Marshal is a term used in several official titles in various branches of society. As marshals became trusted members of the courts of Medieval Europe, the title grew in reputation. During the last few centuries, it has been used for elevated offices, such as in military rank and civilian law enforcement.
In most countries, the rank of Marshal is the highest Army rank.
Etymology Marshal is an ancient loanword from Old French mareschal (cf. Modern French maréchal), which in turn is borrowed from Old Frankish * "stable boy, keeper, servant", attested by Medieval Latin mariscalcus from a Proto-Germanic *maraχskalkaz (cf. Old High German marahschalh)p. 93b-283a, T. F. Hoad, The Concise Oxford Dictionary of English Etymology (Oxford University Press, 1993) being still evident in Middle Dutch maerscalc, marscal, and in modern Dutch maarschalk (="military chief commander"; the meaning influenced by the French use).
It is cognate with Old High German "id.", modern German (Feld-)Marschall (="military chief commander"; the meaning again influenced by the French use).
It originally and literally meant "horse servant", a compound of *marha- "horse" (cf. English mare and modern German Mähre, meaning "horse of bad quality") and *skalk- "servant" (cf. Old English sċealc "servant, retainer, member of a crew" ) and outdated German Schalk, meaning "high-ranking servant".Jacob und Wilhelm Grimm, Deutsches Wörterbuch, Leipzig 1854–1960, Vol. 12 Col. 1673 Online-Version This "horse servant" origin is retained in the current French name for farrier: maréchal-ferrant.
The late Roman and Byzantine title of comes stabuli ("count of the stables") is similar in meaning, which became the Old French and modern connétable, and, borrowed from the Old French, the English word constable. Finally, in Byzantium, a marshal with elevated authority, notably a borderlands military command, was also known as an exarch.
Military
In many countries, the rank of marshal, cf. field marshal, is the highest army rank, outranking other general officers. The equivalent navy rank is often admiral of the fleet or grand admiral.
Marshals are typically, but not exclusively, appointed only in wartime. In many countries, especially in Europe, the special symbol of a marshal is a baton, and their insignia often incorporate batons.
In some countries, the term "marshal" is used instead of "general" in the higher air force ranks. The four highest Royal Air Force ranks are marshal of the Royal Air Force, air chief marshal, air marshal and air vice marshal (although the first named, which has generally been suspended as a peacetime rank, is the only one that can properly be considered a marshal). The five-star rank of marshal of the Air Force is used by some Commonwealth and Middle Eastern air forces.
In the French Army and most National Armies modelled on the French system, maréchal des logis ("marshal-of-lodgings") is a cavalry term equivalent to sergeant.
Some historical rulers have used special "marshal" titles to reward certain subjects. Though not strictly military ranks, these honorary titles have been exclusively bestowed upon successful military leaders, such as the famous grand marshal of Ayacucho Antonio José de Sucre. Most famous are the Marshals of France (Maréchaux de France), not least under Napoléon I. Another such title was that of Reichsmarschall, bestowed upon Hermann Göring by Adolf Hitler, although it was never a regular title since it had been invented for Göring, who was the only titleholder in history. In England during the First Barons' War the title Marshal of the Army of God and Holy Church was bestowed upon Robert Fitzwalter by election.
Both the Soviet Union and Russia have army general as well as "marshal" in their rank system.
Marshal ranks by country The following articles discuss the rank of marshal as used by specific countries:
Marshal of Bolivia Marshal (Brazil) Marshal of the Realm (Denmark) Marshal of Finland France Marshal of France (includes Marshal of the Empire, both equivalent to a six-star general) (equivalent to sergeant) Marshal of the German Democratic Republic Italy Marshal of Italy Marshal (Italy) – a warrant officer rank Marshal of the Mongolian People's Republic Marshal of Peru Marshal of Poland Marshal (Portugal) Mareșal (Romania) Russia Marshal of the Russian Federation Marshal of the Soviet Union Chief marshal of the branch was used in five Soviet military branches: the air force, artillery, armoured troops, engineer troops, and signal troops. Marshal of the branch was used in five Soviet military branches – the air force, artillery, armoured troops, engineer troops, and signal troops. Marshal of the branch is considered equivalent to the rank general of the army, which was used in the infantry and the marines. Marshal of the Realm (Sweden) Mareşal (Turkey) Marshal of the Royal Air Force Yugoslavia Vojvoda (Serbia and Yugoslavia) Marshal of Yugoslavia
Marshal equivalents These ranks are considered the equivalent to a marshal:
Chom Phon (Thailand) General of the army, fleet admiral and general of the Air Force (United States) Arteshbod (Iran) Mushir (Arab countries) Ispahsalar (Historical Islamic countries) Protostrator (in Frankish Greece, deriving from the Byzantine Empire, likewise deriving from the post of "stable-master") Stratarches (modern Greece) Vojvoda (Kingdom of Serbia and Kingdom of Yugoslavia) Vrhovnik (Croatia) Wonsu (North Korea and South Korea) Yuan Shuai (modern China) Sima (ancient China) Gensui (Japan) Nguyên soái (Vietnam)
Military police The name is also applied to the leader of military police organizations. Provost marshal – a term used in many countries Provost Marshal General – head of the military police in the United States
Ceremonial and protocol Usually in monarchies, one or several of the senior dignitaries bear the title of Marshal or a compound such as Court Marshal (not related to court martial, therefore usually called Marshal of the Court to prevent confusion) or more rarely Grand Marshal.
