Général

Général

"Général" is the French word for General.

In France, Army generals are named after the type of unit they command. In ascending order there are two ranks :
* .
* .

Officers of the rank of "Général de Division" can receive different positions and styles ("rang et appellation") :
* .
* .

The appointment of "maréchal de France", wearing seven stars, is purely honorary.

History

The French army of the monarchy had several ranks of general officer:
* "Brigadier des armées" (Brigadier of the Armies): a rank in a grey area of seniority, conferred on certain Colonels who were in command of a brigade. These officers wore Colonel's uniform with a star on the shoulder straps. This rank was abolished in 1788.
* "Maréchal de camp" (Field Marshal): the first substantive rank of general. The "Maréchaux de camp" wore a special uniform, blue and red, with a single bar of gold lace, and in the late 18th century also received two stars on the shoulder straps. With the abolition of the rank of "Brigadier des armées" in 1788, it became the lowest general officer rank, but its insignia of two stars was unchanged. The rank was redesignated Brigade General in 1793 which retained the two star insignia. This explains why French generals' insignia starts with two stars.
* "Lieutenant général": the highest military rank. "Lieutenants généraux" wore the same uniform as the "Maréchaux de camp", but with two bars of gold lace, and in the late 18th century also received three stars on the shoulder straps.
* "Général": an appointment conferred on a "Lieutenant général" who was commander-in-chief of a campaign.
* "Maréchal de France": not a military rank, but a dignity of the Crown.

During the French Revolution, the ranks of "Maréchal de camp" and "Lieutenant général" were renamed "Général de brigade" and "Général de division", and the appointment of "Général" was renamed "Général en chef". In 1793, the dignity of "Maréchal de France" was abolished.

Napoléon Bonaparte reinstated the dignity of "Maréchal de France", now named "Maréchal d'Empire". In 1814, the ranks of "Général de brigade" and "Général de division" reverted to "Maréchal de camp" and "Lieutenant général", but were changed back again in 1848.

The Third Republic of the 1880s reorganised the ranks of "général":
* "Général de brigade", wearing two stars.
* "Général de division", wearing three stars.
* "Général de division commandant un corps d'armée" (General of Division commanding an Army Corps), an appointment conferred on certain "Généraux de division", wearing four stars. This appointment became the position and style ("rang et appellation") of "Général de corps d'armée" in 1936.
* "Général de division membre du conseil supérieur de la Guerre" (General of Division member of the Superior Council of War, a body of the Ministry of War which had the functions of a General Staff), wearing five stars.
* "Général de division commandant la place de Paris" (General of Division commanding the sector of Paris), wearing six stars

The experience of the First World War transformed the structure of the French Army. The Superior Council of War was abolished and an appointment of "Général de division commandant une armée" (General of Division commanding an Army) was created. This appointment became the position and style ("rang et appellation") of "Général d'armée" in 1936. The dignity of "Maréchal de France" was reinstated and given to the commanders-in-chief of the conflict, such as Joseph Joffre, Ferdinand Foch and Philippe Pétain.


Wikimedia Foundation. 2010.

Игры ⚽ Поможем написать реферат
Synonyms:

Look at other dictionaries:

  • General — es un rango militar. Se encuentra en la cima de la jerarquía castrense, sobre los oficiales superiores (comandante, teniente coronel, coronel), los oficiales (alférez, teniente, capitán; que son en la Armada alférez de fragata, alférez de navío y …   Wikipedia Español

  • General — General, Plural Generale oder Generäle (beide Formen sind korrekt), bezeichnet beim Militär einerseits den Sammelbegriff für die höchste Dienstgradgruppe, die Generalität, andererseits in den meisten Staaten den im Frieden höchsten Dienstgrad bei …   Deutsch Wikipedia

  • General — Gen er*al, a. [F. g[ e]n[ e]ral, fr. L. generalis. See {Genus}.] 1. Relating to a genus or kind; pertaining to a whole class or order; as, a general law of animal or vegetable economy. [1913 Webster] 2. Comprehending many species or individuals;… …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • General — Gen er*al, n. [F. g[ e]n[ e]ral. See {General}., a.] [1913 Webster] 1. The whole; the total; that which comprehends or relates to all, or the chief part; opposed to particular. [1913 Webster] In particulars our knowledge begins, and so spreads… …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • Generał — (pronounced IPA| [gɛ nɛraw] ) is the generic Polish language term for the rank of General. In narrow sense it is used to denote the rank of a Four star general introduced on August 15, 2002. It is currently the highest military rank of the Polish …   Wikipedia

  • General — General, höchste Rangklasse der Offiziere. Generalität: Gesamtheit der Generale. Der unterste Grad ist der Generalmajor, in Frankreich früher maréchal de camp, jetzt général de brigade, Brigadegeneral, meist Befehlshaber von Brigaden einer Waffe …   Meyers Großes Konversations-Lexikon

  • General Re — Отрасль услуги перестрахования Число сотрудников 2.500 Сайт …   Википедия

  • General [2] — General, ein Offizier, der mehr als 1 Regiment commandirt, in mehreren Stufen, die jedoch nicht in allen Staaten gleich bezeichnet werden; gewöhnl.: G.major (Maréchal de camp), G.lieutenant oder Feldmarschallieutenant; G. der Infanterie od.… …   Herders Conversations-Lexikon

  • Generál — Allgemeine Informationen Genre(s) Rock Gründung 1972 Auflösung 1979 Gründungsmitg …   Deutsch Wikipedia

  • General — General, 1) (Conus generalis), eine Art Kegelschnecke, gelblichbraun, mit weißen, abgesetzten Binden u. spitzigem Wirbel; 2) mehrere Spielarten von Nelken u. Tulpen; auch mit Zusätzen, wie: G. de Goute, G. Lentulus etc …   Pierer's Universal-Lexikon

Share the article and excerpts

Direct link
Do a right-click on the link above
and select “Copy Link”