Colonel (abbreviated as Col., Col or COL) is a senior military officer rank used in many countries. It is also used in some

police The police are a constituted body of persons empowered by a state, with the aim to enforce the law, to ensure the safety, health and possessions of citizens, and to prevent crime and civil disorder. Their lawful powers include arrest a ...

forces and paramilitary organizations. In the 17th, 18th and 19th centuries, a colonel was typically in charge of a

regiment A regiment is a military unit. Its role and size varies markedly, depending on the country, service and/or a specialisation. In Medieval Europe, the term "regiment" denoted any large body of front-line soldiers, recruited or conscripted ...

in an

army An army (from Old French ''armee'', itself derived from the Latin verb ''armāre'', meaning "to arm", and related to the Latin noun ''arma'', meaning "arms" or "weapons"), ground force or land force is a fighting force that fights primarily on ...

. Modern usage varies greatly, and in some cases, the term is used as an honorific title that may have no direct relationship to military service. The rank of colonel is typically above the rank of lieutenant colonel. The rank above colonel is typically called brigadier, brigade general or

brigadier 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 t ...

. In some smaller military forces, such as those of

Monaco Monaco (; ), officially the Principality of Monaco (french: Principauté de Monaco; Ligurian: ; oc, Principat de Mónegue), is a sovereign ''Sovereign'' is a title which can be applied to the highest leader in various categories. The word ...

or the Vatican, colonel is the highest rank. Equivalent naval ranks may be called captain or ship-of-the-line captain. In the Commonwealth's air force ranking system, the equivalent rank is

group captain Group captain is a senior commissioned rank in the Royal Air Force, where it originated, as well as the air forces of many countries that have historical British influence. It is sometimes used as the English translation of an equivalent rank i ...

History and origins

By the end of the late medieval period, a group of "companies" was referred to as a "column" of an army. According to Raymond Oliver, around 1500, the Spanish began explicitly reorganizing part of their army into 20 ''colunelas'' or columns of approximately 1000-1250 soldiers. Each ''colunela'' was commanded by a ''cabo de colunela'' or column head. Because they were crown units, the units were also confusingly called ''coronelas,'' and their commanders ''coronels.'' Evidence of this can be seen when Gonzalo Fernández de Córdoba, nicknamed "the Great Captain," divided his armies in ''coronelías'' each led by a ''coronel'' (colonel) in 1508.Los tercios españoles. La batalla de Pavía
at militar.org.ua (in Spanish, unspecified authorship) Later in the 16th century, the French army adopted this organizational structure, renaming ''colunelas'' regiments. On the other hand, they simply Gallicized ''colunela'' to the French ''colonel'' and pronounced it as written. The English then copied the unit and rank from the French. However, for reasons unknown, the English adopted the Spanish pronunciation of ''coronel,'' and after several decades of use shortened it to its current two-syllable pronuciation "kernel." ''Colonel'' is linked to the word ''column'' (from

Latin Latin (, or , ) is a classical language belonging to the 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 the power ...

: ''columna''; Italian: ''colonna'';

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 ...

: ''colonne'') in a similar way that ''brigadier'' is linked to ''brigade'', although in English this relationship is not immediately obvious. With the shift from primarily mercenary to primarily national armies in the course of the 17th century, a colonel (normally a member of the aristocracy) became a holder (German ''Inhaber'') or proprietor of a military contract with a sovereign. The colonel purchased the regimental contract—the right to hold the regiment—from the previous holder of that right or directly from the sovereign when a new regiment was formed or an incumbent was killed. As the office of colonel became an established practice, the colonel became the senior captain in a group of companies that were all sworn to observe his personal authority—to be ruled or regimented by him. This regiment, or governance, was to some extent embodied in a contract and set of written rules, also referred to as the colonel's regiment or standing regulation(s). By extension, the group of companies subject to a colonel's regiment (in the foregoing sense) came to be referred to as his

(in the modern sense) as well. In French usage of this period, the senior colonel in the army or, in a field force, the senior military contractor, was the colonel general and, in the absence of the sovereign or his designate, the colonel general might serve as the commander of a force. The position, however, was primarily contractual and it became progressively more of a functionless sinecure. (The head of a single

or demi-brigade would be called a ' mestre de camp' or, after the Revolution, a ' chef de brigade'.) By the late 19th century, colonel was a professional

military rank Military ranks are a system of hierarchy, hierarchical relationships, within armed forces, police, intelligence agencies or other institutions organized along military lines. The military rank system defines dominance, authority, and responsibi ...