The function of the Marshal of the Court varies according to national tradition, but frequently he is the chief of staff of the monarch's household (meaning the palace and other domains). Often the position also includes the honorary privilege as chief of the protocol of formally announcing the arrival of VIP guests at audiences, state dinners and conferences on the monarch's premises. This office was often made hereditary in the high nobility, e.g. the English Earl Marshal and the Scots Earl Marischal.
Civilian
The term is also used in more ordinary contexts, such as modern pageantry; for example, the grand marshal of a parade is often an honored guest or dignitary.
In the United States, many colleges and universities have marshals. In some cases, there is a single "faculty marshal," appointed to the post on a more or less permanent basis. In other cases, there are one or several faculty marshals, and often one or several student marshals appointed for a single occasion. In all cases, the post is one of honor given to a senior faculty member or outstanding student, and the functions are generally limited to leading processions or parts of processions during commencement exercises, academic convocations, encaenia and similar events. These marshals often carry maces, staffs or wands of office.
A chief usher at a large wedding is sometimes called a wedding marshal. In addition to coordinating other ushers in attending guests, the wedding marshal may be a messenger between parties to signal the impending start of the service or communicate delays. In a church wedding, particularly a nuptial mass, these functions may be assumed by a verger. The wedding marshal is a position of honor and trust, often filled by a close friend or relative.
Political
Dignitaries of Poland
Apart from its military uses, the Polish word marszałek (marshal) also refers to certain political offices: Marszałek Sejmu and Marszałek Senatu: the respective speakers of the lower house (Sejm) and upper house (Senate) of Poland's parliament, usually nominated by the governing party or coalition; Marszałek Województwa (voivodeship marshal): since 1999, the leader of the executive of a voivodeship (one of Poland's 16 provinces), elected by the regional assembly (sejmik), and co-existing with the government-appointed voivode (governor).
Demonstration marshal
Demonstration marshals, also called stewards, are used by the organizers of large or controversial demonstrations, rallies and protests, to help ensure the safety of the participants.Belyaeva et al. (2007) Guidelines on Freedom of Peaceful Assembly, published by OSCE's Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights. Alternative version Bryan, Dominic The Anthropology of Ritual: Monitoring and Stewarding Demonstrations in Northern Ireland, Anthropology in Action, Volume 13, Numbers 1–2, January 2006, pp.22–31(10) They are especially important for preventing infiltration by agents provocateurs.
Sports
In motorsports, such as auto racing, motorcycle racing, and rallying, the track marshals wave the racing flags and assist crashed or broken-down vehicles and their drivers, while pit marshals watch over the procedures in the pits, and fire marshals assist in the event of a fire on the track or in the pit. The FIA provides general rules and recommendations on marshalling. In the 1977 South African Grand Prix, 1977 Japanese Grand Prix, 2000 Italian Grand Prix, 2001 Australian Grand Prix, and 2013 Canadian Grand Prix, track marshals were victims of fatal accidents.
In some organized competitions, such as the "Tough Guy" endurance competition, officials seeing to the observance of the rules are styled marshals. In road running and cycling races, in particular, course marshals enforce rules of competition and assist runners as needed.
Games The marshal is the highest playing piece in the board game Stratego.
Law enforcement
The word Maréchaussée derives from the French word Maréchal (plural Maréchaux), which was the second highest military rank in feudal France after Connétable (Constable), the military Commander-in-Chief of the Royal Armed Forces until 1627, when the rank of Constable was abolished. The Constable and the Marshals also had jurisdictional powers, at first only over members of the armed forces. The additional conferring of police powers led to the creation of the "Corps of the Maréchaussée" ("Marshalcy"; the forerunner of the modern Gendarmerie) and to an Ancien Régime Court of Justice called the Tribunal of the Constable and the Marshals of France, which judged military personnel and civilians alike in cases of petty violations of the law.
The term Maréchaussée was also used for the Continental Army's military police during the American Revolution.
In the present-day Netherlands, the Koninklijke Marechaussee ("Royal Marshalcy") is a national military police force with civilian powers, similar to the French Gendarmerie nationale.
By country
Canada
In early 2025, the Government of Saskatchewan created the Saskatchewan Marshals Service. The provincial law enforcement agency is expected to focus on serious crime and will be fully operational in the fall of 2025.
France
In France, the Maréchaussée ("Marshalcy") was the forerunner of the French Gendarmerie. A military corps having such duties was first created in 1337, placed under the command of the Constable of France (the Commander-in-Chief of the Royal Armed Forces), and named the Connétablie. In 1627, after the abolition of the title of Connétable, it was put under the command of the "Marshals of France," and renamed the Maréchaussée. Its main mission was to protect the roads from highwaymen.