# Major (France)

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Military rank in France

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Major Major French army, navy and air force insignia Country France See others Service branch Armed Forces Rank group Non-commissioned officer NATO rank code OR-9 Formation 1972 Next lower rank Adjudant-chef (army & air force) Maître principal (navy) Related articles History Sergeant major

***Major*** (French pronunciation: [\[maʒɔʁ\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Help:IPA/French)) is the seniormost [non-commissioned officer](/source/Non-commissioned_officer) rank in France and other [Francophone](/source/Francophone) countries. Unlike most other countries which use the old European rank system, France uses *[Commandant](/source/Commandant_(rank))*[a] as its lowest ranking [senior officer](/source/Senior_officer#France).

While the rank functions of *major* (*Major*) in France, can be similarly compared to that of a [sergeant major](/source/Sergeant_major),[b] it is higher (rank of major) than a [chief warrant officer](/source/Chief_warrant_officer) (*Adjudant-Chef*), and similar to a [master chief](/source/Master_Chief_Petty_Officer_of_the_Navy) (depending on the service branch of the respective country); the rank of major (*Major*) is still different.

**Major** was a senior superior [officer](/source/Officer_(armed_forces)) [rank](/source/Military_rank) first, with a history of various military traditions in various corps, then recently in time became attached to the [sub-officer](/source/Sub-officer) (non-commissioned) corps as of 2009.

The rank of **major**[c] (*Major*) of the [French Armed Forces](/source/French_Armed_Forces) can be the closest equivalent in terms of authenticity, and even still different, to the [American](/source/United_States_Armed_Forces) referral of [mustang](/source/Mustang_(military_officer)) officers, since the rank of "major" was already a superior [Officer](/source/Officer_(armed_forces)) (*Officier Supérieur*) (a superior combat military officer rank ascended through the enlisted corps by service or [promotions](/source/Battlefield_promotion) in combat units until 2009)[d] which was part of the "Corps of Majors", situated between the [French Officer Corps](/source/French_Armed_Forces) and the [French Non-Commissioned Officer Corps](/source/French_Armed_Forces). However, the history rank of the **Majors of France** (*Les Majors de France*) is still very different.

In the [French Armed Forces](/source/French_Armed_Forces), the official rank and referral of **major** *Major*)[e] included the same rank designation across the board, this time, however, as of 2009, attached to the [non-commissioned](/source/Non-commissioned_officer) [ranks](/source/Ranks_in_the_French_Army) (sub-officer corps) of the [French Army](/source/French_Army), the [ranks](/source/Ranks_in_the_French_Navy) of the [French Navy](/source/French_Navy), the [ranks](/source/Ranks_in_the_French_Air_Force) of the [French Air Force](/source/French_Air_Force) and [ranks](/source/National_Gendarmerie) of the [National Gendarmerie](/source/National_Gendarmerie) of the National Police.

## History

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### Superior officer

In the Armies of [France](/source/France) of the [Ancien Régime](/source/Ancien_R%C3%A9gime), the Major was the second of the [colonel](/source/Colonel) charged with the administrative works of the regiment, as well as the commandment of a strong influential position after the [Governor](/source/Governor) and the [Lieutenant of the King](https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Lieutenant_of_the_King&action=edit&redlink=1) [[fr](https://fr.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lieutenant_du_roi)].

During the [Napoleonic Period](/source/First_French_Empire), the rank of [lieutenant-colonel](/source/Lieutenant-colonel) was replaced with the rank of Major. The designation of Major or **[Medical](/source/French_Defence_Health_Service) Major**, with category rank sub-classes (1st Class Major, 2nd Class Major, Aide-Major, and Deputy Aide-Major) designated until 1928 a [Military](/source/French_Defence_Health_Service) [Medic](/source/Combat_medic).

In the [French War Navy](/source/French_Navy) of the 18th century, a [rank](/source/Ranks_in_the_French_Navy) of **Major of the [Vessel](/source/French_Navy)** existed briefly and was situated between the rank of [Ship-of-the-line lieutenant](/source/Ship-of-the-line_lieutenant) and [Ship-of-the-line captain](/source/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](/source/Port) or [naval base](/source/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 [Armies](/source/French_Armed_Forces) instituted, first in the military hierarchy, a *function* (not a rank) of *Major General* for the ensemble of the [branches](/source/French_Armed_Forces).

Equally, exposed here forth in the [non-commissioned officer](/source/Non-commissioned_officer) section, the rank of *Major* (*Major*), is heir to the former rank of *Major-[Adjudant](/source/Adjudant)*, is the most elevated rank in the [non-commissioned officers](/source/Non-commissioned_officer) of the [French Army](/source/French_Army), the [French Air Force](/source/French_Air_Force), [French Navy](/source/French_Navy), and [Gendarmerie Nationale](/source/Gendarmerie_Nationale_(France)). Until 2009, there existed the **Corps of Majors** which was situated between the [French Officers Corps](/source/Officer_(armed_forces)) and the [French Non-Commissioned Officer Corps](/source/Non-commissioned_officer). In the [French Navy](/source/French_Navy), this was related to the *Corps of Majors* of the Equipment of the [Fleet](/source/French_Navy), since the demotion (following a national political policy to reduce the number of corps in the public function...), a Major in the [French Navy](/source/French_Navy) is no longer a Major of the Equipment of the Fleet, but became a Major in the [Petty Officer](/source/Non-commissioned_officer) Corps of the French Navy. However, the insignia of the **Major** was kept and is represented by 2 crossed [anchors](/source/Anchors), symbols of equipments of the Fleet.

