Maréchal de camp

Maréchal de camp was created in the 15th century rank in the French army of the ancien regime, during the Restoration and the July Monarchy. He was a step above the Colonel ( Oberst ) and thus represented ( but only created later ) Général de brigade. With the end of the monarchy, he was first abolished and replaced by Napoleon Bonaparte by the Général de brigade. After the end of the Empire, he was re- installed and then had survived until the Second Republic in 1848, when he finally was back and this time for Géneral de brigade.

The original task of the Maréchal de camp, it was primarily to ensure the accommodation of the troops on the campaigns, as well as the deployment of a battle to keep the different bodies of troops in the designated lanes, respectively. to maintain order on the march routes and the battlefield. This changed, however, over time more and more into a military command, until he eventually lost the position of the " Marshal of the ( battle) field " and it took over the function of a brigade commander. By the end of the king's army was the next higher rank of a Lieutenant - Général ( Lieutenant General ).

The Maréchal de camp was not in connection with the Maréchal général des camps et Armées du roi or the Maréchal de France.

Other countries

In the armies of German and Nordic countries was the appropriate rank of General Field sergeant.

The name Mariscal de Campo (Spain) and Marechal de Campo (Portugal ) used in some other countries, like the German Field Marshal or Field Marshal literal translations and are in no relation to the actual rank of Maréchal de camp, but corresponded throughout the Maréchal de France.