Field marshal
A field marshal (or field-marshal, abbreviated as FM) 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 (German: Generaloberst). 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. In Germany this highest rank is called Generalfeldmarschall.
Overview
The origin of field marshals dates to the early Middle Ages, originally meaning the keeper of the King's horses (from Old German Marh-scalc = "horse-servant") from the time of the early Germanic kings of the Franks.
- The office of marshal was already well established in England by the 12th century, but the modern military title of field marshal was introduced into the British army in 1736 by King George II, who imported it from Germany.[1]
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.
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.
France
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").
USA
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.
