{{Short description|Military rank in France}} {{Multiple issues| {{confusing|date=March 2019}} {{refimprove|date=July 2021}} {{Rough translation|fr|date=June 2024}} }} {{Infobox military rank | name = Major | native_name = {{lang|fr|Major}} | image = {{nobreak| [[File:Army-FRA-OR-09a.svg|50px]] [[File:France-Navy-OR-9b Sleeve.svg|50px]] [[File:French Air Force-major.svg|50px]]}} | image_size = | alt = | caption = French army, navy and air force insignia | image2 = | image_size2 = | alt2 = | caption2 = | image3 = | image_size3 = | alt3 = | caption3 = | country = {{flag|France}}<br />''[[#Major in other countries|See others]]'' | service branch = Armed Forces | abbreviation = | rank group = [[Non-commissioned officer]] | rank = | NATO rank = OR-9 | Non-NATO rank = | pay grade = | formation = 1972 | abolished = | higher rank = | lower rank = {{lang|fr|[[Adjudant-chef]]}} {{small|(army & air force)}}<br />{{lang|fr|[[Master (naval)#France|Maître principal]]}} {{small|(navy)}} | equivalents = | history = [[Sergeant major#France|Sergeant major]] }}
'''{{lang|fr|Major}}''' ({{IPA|fr|maʒɔʁ}}) is the seniormost [[non-commissioned officer]] rank in France and other [[Francophone]] countries. Unlike most other countries which use the old European rank system, France uses {{lang|fr|[[Commandant (rank)|Commandant]]}}{{efn|The rank is also referred to as {{lang|fr|Chef de bataillon}} in the [[infantry]], and {{lang|fr|Chef d'escadrons}} in the [[Cavalry]] Corps.}} as its lowest ranking [[Senior officer#France|senior officer]].
While the rank functions of ''major'' ({{lang|fr|Major}}) in France, can be similarly compared to that of a [[sergeant major]],{{efn|French rank, {{lang|fr|[[Sergeant major|sergent-major]]}}, existed until 1971 and could come close to, but is not like the French rank of major.}} it is higher (rank of major) than a [[chief warrant officer]] ({{lang|fr|Adjudant-Chef}}), and similar to a [[Master Chief Petty Officer of the Navy|master chief]] (depending on the service branch of the respective country); the rank of major ({{lang|fr|Major}}) is still different.
'''Major''' was a senior superior [[Officer (armed forces)|officer]] [[military rank|rank]] first, with a history of various military traditions in various corps, then recently in time became attached to the [[sub-officer]] (non-commissioned) corps as of 2009.
The rank of '''major'''{{efn|not to be confused with the rank of [[Major (rank)|major]] in most English-speaking nations, whose French official equivalent is [[Commandant (rank)|Commandant]].}} ({{lang|fr|Major}}) of the [[French Armed Forces]] can be the closest equivalent in terms of authenticity, and even still different, to the [[United States Armed Forces|American]] referral of [[Mustang (military officer)|mustang]] officers, since the rank of "major" was already a superior [[Officer (armed forces)|Officer]] ({{lang|fr|Officier Supérieur}}) (a superior combat military officer rank ascended through the enlisted corps by service or [[Battlefield promotion|promotions]] in combat units until 2009){{efn|In the case of French Majors serving in specialized combatants units of the [[French Armed Forces]], Majors of the [[French Foreign Legion]] ({{lang|fr|Les Major de Légion}}) and Foreign [[French Foreign Legion|Legion Officers]] (both French and non-French) ({{lang|fr|Officiers du Rang de La Légion}}) [[Mustang (military officer)|seconded]] from the ranks of the [[French Foreign Legion|Legionnaires]].}} which was part of the "Corps of Majors", situated between the [[French Armed Forces|French Officer Corps]] and the [[French Armed Forces|French Non-Commissioned Officer Corps]]. However, the history rank of the '''Majors of France''' ({{lang|fr|Les Majors de France}}) is still very different.
