Ranks of the French Imperial Army

Ranks of the Grande Armée describes the military ranks and the rank insignia used in Napoleon's Grande Armée. 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.

Infantry and artillery

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.

Designation	Generals
Rank insignia
Rank designation	Maréchal de France	Général de division	Général de brigade

Designation	Field officers
Rank insignia
Rank designation	Colonel Colonel en second = with a stripe in the center	Major Major en second = with a stripe in the center	Chef de bataillon

Designation	Company officers
Rank insignia
Rank designation	Capitaine adjudant major	Capitaine	Lieutenant	Lieutenant 1812	Sous-lieutenant	Sous-lieutenant 1812

Designation	Non-commissioned officers and corporals Chevrons or stripes depended on the form of the regimental cuffs.
Rank insignia
Rank designation	Adjudant sous-officier	Adjudant sous-officier version of 1808	Sergent-major	Sergent	Caporal-fourrier	Caporal

Sources:

Cavalry and train

• Colonel
• Colonel en second
• Major
• Major en second
• Chef d'escadron
• Capitaine
• Lieutenant
• Sous-lieutenant
• Adjudant sous-officier
• Maréchal des logis-chef
• Maréchal des logis
• Brigadier-fourrier
• Brigadier

Physicians, surgeons, and pharmacists

Physician	Surgeons	Pharmacists
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.

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

Gallery

• 
  Generals of division
• 
  Colonel and Chef de Bataillon of artillery
• 
  Chef de Bataillon and Colonel of line infantry
• 
  Colonel of cuirassiers
• 
  Major of hussars (right), with rank insignia in the form of braids on the sleeves and pants
• 
  Chef d'Escadron of the carabineers
• 
  Captains of dragoons
• 
  Hussar and captain
• 
  Farrier and brigadier of carabineers

See also

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

References

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