though still held typically by an officer in command of a

or equivalent unit. Along with other ranks, it has become progressively more a matter of ranked duties, qualifications and experience and of corresponding titles and pay scale than of functional office in a particular organization. As European military influence expanded throughout the world, the rank of colonel became adopted by nearly every nation (albeit under a variety of names). With the rise of

communism Communism (from Latin la, communis, lit=common, universal, label=none) is a far-left sociopolitical, philosophical, and economic ideology and current within the socialist movement whose goal is the establishment of a communist society ...

, some of the large communist militaries saw fit to expand the colonel rank into several grades, resulting in the unique senior colonel rank, which was found and is still used in such nations as China and

North Korea North Korea, officially the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK), is a country in East Asia. It constitutes the northern half of the Korean Peninsula and shares borders with China and Russia to the north, at the Yalu (Amnok) and ...

Colonel-in-chief

In many modern armies, the regiment has more importance as a ceremonial unit or a focus of members' loyalty than as an actual battle formation. Troops tend to be deployed in battalions (commanded by a lieutenant colonel) as a more convenient size of military unit and, as such, colonels have tended to have a higher profile in specialist and command roles than as actual commanders of regiments. However, in Commonwealth armies, the position of the colonel as the figurehead of a regiment is maintained in the honorary role of "colonel-in-chief", usually held by a member of the royal family, the nobility, or a retired senior military officer. The colonel-in-chief wears a colonel's uniform and encourages the members of the regiment, but takes no active part in the actual command structure or in any operational duties.

Colonel of the Regiment

The title Colonel of the Regiment (to distinguish it from the military rank of colonel) continues to be used in the modern British Army. The ceremonial position is often conferred on retired general officers, brigadiers or colonels who have a close link to a particular regiment. Non-military personnel, usually for positions within the Army Reserve may also be appointed to the ceremonial position. When attending functions as "Colonel of the Regiment", the titleholder wears the regimental uniform with rank insignia of (full) colonel, regardless of their official rank. A member of the Royal Family is known as a Royal Colonel. A Colonel of the Regiment is expected to work closely with a regiment and its Regimental Association.

Colonel by country

* Colonel (Canada) * Colonel (Eastern Europe) * Colonel (Germanic languages) * Colonel (India) * Colonel (Pakistan) * Colonel (Sri Lanka) * Colonel (United Kingdom) * Colonel (United States)

Insignia

Insignia of army colonels

File:ALB-Army-OF-5.svg, File:Angola-Army-OF-5.svg, File:CR-EA.png, File:Australian Army OF-5.svg, Fil

File:Bangladesh-army-OF-5.svg, File:Post-Soviet-Army-OF-5.svg, File:Army-BEL-OF-05.svg, File:CnelEB.svg, File:Bosnia_and_Herzegovina_Brigadier_Insignia.svg, File:Coronel-V.gif, File:Rank insignia of Полковник of the Bulgarian Army.png, Image:Cdn-Army-Col(OF-5)-2014.svg, File:Cape_Verde-army-OF-5.svg, File:coronelrch.jpg, File:PLA Colonel.svg, File:Rank insignia of coronel of the Colombian Army.svg, File:Cuba-Army-OF-5.svg, File:CzArmy_2011_OF5-Plukovnik_shoulder.svg, File:Rank insignia of oberst of the Royal Danish Army.svg, File:Capona de Coronel Ejercito Nacional.svg, File:14.ECA-COL.svg, File:El-Salvador-Army-OF-5.svg, File:12._EGLF-COL.svg, Image:Eversti kauluslaatta.svg, File:Army-FRA-OF-05.svg, File:Georgia Army OF-6.png, File:HD H 53 Oberst ABCAbw.svg, Image:Army-GRE-OF-05.svg, File:Guatemala-army-OF-5.svg, Guyana_Defence_Force_(GDF)_Colonel_rank_insignia.svg, {{center, Guyana Defense Force, Guayana File:HON-army-OF-5.svg, {{center, Honduras
(''coronel'') File:Rank Army Hungary OF-05.svg, {{center,

Hungary Hungary ( hu, Magyarország ) is a landlocked country in Central Europe. Spanning of the Carpathian Basin, it is bordered by Slovakia to the north, Ukraine to the northeast, Romania to the east and southeast, Serbia to the south, Croa ...