In the [[French Armed Forces]], the official rank and referral of '''major''' {{lang|fr|Major}}){{efn|pronounced the same way in the [[French language]] with different pronunciation accentuation on the letters "a" and "o".}} included the same rank designation across the board, this time, however, as of 2009, attached to the [[non-commissioned officer|non-commissioned]] [[Ranks in the French Army|ranks]] (sub-officer corps) of the [[French Army]], the [[Ranks in the French Navy|ranks]] of the [[French Navy]], the [[Ranks in the French Air Force|ranks]] of the [[French Air Force]] and [[National Gendarmerie|ranks]] of the [[National Gendarmerie]] of the National Police.
== History == {{noref|section|date=June 2024}} === Superior officer === In the Armies of [[France]] of the [[Ancien Régime]], the Major was the second of the [[colonel]] charged with the administrative works of the regiment, as well as the commandment of a strong influential position after the [[Governor]] and the {{ill|Lieutenant of the King|fr|Lieutenant du roi}}.
During the [[First French Empire|Napoleonic Period]], the rank of [[lieutenant-colonel]] was replaced with the rank of Major. The designation of Major or '''[[French Defence Health Service|Medical]] Major''', with category rank sub-classes (1st Class Major, 2nd Class Major, Aide-Major, and Deputy Aide-Major) designated until 1928 a [[French Defence Health Service|Military]] [[Combat medic|Medic]].
In the [[French Navy|French War Navy]] of the 18th century, a [[Ranks in the French Navy|rank]] of '''Major of the [[French Navy|Vessel]]''' existed briefly and was situated between the rank of [[Ship-of-the-line lieutenant]] and [[Ship-of-the-line captain]]. The position rank of Major also designated the general officer in charge of maintaining the materials and security of a [[port]] or [[naval base]], the position was known as the "Major" General of the Arsenals. In a squadron, the Squadron Major, was a general officer as Ship-of-the-line captain, and upheld the function of the general staff headquarters of the squadron.
The actual organization of the [[French Armed Forces|Armies]] instituted, first in the military hierarchy, a ''function'' (not a rank) of ''Major General'' for the ensemble of the [[French Armed Forces|branches]].
Equally, exposed here forth in the [[non-commissioned officer]] section, the rank of ''Major'' ({{lang|fr|Major}}), is heir to the former rank of ''Major-[[Adjudant]]'', is the most elevated rank in the [[non-commissioned officer]]s of the [[French Army]], the [[French Air Force]], [[French Navy]], and [[Gendarmerie Nationale (France)|Gendarmerie Nationale]]. Until 2009, there existed the '''Corps of Majors''' which was situated between the [[Officer (armed forces)|French Officers Corps]] and the [[non-commissioned officer|French Non-Commissioned Officer Corps]]. In the [[French Navy]], this was related to the ''Corps of Majors'' of the Equipment of the [[French Navy|Fleet]], since the demotion (following a national political policy to reduce the number of corps in the public function...), a Major in the [[French Navy]] is no longer a Major of the Equipment of the Fleet, but became a Major in the [[non-commissioned officer|Petty Officer]] Corps of the French Navy. However, the insignia of the '''Major''' was kept and is represented by 2 crossed [[anchors]], symbols of equipments of the Fleet.
=== Sub-officer === The actual designation of "Major" in the [[French Armed Forces]] corresponds to a contraction of the composed term "Adjudant-Major": the rank is the most elevated rank in the [[non-commissioned officer|Sub-officer corps]]; which existed since 1972. A rank of "[[Sergeant Major]]" existed until 1971, under various form designations, and in certain cases, that rank could come close to the actual rank of ''Major''. The first Major of [[France]] ({{lang|fr|Major de France}}) was Raymond Delaveau and the youngest Major of France would become his son, Thierry Delaveau.
==== Major of France ==== In 1972, simultaneously at the creation of the rank, was created the ''Corps of Majors'' in order to enable [[non-commissioned officer]]s to occupy the equivalent posts of Officers (An Officer Corps below the rank of [[Ranks in the French Army|Commandant]] or equivalent across the member armed forces). This intermediary corps between the officers and that of the non-commissioned officers, actually included only one rank: that rank function was dissolved in 2009.
