Ranks of the French Imperial Army (1804–1815)

This article lists the military ranks and the rank insignia used in the French Imperial Army. Officers and the most senior non-commissioned rank had rank insignia in the form of epaulettes, sergeants and corporals in the form of stripes or chevrons on the sleeves.

Commissioned officer ranks

Gold (yellow) or silver (white) stripes and epaulettes were used in accordance with the metal of the uniform buttons of the regiment. Officers of regiments with gold buttons used gold epaulettes, those with silver buttons wore silver epaulettes. The epaulettes of majors were of contrary metal; gold buttons, silver epaulets etc. Generals and field officers used bullion fringes. Gold and silver were also often used in accordance to the Regiments designation as a Ligne (line) regiment would frequent gold while a Legere (light) regiment would frequent silver.

Rank group	General / flag officers
Insignia [1] [2] [3]
	Maréchal de France	Général de division	Général de brigade

Rank group	Senior officers
Insignia [1] [2] [3]
Infantry and artillery	Colonel	Colonel en second	Major	Major en second	Chef de bataillon
Cavalry and train [4]					Chef d'escadron

Rank group	Junior officers
Insignia [1] [2] [3]
Insignia (1812)
Infantry, artillery Cavalry and train	Capitaine adjudant major	Capitaine	Lieutenant	Sous-lieutenant

Other ranks

The rank insignia of non-commissioned officers and enlisted personnel.

Rank group	NCOs				Caporals
Insignia [1] [2] [3]
Infantry and artillery	Adjudant sous-officier	Adjudant sous-officier version of 1808	Sergent-major	Sergent	Caporal-fourrier	Caporal
Cavalry and train [4]			Maréchal des logis-chef	Maréchal des logis	Brigadier-fourrier	Brigadier

Physicians, surgeons, and pharmacists

Physician [5]	Surgeons [5]	Pharmacists [5]
Médecin en chef	Chirurgien en chef	-
Médecin major	Chirurgien major	Pharmacien major
Médecin aide major	Chirurgien aide major	Pharmacien aide major
-	Chirurgien sous aide major	Pharmacien sous aide major

Good conduct badges

Sergeants, corporals and privates were issued good conduct and long service badges, galons d'ancienneté in the form of chevron on the upper left arm of the uniform coat; one chevron for ten years' service, two for 15 years' service, three for 20 years' service. The chevrons were officially of red cloth for all ranks, except caporal-fourriers who were issued chevrons in yellow or white cloth (depending on the metal colour), as a replacement for the stripe that denoted his rank. In reality, however, the sergeants used chevrons in yellow or white. ^[6]

Sergent-major with 15 years' service	Sergent with 15 years' service	Caporal-fourrier with ten years' service	Caporal with ten years' service

See also

• Uniforms of La Grande Armée
• Ranks in the French Army
• French Army

References

1. "1812 год. Французская армия – командный состав" [1812. French army - command staff] (in Russian). Retrieved 6 May 2018.
2. "пехотные знаки различия (таблица Якуба Самека)" [Infantry insignia (table by Yakub Samek)] (in Russian). Retrieved 6 May 2018.
3. "Военные чины и знаки различия армии Наполеона" [Military ranks and insignia of Napoleon's army] (in Russian). 3 April 2019.
4. "14th French Hussar Regiment, 1813" . Retrieved 6 May 2018.
5. Sandeau, Jaques. "La santé aux armées" [The health of the army]. Histoire des deux empires (in French). Retrieved 6 May 2018.
6. "Les chevrons d'ancienneté" [The chevrons of seniority] (in French). Retrieved 6 May 2018.

• Jouineau, André; Mongin, Jean-Marie (2017). The French Imperial Guard Volume 1: Foot Troops. Heimdal. ISBN   978-2840484950.