles X Gustav (1622–1660), King of Sweden * Charles, Cardinal de Bourbon (1523–1590), recognized as Charles X of France but renounced the royal title See also * * King Charle ...


See also

*
Great Officers of the Crown of France The Great Officers of the Crown of France () were the most important officers of state in the French royal court during the ''Ancien Régime'' and Bourbon Restoration. They were appointed by the King of France, with all but the Keeper of the S ...


References

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External links


Great Officers of the Crown
French court titles Court titles in the Ancien Régime Military history of the Ancien Régime Military ranks of France