Since this date, the rank of ''Major'' is the most senior elevated rank, attached this time however to the [[non-commissioned officer]] corps of the [[French Army]], the [[French Air Force]], the [[National Gendarmerie]]{{snd}} The Major of the [[National Gendarmerie|Gendarmerie]], is the most elevated rank of Non-Commissioned Officer Corps of the [[French Navy]].
The rank insignia for the [[French Army]], the [[National Gendarmerie]], the [[French Air Force]] feature a red border joined by a braid. For the arms dites ''à pied'' (on foot), the ''rank insignia'' and braid is yellow (accordingly retaking the insignia of Adjudant-Chef) as portrayed. For the mounted arms, heir to the [[cavalry]] corps, they are white. For the [[French Navy]], the rank insignia is that of a Principal Master surmounted by two golden anchors.
=== Majors of France === The '''Majors of France''' are officially addressed and designated as follows:
* [[French Navy]] ** Major of the French Navy ({{lang|fr|[[French Navy|Major de la Marine]]}}) * [[French Army]] ** Major of the French Army ({{lang|fr|[[French Army|Major de l'Armée de Terre]]}}){{efn|In reference to the French personnel that have served an entire career in the [[French Army]].}} ** Major of the [[French Foreign Legion|Foreign Legion]] ({{lang|fr|[[French Foreign Legion|Major de la Légion étrangère]]}}){{efn|In reference to the few foreign (Non-French), eventually probably naturalized, and mainly Frenchmen that served an entire life career exclusively in the [[French Foreign Legion]].}} *[[French Air Force]] ** Major of the French Air Force ({{lang|fr|[[French Air Force|Major de l'Armée de l'Air]]}}) <gallery> File:France-Navy-OR-9b Sleeve.svg|''[[Ranks in the French Navy|Major]]'' in the French Navy, superior to [[Ranks in the French Navy|Maître principal]] and inferior to [[Ranks in the French Navy|Aspirant]] File:Army-FRA-OR-09a.svg|''[[Ranks in the French Army|Major]]'' in the French Army, superior to [[Ranks in the French Army|Adjudant-chef]] and inferior to [[Ranks in the French Army|Aspirant]] File:French Air Force-major.svg|''[[Ranks in the French Air Force|Major]]'' in the French Air Force, superior to [[Ranks in the French Air Force|Adjudant-chef]] and inferior to [[Ranks in the French Air Force|Aspirant]] </gallery> * [[National Gendarmerie]] including [[National Gendarmerie|Departmental]], [[National Gendarmerie|Mobile]], the [[Republican Guard (France)|French Republican Guard]], main security branches, [[National Gendarmerie|military police]] and specialized formations such as the [[GIGN]]. ** Major of the National Gendarmerie ({{lang|fr|Major de Gendarmerie}}) <gallery> File:Major gd.svg|''[[National Gendarmerie|Major]]'' in the National Gendarmerie, superior to [[National Gendarmerie|Adjudant-chef]] and inferior to [[National Gendarmerie|Aspirant]] File:Major gm.svg File:Major gr.svg File:Major cstag.svg </gallery>
The same official designation applies to the subordinate ranks (except for subordinate ranks of [[ranks in the French Navy|major]] in the [[French Navy]]) of '''major''', those of [[chief warrant officer]] ({{lang|fr|[[Adjudant-chef]]}}) ([[ranks in the French Navy|principal master]] in the French Navy) and [[warrant officer]] ({{lang|fr|[[Adjudant]]}}), particularly, specialized combatant units of the [[French Armed Forces]].
The rank ''major'' ({{lang|fr|Major}}) ceased to exist with the [[Fire services in France]] ({{lang|fr|pompiers}}) since April 20, 2012.