(''ezredes'') Colonel_of_the_Indian_Army.svg, {{center,

India India, officially the Republic of India ( Hindi: ), is a country in South Asia. It is the seventh-largest country by area, the second-most populous country, and the most populous democracy in the world. Bounded by the Indian Ocean on the ...

File:18-TNI Army-COL.svg, {{center,

Indonesia Indonesia, officially the Republic of Indonesia, is a country in Southeast Asia and Oceania between the Indian and Pacific oceans. It consists of over 17,000 islands, including Sumatra, Java, Sulawesi, and parts of Borneo and New Guine ...

File:16-_Sarhang-IRGC.png, {{center,

Iran Iran, officially the Islamic Republic of Iran, and also called Persia, is a country located in Western Asia. It is bordered by Iraq and Turkey to the west, by Azerbaijan and Armenia to the northwest, by the Caspian Sea and Turkm ...

(''sarhang'') Image:IE-Army-OF5.png, {{center,

Ireland Ireland ( ; ga, Éire ; Ulster Scots dialect, Ulster-Scots: ) is an island in the Atlantic Ocean, North Atlantic Ocean, in Northwestern Europe, north-western Europe. It is separated from Great Britain to its east by the North Channel (Grea ...

IDF aluf mishne.svg, {{center,

Israel Israel (; he, יִשְׂרָאֵל, ; ar, إِسْرَائِيل, ), officially the State of Israel ( he, מְדִינַת יִשְׂרָאֵל, label=none, translit=Medīnat Yīsrāʾēl; ), is a country in Western Asia. It is situated ...

Image:IT-Army-OF5b.svg, {{center,

Italy Italy ( it, Italia ), officially the Italian Republic, ) or the Republic of Italy, is a country in Southern Europe. It is located in the middle of the Mediterranean Sea, and its territory largely coincides with the homonymous geographical ...

(''colonnello'') File:Mexico_army_OF5.svg, {{center,

Mexico Mexico ( Spanish: México), officially the United Mexican States, is a country in the southern portion of North America. It is bordered to the north by the United States; to the south and west by the Pacific Ocean; to the southeast by Guate ...

(''coronel'') Image:Monaco-army-OF-5.svg, {{center,

(''colonel'') File:Mongolian Army-COL-parade.svg, {{center,

Mongolia Mongolia; Mongolian script: , , ; lit. "Mongol Nation" or "State of Mongolia" () is a landlocked country in East Asia, bordered by Russia to the north and China to the south. It covers an area of , with a population of just 3.3 millio ...

(''Хурандаа'') File:15-Moroccan_Army-COL.svg, {{center,

Morocco Morocco (),, ) officially the Kingdom of Morocco, is the westernmost country in the Maghreb region of North Africa. It overlooks the Mediterranean Sea to the north and the Atlantic Ocean to the west, and has land borders with Algeria ...

(''عقيد'') File:Mozambique-Army-OF-5.svg, {{center,

Mozambique Mozambique (), officially the Republic of Mozambique ( pt, Moçambique or , ; ny, Mozambiki; sw, Msumbiji; ts, Muzambhiki), is a country located in southeastern Africa bordered by the Indian Ocean to the east, Tanzania to the north, Mala ...

(''coronel'') Image:Nl-landmacht-kolonel.svg, {{center,

Netherlands ) , anthem = ( en, "William of Nassau") , image_map = , map_caption = , subdivision_type = Sovereign state , subdivision_name = Kingdom of the Netherlands , established_title = Before independence , established_date = Spanish Netherl ...

(''kolonel'') File:13-Nicaragua_Army-COL.svg, {{center,

Nicaragua Nicaragua (; ), officially the Republic of Nicaragua (), is the largest Sovereign state, country in Central America, bordered by Honduras to the north, the Caribbean Sea, Caribbean to the east, Costa Rica to the south, and the Pacific Ocean to ...

(''coronel'') File:Polkovnik-arm.png, {{center,

North Macedonia North Macedonia, ; sq, Maqedonia e Veriut, (Macedonia before February 2019), officially the Republic of North Macedonia,, is a country in Southeast Europe. It gained independence in 1991 as one of the successor states of Socialist Feder ...

