Mestre de camp

Mestre de camp (roughly equivalent to a Colonel or Colonel) was a rank in the army of the Ancien Régime in France. It was divided into three classes:

• Mestre de camp commandant ( colonel and regimental commander )
• Mestre de camp en seconde - even Mestre de camp- lieutenant ( colonel or lieutenant colonel and deputy regimental commander ). He led the regiment when the actually Mestre de camp, for example, was the queen, as in the Régiment la Reine cavalry.
• Mestre de camp à la suite ( Lieutenant Colonel )

The official position of Mestre de camp was the regimental commander of the cavalry and the infantry. Being in the infantry in 1661, the rank of " colonel général " was abolished, took over where the Mestre de camp for the term " Colonel ". The next higher rank was the " Brigadier of Armées du roi ".

In contrast, the cavalry regiments remained under the command of a colonel général and were up to the Revolution commanded by their Mestre de camp. The first company of the Cavalry Regiment was personally run by the regimental commander body company and was referred to as la Mestre de camp.

Even if the place of Mestre de camp to be occupied by older and experienced soldiers ( according to the "Edit du mois de mars 1600 " ), there was a common habit at that time, the commander places to sell. That not necessarily the better man was transferred a vacant become one regiment, but the one who regardless of experience, age or military training had the better financial opportunities.

The rank of Mestre de camp was not in principle bound to a noble origin. ( Arrêt du conseil du 4 juin 1668), but this was rather pure theory.

After the introduction of these rank insignia consisted of epaulets with gold or silver Kantillen ( the Mestre de camp à la suite had only one epaulette on the left shoulder ).

During the French Revolution was the Mestre de camp replaced by the chef de brigade.

The " 2e régiment de cavalerie de ligne " the French cavalry was temporarily named " Régiment de Mestre camp GENERAL". However, this was not an owner conferred honor -related acquisition.

The military history of Spain knows this rank. Charles V in 1534 led a " Maestre de Campo " a.