==Law enforcement== ;Police * [[National Police (France)|Major of the Police]] ({{lang|fr|[[:fr:Major de police|Major de Police]]}}) (in the [[National Police (France)|French National Police]] which includes several [[National Police (France)|directorates]], [[National Police (France)|inspection]], [[National Police (France)|services]], various [[National Police (France)|security groups]], and specialized [[National Police (France)|units]] such as the [[RAID (French Police unit)|RAID]]).
;Prisons * Major of the Penitentiary Administration ({{lang|fr|[[:fr:Major pénitentiaire|Major pénitentiaire]]}}) (in the French Penitentiary Administration Directorate)
;Fire service *'''Decree Law n° 2012-519 of April 20, 2012''' abolished the rank of Major in the [[Fire services in France]]. =={{lang|fr|Major}} in other countries==
<gallery class="center"> <!-- In alphabetic order of Country please --> File:blank.svg|([[Benin Armed Forces|Benin Army]])<ref name="Benin">{{cite web |title=LOI N° 2005-43 DU 26 JUIN 2006 |url=https://www.ilo.org/dyn/natlex/docs/ELECTRONIC/94851/111467/F-404511779/BEN-94851.pdf |website=ilo.org |publisher=National Assembly (Benin) |access-date=13 June 2021 |pages=19-20, 35-36 |language=fr |date=26 June 2006}}</ref> File:Madagascar-Army-OR-9b.svg|([[Madagascar People's Armed Forces|Malagasy Army]])<ref name="Madagascar">{{cite web |title=LOI N° 96-029 portant Statut Général des Militaires |url=http://www.defense.gov.mg/wp-content/uploads/2020/06/LOI-96-029.pdf |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210710195555/http://www.defense.gov.mg/wp-content/uploads/2020/06/LOI-96-029.pdf |url-status=dead |archive-date=July 10, 2021 |website=United States Department of Defense |publisher=Ministry of Defence (Madagascar) |access-date=10 July 2021 |pages=2 |language=fr |date=15 November 1996}}</ref> File:053.Mali Army-MAJ.svg|([[Malian Army]])<ref name="Mali">{{cite web|title=2011 - Plaquette sur les insignes et blasons des Forces Armées du Mali|url=https://www.memoriamali.com/webdossier/2011-parcours-historique-de-la-region-de-segou/|language=fr|date=23 April 2011 |access-date=17 October 2020 }}</ref> File:blank.svg|([[Niger Army]])<ref name="Niger">{{cite web |author1=Bureau international des droits des enfants |title=État des Lieux: Formation des forces de défense et de sécurité sur les droit de l'enfant au Niger |url=https://www.ibcr.org/wp-content/uploads/2016/07/%C3%89tat-des-lieux-Niger.pdf |access-date=28 September 2020 |page=34 |language=fr |date=December 2012}}</ref> File:blank.svg|([[Togolese Armed Forces|Togolese Army]])<ref name="Togo">{{cite journal |title=Journal officiel de la république togolaise |journal=Journal Officiel |date=12 February 2008 |volume=5 |url=https://jo.gouv.tg/sites/default/files/annee/2008/jo%202008-5.pdf |access-date=16 June 2021 |language=fr}}</ref> File:Grade Marine tunisienne E8.png|{{small|({{langx|ar|وكيل أعلى|Wakil 'aelaa}})}}<br />([[Tunisian Army]])<ref name="Tunisia">{{cite web |title=Décret n° 72-380 du 6 décembre 1972, portant Statut particulier des militaires |url=https://legislation-securite.tn/law/40982 |website=legislation-securite.tn |publisher=Geneva Centre for Security Sector Governance |access-date=22 December 2021 |language=fr |date=6 December 1972 |archive-date=22 December 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221222102428/https://legislation-securite.tn/law/40982 |url-status=dead }}</ref> </gallery>
== See also == * [[Governor (Les Invalides, France)]] * [[Lieutenant-General (France)]] * [[Ranks in the French Army]] * [[Ranks in the French Navy]] * [[Ranks in the French Air Force]] * [[Police ranks of France]]
== Notes == {{Notelist}}
==References== {{reflist|30em}}
[[Category:Military ranks of France]] [[fr:Major#Sous-officiers et officiers mariniers]]