Marshal in France is the highest military rank, which is considered the oldest in Europe. It is very honorable. He is treated with due respect. In this article we will talk about this military rank, as well as about its brightest representatives.
Features of a military rank
The rank of Marshal of France etymologically comes from the Old Germanic words meaning "servant" and "horse". The first marshals appeared in the Frankish tribes. At that time, they were subordinate to the stableman.
Over time, their importance has grown significantly. Imperial marshals appeared who monitored the condition of the monarch's horses. In 1060, the title of constable was established by King Henry I, which corresponded to the chief stableman. He was assisted by marshals. In 1185, the position of marshal in France was introduced to distinguish royal courtiers from vassals.
Growing Influence
Marshals become commanders-in-chief of the French army for the first time in 1191. Since then, they have performed administrative and disciplinary functions. Their main task at that time was to conduct military reviews and inspections. They areare responsible for ensuring the combat capability of individual units, setting up camps, protecting the civilian population from robberies and violence by soldiers.
In the 12th century, under King Philip II, the Marshal of France becomes the commander-in-chief of the royal troops, but only temporarily. Actively assigning this title begins in the XIII century under Louis IX.
Royal policy towards them is not to appoint to this position for life, in order to prevent the strengthening of the influence of individual clans and the transfer of the post by inheritance. At that time, the marshals themselves did not consider this position as one of the steps in the career ladder, although many of them came from petty nobility.
Leading the army
In 1627, Louis XIII abolishes the position of constable after the death of the Duke de Ledigiere, who becomes the last to hold this post. From that moment on, the rank of marshal becomes military. They are directly in charge of military campaigns and operations.
Under King Henry III, the States General - the highest class-representative institution - establishes that there should be four marshals in the country. However, later their number is increased by other monarchs. By the beginning of the 18th century, there were already about 20 marshals in the French army, and naval ones appeared among them.
In total, since 1185 in the history of France, this title has been awarded 338 times. The vast majority of marshals lived before the French Revolution - 256.
Chief Marshal
Besides this, there was a special rank of Chief Marshal of France. Itwas assigned to only one marshal, the most prominent. In fact, it corresponded to the generalissimo, remaining the highest military rank at that time.
In the entire history of the country, it was awarded only six times. These were the commanders Biron, Ledigier, Vilar, Turenne and Moritz of Saxony. During the July Monarchy, Marshal Soult received it. He became the last Grand Marshal in the history of France.
Rank in the 19th century
During the French Revolution, this title was abolished. It was restored by Napoleon in 1804, when he proclaimed himself emperor. After that, the republic ceased to exist.
At that time, the title testified to the high confidence on the part of the emperor. Marshals received cities, civilian departments, and in some cases even entire countries in control. Played an important role in diplomatic missions.
In total, during the First Empire, 26 military men received the title. The marshals of Napoleonic France became one of the most famous pleiads of military leaders in the entire history of the world.
This title was renewed again during the Restoration. The July Monarchy established that France could have 6 marshals in peacetime and up to 12 in wartime.
Current situation
In Republican France, the rank of marshal was not awarded from 1870 to 1914. It was believed to be associated with Napoleon III, which was an odious fact for the Third Republic. It was restored only in connection with the outbreak of the First World War. Currently in France, this rank is considered more of an honorary title than a direct military rank.sense of the word.
It is noteworthy that it can be assigned posthumously, unlike ranks. For example, of the four people who became marshals after World War II, only Alphonse Juin got it during his lifetime.
Insignia
The main insignia of a marshal is a blue baton. During the time of roy alty, it was decorated with golden bees and lilies. When Napoleon came to power, they were replaced by imperial eagles. Stars are currently being used.
There is also an insignia in the form of seven stars on the cap and shoulder straps.
Jean-Baptiste-Jules Bernadotte
One of the most famous names in the list of marshals of France is Jean-Baptiste-Jules Bernadotte, a participant in the Napoleonic and revolutionary wars. True, he became famous all over the world, after all, not for this. He became known as the founder of the royal dynasty in Sweden.
Bernadotte was born in the town of Pau in southwestern France in 1763. At the age of 17, he enlisted in an infantry regiment due to the difficult situation of his family. An excellent swordsman, Jean-Baptiste was respected among the authorities, in 1788 he received the rank of sergeant. He did not dream of an officer's rank, as he came from a low class.
Bernadotte made his career during the French Revolution. For two years he fought in the Army of the Rhine, having received the rank of brigadier general by 1794. In 1797, fate brought him together with Napoleon Bonaparte. They became friends, although later they often clashed.
In the marshals of France under Napoleon, he gained a reputation as one of the mosteminent military leaders. At the beginning of the 19th century, he held various government posts. In 1804, when the empire was proclaimed, Bernadotte became marshal. In 1805 he participated in the battle of Ulm, in which the Austrian army was completely defeated.
After the Peace of Tilsit, he received the post of governor of the Hanseatic cities. Being known as an experienced politician, he gained popularity among the local population. At the same time, his relationship with Napoleon became more and more strained. The main reason was his removal from command of large military units.