(полковник, ''polkovnik'') File:Army-NOR-OF-05.svg, {{center,

Norway Norway, officially the Kingdom of Norway, is a Nordic country in Northern Europe, the mainland territory of which comprises the western and northernmost portion of the Scandinavian Peninsula. The remote Arctic island of Jan Mayen and t ...

(''oberst'') File:OF-5 Pakistan Army.svg, {{center,

Pakistan Pakistan ( ur, ), officially the Islamic Republic of Pakistan ( ur, , label=none), is a country in South Asia. It is the world's List of countries and dependencies by population, fifth-most populous country, with a population of almost 24 ...

File:Paraguay-Army-OF-5.svg, {{center,

Paraguay Paraguay (; ), officially the Republic of Paraguay ( es, República del Paraguay, links=no; gn, Tavakuairetã Paraguái, links=si), is a landlocked country in South America. It is bordered by Argentina to the south and southwest, Brazil to th ...

(''coronel'') File:EP_CNEL.png, {{center,

Peru , image_flag = Flag of Peru.svg , image_coat = Escudo nacional del Perú.svg , other_symbol = Great Seal of the State , other_symbol_type = Seal (emblem), National seal , national_motto = "Fi ...

(''coronel'') File:PA COL Svc.svg, {{center,

Philippines The Philippines (; fil, Pilipinas, links=no), officially the Republic of the Philippines ( fil, Republika ng Pilipinas, links=no), * bik, Republika kan Filipinas * ceb, Republika sa Pilipinas * cbk, República de Filipinas * hil, Republ ...

(''Lakan/Coronel'') Image:Rank insignia of pułkownik of the Army of Poland.svg, {{center,

Poland Poland, officially the Republic of Poland, , is a country in Central Europe. Poland is divided into Voivodeships of Poland, sixteen voivodeships and is the fifth most populous member state of the European Union (EU), with over 38 mill ...

('' pułkownik'') Image:18 - Coronel.svg, {{center,

Portugal Portugal, officially the Portuguese Republic, In recognized minority languages of Portugal: :* mwl, República Pertuesa is a country located on the Iberian Peninsula, in Southwestern Europe, and whose territory also includes the Macaronesian ...

(''coronel'') File:RO-Army-OF5.png, {{center,

Romania Romania ( ; ro, România ) is a country located at the crossroads of Central, Eastern, and Southeastern Europe. It borders Bulgaria to the south, Ukraine to the north, Hungary to the west, Serbia to the southwest, Moldova to the east, a ...

File:Russia-Army-OF-5-2010.svg, {{center,

Russia Russia (, , ), or the Russian Federation, is a transcontinental country spanning Eastern Europe and Northern Asia. It is the largest country in the world, with its internationally recognised territory covering , and encompassing one-eigh ...

(''polkovnik / Полковник'') File:14-Serbian_Army-COL.svg, {{center,

Serbia Serbia (, ; Serbian: , , ), officially the Republic of Serbia (Serbian: , , ), is a landlocked country in Southeastern and Central Europe, situated at the crossroads of the Pannonian Basin and the Balkans. It shares land borders with Hung ...

(''pukovnik'') 15.SKA-COL.svg, {{center,

South Korea South Korea, officially the Republic of Korea (ROK), is a country in East Asia, constituting the southern part of the Korea, Korean Peninsula and sharing a Korean Demilitarized Zone, land border with North Korea. Its western border is formed ...

File:Spain-Army-OF-5.svg, {{center,

Spain , image_flag = Bandera de España.svg , image_coat = Escudo de España (mazonado).svg , national_motto = '' Plus ultra'' ( Latin)(English: "Further Beyond") , national_anthem = (English: "Royal March") , ...

(''coronel'') File:SAA-OF-5.svg, {{center,

South Africa South Africa, officially the Republic of South Africa (RSA), is the southernmost country in Africa. It is bounded to the south by of coastline that stretch along the South Atlantic and Indian Oceans; to the north by the neighbouring count ...

File:Syria-Aqid.jpg, {{center, Syria
(عقيد) File:Sri Lanka-army-OF-5.svg, {{center,

Sri Lanka Sri Lanka (, ; si, ශ්‍රී ලංකා, Śrī Laṅkā, translit-std=ISO (); ta, இலங்கை, Ilaṅkai, translit-std=ISO ()), formerly known as Ceylon and officially the Democratic Socialist Republic of Sri Lanka, is an ...

