field marshal

A field marshal is a military officer rank.

Today it is the highest rank in the armies in which it is used, one step above a general or colonel-general. Historically, however, several armies used field marshal as a divisional command rank, notably Spain, Mexico, Portugal and Brazil (Spanish: mariscal de campo, Portuguese: marechal-de-campo). In France it was formerly a brigade command rank.

The origin of field marshals dates to the early Middle Ages, originally meaning the keeper of the King's horses (mare scalci) from the time of the early Frankish Kings.

Some nations use the title of marshal instead. The Air Force equivalent in the Commonwealth is Marshal of the Air Force (not to be confused with air marshal). The corresponding naval ranks are normally fleet admiral, grand admiral or admiral of the fleet.

During Imperial rule in China, successful generals were given the title of field marshal (元帥 Yuan Shuai) or grand field marshal (大元帥 da yuan shuai). One of the most famous of these generals was Yue Fei from the Song Dynasty.

Until the end of World War II, Japan also bestowed the honorary title of field marshal (元帥 gensui) on successful generals and admirals; they would, however, retain their ranks of general and admiral.

Arthur Wellesley, 1st Duke of Wellington was a field marshal in twelve different armies. His twelve field marshal batons are on display in Apsley House.

In the French army of the Ancien Régime, the normal brigade command rank was field marshal (maréchal de camp). In 1793, during the French Revolution, the rank of field marshal was replaced by the rank of brigade general. The rank insignia of field marshal was two stars (one star being used for a senior colonel rank). The French field marshal rank was below lieutenant-general, which in 1793 became divisional-general. In the title maréchal de camp and the English "field marshal" there is an etymological confusion in the French camp between the English words "camp" and "field". The French rank of field marshal should not be confused with the rank of Marshal of France, which was the highest rank of the Ancien Régime and is in effect the highest French rank today (although in theory it is not an actual rank but a "state dignity").

The United States has never used the rank of field marshal because George Washington only held the rank of general, and it was therefore considered inappropriate to have a higher rank. Instead, two variations on "general" are used: General of the Army and, in very rare cases, General of the Armies of the United States (the latter rank was invented for John Pershing in 1919 in recognition of his performance as the commander of the American Expeditionary Force). Confusingly, the American General MacArthur was a field marshal, but only in the Philippines.

Field marshal ranks

• Field Marshal (Australia)
• Feldmarschall (Literally "Field Marshal") (Austria, Austrian-Hungarian Monarchy)
• Generalfeldmarschall (Literally "General Field Marshal") (Germany)
• Field Marshal (Egypt)
• Field Marshal (Finland)
• Field Marshal; Marshal of France (France)
• Field Marshal (India)
• Field Marshal (Iran)
• Field Marshal (Italy)
• Field Marshal (Malaysia)
• Field Marshal (New Zealand)
• Field Marshal (Pakistan)
• Field Marshal (Philippines)
• Field Marshal (Poland)
• Field Marshal (Russia)
• Field Marshal (South Africa)
• Field Marshal (Soviet Union)
• Field Marshal (Uganda)
• Mareşal (Turkey)
• Field Marshal (United Kingdom)

Other meanings

• "Marshal" and "Marshall" are both common surnames, held by such notable figures as William Marshal, 1st Earl of Pembroke, and George C. Marshall, the United States Army Chief of Staff during World War II.
• A marshal is also the name for some U.S. law enforcement officers, such as members of the United States Marshals Service, or sky marshals who serve as undercover law enforcement on board commercial aircraft.
• In the Royal Air Force and other air forces which use their rank system, air vice-marshal, air marshal, air chief marshal and Marshal of the Air Force are equivalent ranks to major-general, lieutenant-general, general and field marshal respectively.
• The Field Marshall is a model of agricultural tractor. The badge shows a marshal's baton held by an arm.
• Field Marshall is an introductory wargame published by Jedko Games in 1975.

See also

• List of Field Marshals
• Grand Marshal
• Generalissimus/Generalissimo

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