Commandant (France)

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Please see "Commandant" for other uses of this term

Commandant (shortened from Capitaine-commandant, i.e. a captain commanding (a battalion)), is a rank of the French Army and French Air Force which is used instead of major.

The commandant is also styled chef de bataillon (Battalion Head) in the Infantry, chef d'escadrons (Squadrons Head) in the armored Cavalry and chef d'escadron (Squadron Head - note the lack of s) in the Artillery and the Gendarmerie.

Commandant is also the style, but not the rank, of the senior officers of the French Navy (capitaine de corvette, capitaine de frégate and capitaine de vaisseau).

Prior to the of armies subsequent to the French Revolution, the Major was the officer appointed by the King to keep track of the expenditures and readiness of a regiment. He could be either a commoner or a nobleman, and was graded as a Commissar, not an officer. The officer at commandant rank level was the chef de bataillon or chef d'escadron.

Major is now, however, the most senior Warrant Officer rank, above Adjudant-chef.