File:SWE-överste.svg, {{center, Sweden
( Överste) File:Taiwan-army-OF-5.svg, {{center,

Taiwan Taiwan, officially the Republic of China (ROC), is a country in East Asia, at the junction of the East and South China Seas in the northwestern Pacific Ocean, with the People's Republic of China (PRC) to the northwest, Japan to the northe ...

('' shang xiao'') File:RTA OF-5 (Colonel).svg, {{center,

Thailand Thailand ( ), historically known as Siam () and officially the Kingdom of Thailand, is a country in Southeast Asia, located at the centre of the Indochinese Peninsula, spanning , with a population of almost 70 million. The country is b ...

File:Turkey-army-OF-5.svg, {{center,

Turkey Turkey ( tr, Türkiye ), officially the Republic of Türkiye ( tr, Türkiye Cumhuriyeti, links=no ), is a list of transcontinental countries, transcontinental country located mainly on the Anatolia, Anatolian Peninsula in Western Asia, with ...

(''albay'') File:UA shoulder mark 17.svg, {{center,

Ukraine Ukraine ( uk, Україна, Ukraïna, ) is a country in Eastern Europe. It is the second-largest European country after Russia, which it borders to the east and northeast. Ukraine covers approximately . Prior to the ongoing Russian invas ...

(''polkovnik/Полковник'') File:British Army OF-5.svg, {{center,

United Kingdom The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, commonly known as the United Kingdom (UK) or Britain, is a country in Europe, off the north-western coast of the European mainland, continental mainland. It comprises England, Scotlan ...

File:US Army O6 (Army greens).svg, {{center,

United States The United States of America (U.S.A. or USA), commonly known as the United States (U.S. or US) or America, is a country primarily located in North America. It consists of 50 U.S. state, states, a Washington, D.C., federal district, five ma ...

File:CNELEJB-GNB.png, {{center,

Venezuela Venezuela (; ), officially the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela ( es, link=no, República Bolivariana de Venezuela), is a country on the northern coast of South America, consisting of a continental landmass and many islands and islets in ...

(''coronel'')

Insignia of air force colonels

File:BE-Air Force-OF5.svg, {{center, Belgium File:Coronel FAB V.jpg, {{center,

Brazil Brazil ( pt, Brasil; ), officially the Federative Republic of Brazil (Portuguese: ), is the largest country in both South America and Latin America. At and with over 217 million people, Brazil is the world's fifth-largest country by area ...

(''coronel'') File:Canadian RCAF OF-5.svg, {{center,

Canada Canada is a country in North America. Its ten provinces and three territories extend from the Atlantic Ocean to the Pacific Ocean and northward into the Arctic Ocean, covering over , making it the world's second-largest country by tota ...

File:Fach cav.gif, {{center, Chile (''coronel'') File:RDAF Col.svg, {{center, Denmark (''oberst'') File:French Air Force-colonel.svg, {{center, France File:Georgia Air Force OF-6.png, {{center, Georgia (პოლკოვნიკი, '' polkovnik'') File:Luftwaffe-271-Oberst.png, {{center, Germany (''oberst'') File:18-TNI Navy-CAPT.svg, {{center, Indonesia (''kolonel'') File:IT-Airforce-OF-5.png, {{center, Italy (''colonnello'') File:15.SKAF-COL.svg, {{center,

File:Nl-luchtmacht-kolonel.svg, {{center, Netherlands (''kolonel'') File:PAF COL Svc.svg, {{center, Philippines
(''Lakan/Coronel'') File:Rank insignia of pułkownik of the Air Force of Poland.svg, {{center, Poland ('' pułkownik'') File:Cor t.jpg, {{center, Portugal (''coronel'') File:Russia-Airforce-OF-5-2010.svg, {{center, Russia ('' polkovnik'') File:14-Serbian Air Force-COL.svg, {{center, Serbia (''pukovnik'') File:Cor-ea.svg, {{center, Spain (''coronel'') File:SWE-Airforce-överste.png, {{center, Sweden (''Överste'') File:Taiwan-airforce-OF-5.svg, {{center,

File:US Air Force O6 shoulderboard.svg, {{center, United States File:6-CNELAMB.png, {{center,

Insignia of naval infantry colonels

File:18-TNI Air Force-COL.svg, {{center, Indonesia File:IDF Navy aluf mishne.png, {{center, Israel File:PHIL ARMY COL WOODLAND.svg, {{center, Philippines ROKMC-OF-5.svg, {{center,

File:Taiwan-Marine-OF-5.svg, {{center,

File:British Royal Marines OF-5.svg, {{center, United Kingdom US Marine O6 shoulderboard vertical.svg, {{center, United States

Insignia of colonels of other services

File:US Space-force O6 (interim).svg, {{center,

United States Space Force The United States Space Force (USSF) is the Space force, space service branch of the United States Armed Forces, U.S. Armed Forces, one of the eight Uniformed services of the United States, U.S. uniformed services, and the world's only inde ...

