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France: Marshal of France's standard

Maréchal de France

by Zeljko Heimer

History of the Marshal's title
Description of the flag
Car flag

See also:

History of the Marshal's title

Marshal of France is not a rank but a State honour granted to a General Officer victorious on battle fields

The word Maréchal is the modern form of Mareschale, which came from Germanic Mareschale, servant in charge of horses [mare and merrie are used for a female horse in modern English and Dutch, repectively].

The dignity of Maréchal (Marshal) seems to have the same origin as the dignity of Connétable (Constable). The Constable, the Chief of the Royal stables, had for servants Marshals, whose statute and duty were progressively increased and precised.

Initially, there was only one Marshal. The first Marshal of France was Albéric Clément I, Lord of Metz, appointed in 1185 by King Philippe-Auguste. From Saint-Louis (1226-1270) to Louis XII (1498-1515), there were two Marshals. François I (1515-1547) appointed a third Marshal and created the Marshal's baton (bâton de Maréchal). The number of Marshals then increased as follows: 4, under the reign of Francois II (1559-1560); 6, under the reign of Charles IX (1560-1574); 8, under the reign of Henri III (1574-1589)

In 1627, under the reign of Louis XIII (1610-1643), the dignity of Cons