As a result, Bernadotte became so popular in Sweden that the council of state, assembled by the current monarch Charles XIII to determine a successor, unanimously offered him the crown. The only condition was the adoption of Lutheranism. Behind this decision was the desire of the Swedes to please Napoleon. Bernadotte agreed, in 1810 he was dismissed from service. Already in November, he was officially adopted by the king.
From that moment on, the former marshal of France was the regent, and in fact - the direct ruler of Sweden. He ascended the throne in 1818 under the name of Charles XIV Johan. It is noteworthy that at the head of the country he was noted for his anti-Napoleonic policy, breaking off relations with France in 1812 for the sake of peace with Russia.
In 1813-1814, Bernadotte fought against his compatriots at the head of the Swedish troops on the side of the anti-Napoleonic coalition. In domestic politics, he was remembered for his reforms in agriculture and education, he was engaged in restoring the prestige of the country and strengthening its economicprovisions.
In 1844, the king died at the age of 81. The Bernadotte dynasty still rules Sweden.
Louis Alexandre Berthier
Berthier is another famous Napoleonic marshal. He hails from Versailles, where he was born in 1753. He built a dizzying military career, becoming the chief of staff of Napoleon I in 1799.
Historians note the contribution of Marshal Berthier of France to almost all military campaigns of the emperor until 1814. His special merit is the forced march of nine giant corps from the English Channel to the Austrian plains. Its result was the legendary Battle of Austerlitz. Napoleon highly appreciated his abilities. Recalling the defeat at Waterloo, he claimed that he would never have lost if Berthier had been the chief of staff then.
Marshal served the emperor inseparably for about 20 years. When the monarch was deprived of the throne, Berthier did not suffer this blow. Under unclear circumstances, he fell out of a window on the third floor. Researchers do not rule out suicide.
Louis Nicolas Davout
Davout went down in history as the "Iron Marshal" of France. According to official historiography, this was the only Napoleonic commander who did not lose a single battle. He was born in Burgundy in 1770. He was educated at a military school in Brienne. Started serving in the cavalry.
During the revolution, he commanded a battalion of the Northern Army under General Dumouriez. When he ordered to goagainst revolutionary Paris, Davout ordered to arrest the chief and even shoot him, but the general fled.
Davout was on the side of the Girondins, denying the revolutionary terror. In 1793, he retired from the rank of brigadier general. Returned to service after the Thermidorian Coup.
He received the title of marshal in 1805. Participated in the battle of Austerlitz and the Ulm operation. During the Patriotic War of 1812, the "iron marshal" of France fought near Smolensk. He was shell-shocked at Borodino.
During the first Restoration, he was the only one who did not renounce Napoleon. Marshal of France received the post of Minister of War when Bonaparte returned from Elba.
After the defeat at the Battle of Waterloo, he demanded a full amnesty for all those involved in Napoleon's Restoration. Otherwise, he threatened to continue resistance. The allies failed to convince him. They were forced to accept his terms.
He died in Paris of pulmonary tuberculosis in 1823.
Joachim Murat
Murat is known for being married to the Emperor's sister Caroline Bonaparte. He himself was born in southwestern France in 1767. For outstanding bravery and military successes, Napoleon granted him the Kingdom of Naples in 1808.
During the Patriotic War of 1812, Marshal Murat of France commanded troops in Germany, at the beginning of 1813 he voluntarily left his post. In several battles of that campaign he participated in the rank of marshal, returning to his kingdomafter the defeat at the Battle of Leipzig.
In early 1814, unexpectedly for many, he took the side of Napoleon's opponents. After the triumphant return of the emperor, Murat tried to swear allegiance to him again, but the monarch refused his services. This failed attempt cost him the Neapolitan crown.
In 1815 he was arrested. According to investigators, he tried to regain power during a coup d'état. Shot by order of the court.
Henri Philippe Pétain
Peten is one of the most famous French military leaders at the turn of the 19th and 20th centuries. He was born in the northwest of the country in 1856. Peten received the title of Marshal of France in 1918 after the end of World War I.
Despite his venerable age (he was 62 years old), he was not going to leave the political arena. In 1940, after the occupation of France by German troops, he advocated a truce with Hitler, becoming prime minister of an authoritarian collaborationist government. As a result, he was proclaimed head of the French state and endowed with dictatorial powers. His authority was recognized by most world powers, including the Soviet Union and the United States. At first, he headed the government himself, but then transferred these powers by appointing Pierre Laval as prime minister.
At the end of the summer of 1944, Pétain, along with the government, was evacuated to Germany when the Allied troops approached. There he remained until the spring of 1945, when he was captured and sent to Paris.
He was found guilty of war crimes andhigh treason, sentenced to death. The head of the Provisional Government, de Gaulle, pardoned the 89-year-old Pétain, replacing the execution with life imprisonment. The marshal spent the last years of his life on the island of Ye, where he was buried in 1951 at the age of 95.