Colonel as highest-ranking officer

Some military forces have a colonel as their highest-ranking officer, with no 'general' ranks, and no superior authority (except, perhaps, the head of state as a titular commander-in-chief) other than the respective national government. Examples include the following (arranged alphabetically by country name): * Antigua and Barbuda (170 personnel) * Costa Rica (about 8,000 personnel) *

Iceland Iceland ( is, Ísland; ) is a Nordic island country in the North Atlantic Ocean and in the Arctic Ocean. Iceland is the most sparsely populated country in Europe. Iceland's capital and largest city is Reykjavík, which (along with its ...

(100 personnel, employed only for peacekeeping duties) *

Libya Libya (; ar, ليبيا, Lībiyā), officially the State of Libya ( ar, دولة ليبيا, Dawlat Lībiyā), is a country in the Maghreb region in North Africa. It is bordered by the Mediterranean Sea to the north, Egypt to the east, Su ...

(commands all the Armed Forces – Muammar Gaddafi until 2011) *

(two branches, with a total of about 250 personnel) * Suriname (1,800 personnel) (up to 19 June 2020) *

Vatican City Vatican City (), officially the Vatican City State ( it, Stato della Città del Vaticano; la, Status Civitatis Vaticanae),—' * german: Vatikanstadt, cf. '—' (in Austria: ') * pl, Miasto Watykańskie, cf. '—' * pt, Cidade do Vati ...

(110 personnel – the Swiss Guard) {, class="wikitable" style="text-align: center" , - ! colspan="6", Rank insignia for a colonel in several nations which have no higher military rank , - ! rowspan=2 , Iceland ! colspan=2 , Monaco ! rowspan=2 , Vatican City , - ! Colonel CCP !! Colonel

CSP CSP may refer to: Education * College Student Personnel, an academic discipline * Commonwealth Supported Place, a category in Australian education * Concordia University (Saint Paul, Minnesota), US Organizations * Caledonian Steam Packet Compa ...

, - ,

Rank insignia of Oberst (OF-5) Pontifical Swiss Guard

Other uses of colonel ranks

{{Further, Colonel (disambiguation) The term ''colonel'' is also used as a title for auctioneers in the United States; there are a variety of theories or folk etymologies to explain the use of the term.{{cite book, url=https://books.google.com/books?id=7p9HAQAAIAAJ&q=auctioneer+colonel, title=The auction companion, first1=Daniel J., last1=Leab, first2=Katharine Kyes, last2=Leab, date=29 December 1981, publisher=Harper & Row, isbn=9780060125561, via=Google Books One of these is the claim that during the

American Civil War The American Civil War (April 12, 1861 – May 26, 1865; also known by other names) was a civil war in the United States. It was fought between the Union ("the North") and the Confederacy ("the South"), the latter formed by state ...

goods seized by armies were sold at auction by the colonel of the division.{{Citation , last1 = Doyle , first1 = Robert A. , last2 = Baska , first2 = Steve , title = History of Auctions: From ancient Rome to todays high-tech auctions , journal = Auctioneer , date = November 2002 , access-date = 2008-06-22 , url = http://www.auctioneersfoundation.org/news_detail.php?id=5094 , archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20080517071614/http://auctioneersfoundation.org/news_detail.php?id=5094 , archive-date = May 17, 2008 Kentucky colonel is the highest title of honor bestowed by the Commonwealth of Kentucky. Commissions for Kentucky colonels are given by the Governor and the Secretary of State to individuals in recognition of noteworthy accomplishments and outstanding service to a community, state or the nation. The sitting governor of the Commonwealth of Kentucky bestows the honor of a colonel's Commission, by issuance of letters patent. Perhaps the best known Kentucky colonel is Harland Sanders of '' Kentucky Fried Chicken'' fame. The rank of colonel is also used by some police forces and paramilitary organizations.

References

{{reflist