### Sub-officer

The actual designation of "Major" in the [French Armed Forces](/source/French_Armed_Forces) corresponds to a contraction of the composed term "Adjudant-Major": the rank is the most elevated rank in the [Sub-officer corps](/source/Non-commissioned_officer); which existed since 1972. A rank of "[Sergeant Major](/source/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](/source/France) (*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 officers](/source/Non-commissioned_officer) to occupy the equivalent posts of Officers (An Officer Corps below the rank of [Commandant](/source/Ranks_in_the_French_Army) 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](/source/Non-commissioned_officer) corps of the [French Army](/source/French_Army), the [French Air Force](/source/French_Air_Force), the [National Gendarmerie](/source/National_Gendarmerie) – The Major of the [Gendarmerie](/source/National_Gendarmerie), is the most elevated rank of Non-Commissioned Officer Corps of the [French Navy](/source/French_Navy).

The rank insignia for the [French Army](/source/French_Army), the [National Gendarmerie](/source/National_Gendarmerie), the [French Air Force](/source/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](/source/Cavalry) corps, they are white. For the [French Navy](/source/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](/source/French_Navy) - Major of the French Navy (*[Major de la Marine](/source/French_Navy)*)

- [French Army](/source/French_Army) - Major of the French Army (*[Major de l'Armée de Terre](/source/French_Army)*)[f] - Major of the [Foreign Legion](/source/French_Foreign_Legion) (*[Major de la Légion étrangère](/source/French_Foreign_Legion)*)[g]

- [French Air Force](/source/French_Air_Force) - Major of the French Air Force (*[Major de l'Armée de l'Air](/source/French_Air_Force)*)

		- *[Major](/source/Ranks_in_the_French_Navy)* in the French Navy, superior to [Maître principal](/source/Ranks_in_the_French_Navy) and inferior to [Aspirant](/source/Ranks_in_the_French_Navy)

		- *[Major](/source/Ranks_in_the_French_Army)* in the French Army, superior to [Adjudant-chef](/source/Ranks_in_the_French_Army) and inferior to [Aspirant](/source/Ranks_in_the_French_Army)

		- *[Major](/source/Ranks_in_the_French_Air_Force)* in the French Air Force, superior to [Adjudant-chef](/source/Ranks_in_the_French_Air_Force) and inferior to [Aspirant](/source/Ranks_in_the_French_Air_Force)

- [National Gendarmerie](/source/National_Gendarmerie) including [Departmental](/source/National_Gendarmerie), [Mobile](/source/National_Gendarmerie), the [French Republican Guard](/source/Republican_Guard_(France)), main security branches, [military police](/source/National_Gendarmerie) and specialized formations such as the [GIGN](/source/GIGN). - Major of the National Gendarmerie (*Major de Gendarmerie*)

		- *[Major](/source/National_Gendarmerie)* in the National Gendarmerie, superior to [Adjudant-chef](/source/National_Gendarmerie) and inferior to [Aspirant](/source/National_Gendarmerie)

The same official designation applies to the subordinate ranks (except for subordinate ranks of [major](/source/Ranks_in_the_French_Navy) in the [French Navy](/source/French_Navy)) of **major**, those of [chief warrant officer](/source/Chief_warrant_officer) (*[Adjudant-chef](/source/Adjudant-chef)*) ([principal master](/source/Ranks_in_the_French_Navy) in the French Navy) and [warrant officer](/source/Warrant_officer) (*[Adjudant](/source/Adjudant)*), particularly, specialized combatant units of the [French Armed Forces](/source/French_Armed_Forces).

The rank *major* (*Major*) ceased to exist with the [Fire services in France](/source/Fire_services_in_France) (*pompiers*) since April 20, 2012.

## Law enforcement

**Police**

- [Major of the Police](/source/National_Police_(France)) (*[Major de Police](https://fr.wikipedia.org/wiki/Major_de_police)*) (in the [French National Police](/source/National_Police_(France)) which includes several [directorates](/source/National_Police_(France)), [inspection](/source/National_Police_(France)), [services](/source/National_Police_(France)), various [security groups](/source/National_Police_(France)), and specialized [units](/source/National_Police_(France)) such as the [RAID](/source/RAID_(French_Police_unit))).

**Prisons**

- Major of the Penitentiary Administration (*[Major pénitentiaire](https://fr.wikipedia.org/wiki/Major_p%C3%A9nitentiaire)*) (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](/source/Fire_services_in_France).

## *Major* in other countries

		- ([Benin Army](/source/Benin_Armed_Forces))[1]

		- ([Malagasy Army](/source/Madagascar_People's_Armed_Forces))[2]

		- ([Malian Army](/source/Malian_Army))[3]

		- ([Niger Army](/source/Niger_Army))[4]

		- ([Togolese Army](/source/Togolese_Armed_Forces))[5]

		- ([Arabic](/source/Arabic_language): وكيل أعلى, [romanized](/source/Romanization_of_Arabic): *Wakil 'aelaa*) ([Tunisian Army](/source/Tunisian_Army))[6]

## See also

- [Governor (Les Invalides, France)](/source/Governor_(Les_Invalides%2C_France))

- [Lieutenant-General (France)](/source/Lieutenant-General_(France))

- [Ranks in the French Army](/source/Ranks_in_the_French_Army)

- [Ranks in the French Navy](/source/Ranks_in_the_French_Navy)

- [Ranks in the French Air Force](/source/Ranks_in_the_French_Air_Force)

- [Police ranks of France](/source/Police_ranks_of_France)

## Notes

1. **[^](#cite_ref-1)** The rank is also referred to as *Chef de bataillon* in the [infantry](/source/Infantry), and *Chef d'escadrons* in the [Cavalry](/source/Cavalry) Corps.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-2)** French rank, *[sergent-major](/source/Sergeant_major)*, existed until 1971 and could come close to, but is not like the French rank of major.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-3)** not to be confused with the rank of [major](/source/Major_(rank)) in most English-speaking nations, whose French official equivalent is [Commandant](/source/Commandant_(rank)).

1. **[^](#cite_ref-4)** In the case of French Majors serving in specialized combatants units of the [French Armed Forces](/source/French_Armed_Forces), Majors of the [French Foreign Legion](/source/French_Foreign_Legion) (*Les Major de Légion*) and Foreign [Legion Officers](/source/French_Foreign_Legion) (both French and non-French) (*Officiers du Rang de La Légion*) [seconded](/source/Mustang_(military_officer)) from the ranks of the [Legionnaires](/source/French_Foreign_Legion).

1. **[^](#cite_ref-5)** pronounced the same way in the [French language](/source/French_language) with different pronunciation accentuation on the letters "a" and "o".

1. **[^](#cite_ref-6)** In reference to the French personnel that have served an entire career in the [French Army](/source/French_Army).

1. **[^](#cite_ref-7)** 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](/source/French_Foreign_Legion).

## References

1. **[^](#cite_ref-Benin_8-0)** ["LOI N° 2005-43 DU 26 JUIN 2006"](https://www.ilo.org/dyn/natlex/docs/ELECTRONIC/94851/111467/F-404511779/BEN-94851.pdf) (PDF). *ilo.org* (in French). National Assembly (Benin). 26 June 2006. pp. 19–20, 35–36. Retrieved 13 June 2021.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-Madagascar_9-0)** ["LOI N° 96-029 portant Statut Général des Militaires"](https://web.archive.org/web/20210710195555/http://www.defense.gov.mg/wp-content/uploads/2020/06/LOI-96-029.pdf) (PDF). *United States Department of Defense* (in French). Ministry of Defence (Madagascar). 15 November 1996. p. 2. Archived from [the original](http://www.defense.gov.mg/wp-content/uploads/2020/06/LOI-96-029.pdf) (PDF) on July 10, 2021. Retrieved 10 July 2021.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-Mali_10-0)** ["2011 - Plaquette sur les insignes et blasons des Forces Armées du Mali"](https://www.memoriamali.com/webdossier/2011-parcours-historique-de-la-region-de-segou/) (in French). 23 April 2011. Retrieved 17 October 2020.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-Niger_11-0)** Bureau international des droits des enfants (December 2012). ["État des Lieux: Formation des forces de défense et de sécurité sur les droit de l'enfant au Niger"](https://www.ibcr.org/wp-content/uploads/2016/07/%C3%89tat-des-lieux-Niger.pdf) (PDF) (in French). p. 34. Retrieved 28 September 2020.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-Togo_12-0)** ["Journal officiel de la république togolaise"](https://jo.gouv.tg/sites/default/files/annee/2008/jo%202008-5.pdf) (PDF). *Journal Officiel* (in French). **5**. 12 February 2008. Retrieved 16 June 2021.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-Tunisia_13-0)** ["Décret n° 72-380 du 6 décembre 1972, portant Statut particulier des militaires"](https://web.archive.org/web/20221222102428/https://legislation-securite.tn/law/40982). *legislation-securite.tn* (in French). Geneva Centre for Security Sector Governance. 6 December 1972. Archived from [the original](https://legislation-securite.tn/law/40982) on 22 December 2022. Retrieved 22 December 2021.

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Adapted from the Wikipedia article [Major (France)](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Major_(France)) by Wikipedia contributors ([contributor history](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Major_(France)?action=history)). Available under [Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/). Changes may have been made.