Marshal of France

The Marshal of France (maréchal de France) was one of the Great Officers of the Crown of France. The title derived from the office of marescallus Franciae created by Philippe Auguste for Albéric Clément (circa 1190). It later became a distinction and takes precedence over the Constable of France, which was originally an office higher than Marshal. Up to 1791, there were 256 Marshals of France. The title was abolished by the National Convention in 1793.

During the First French Empire, Marshals were known as Marshals of the Empire. Under the Bourbon Restoration, the title reverted to Marshal of France and Napoléon III kept that designation. Four Marshals of France were given the even more exalted rank of Marshal-General: Turenne, Villars, Saxe and Soult.

In contemporary France, marshal is a military distinction, not a military rank, and is granted to generals for exceptional achievements. Its symbol, the marshal's baton, is a blue cylinder with stars (formerly fleurs-de-lis).

Philippe Pétain, awarded the distinction of Marshal of France for his generalship in the First World War, retained his title even after his trial and imprisonment and after he was stripped of other positions and titles.

The last living Marshal of France was Alphonse Pierre Juin, promoted 1952, who died in 1967.

Contents

1 Marshals of France

2 Capetiens

2.1 Six Marshals under Philip Augustus, 1180-1223
2.2 Eight Marshals under Saint Louis, 1226-1270
2.3 Four Marshals under Philip the Bold, 1270-1285
2.4 Six Marshals under Philip the Fair, 1285-1314
2.5 One Marshal under Louis X, 1314-1316
2.6 Three Marshals under Philip V, 1316-1322
2.7 One Marshal under Charles IV, 1322-1328

3 Valois

3.1 Five Marshals under Philip VI of Valois, de 1328 à 1350
3.2 Four Marshals under John the Good, 1350-1364
3.3 Two Marshals under Charles the Wise, 1364-1380
3.4 Nine Marshals under Charles the Beloved, 1380-1422
3.5 Six Marshals under Charles VII, 1422-1461
3.6 Four Marshals under Louis XI, 1461-1483
3.7 Two Marshals under Charles VIII, de 1483 à 1498

4 Valois-Orléans

4.1 Four Marshals under Louis XII, 1498-1515

5 Valois-Angoulême

5.1 Twelve Marshals under François I, 1515-1547
5.2 Five Marshals created by Henry II, 1547-1559
5.3 One Marshal created by François II in 1559
5.4 Five Marshals under Charles IX, de 1560 à 1574
5.5 Seven Marshals under Henry III, 1574-1589

6 Bourbons

6.1 Eleven Marshals created by Henry IV between 1592 and 1602
6.2 Thirty-four Marshals created by Louis XIII, between 1613 and 1643
6.3 Fifty-one Marshals created by Louis XIV, between 1643 and 1715
6.4 Thirty-four Marshals under Louis XV from 1715-1774
6.5 Twenty Marshals named by Louis XVI, 1774-1792

7 French Empire

8 The Second Restoration from 1815-1830

9 Constitutional monarchy

10 The Second Republic

11 The Second Empire

12 The Third Republic

13 The Fourth Republic

14 The Fifth Republic

Marshals of France

Capetiens

Six Marshals under Philip Augustus, 1180-1223

Albéric Clément, (died 1191), first Marshal of France in 1190
Guillaume de Bournel, (died 1195), Marshal of France in 1192
Nivelon d'Arras, (died 1204), Marshal of France in 1202
Henry I Clément, called the "Little Marshal", Lord of Le Mez and of Argentan (1170-1214), Marshal of France in 1204
Jean III Clément, Lord of Le Mez and of Argentan (died 1262), Marshal of France in 1214
Guillaume de la Tournelle, (?-?), Marshal of France in 1220

Eight Marshals under Saint Louis, 1226-1270

Ferry Pasté, Lord of Challeranges (died 1247), Marshal of France in 1240
Jean Guillaume de Beaumont, (died 1257), Marshal of France in 1250
Gauthier III, Lord of Nemours (died 1270), Marshal of France in 1257
Henri II Clément, Lord of Le Mez and of Argentan (died 1265), Marshal of France in 1262
Héric de Beaujeu, (died 1270), Marshal of France in 1265
Renaud de Précigny, (died 1270), Marshal of France in 1265
Raoul II Sores, surnommé d'Estrée (died 1282), Marshal of France in 1270
Lancelot de Saint-Maard, (died 1278), Marshal of France in 1270

Four Marshals under Philip the Bold, 1270-1285

Ferry de Verneuil, (died 1283), Marshal of France in 1272
Guillaume V du Bec Crespin, (died 1283), Marshal of France in 1283
Jean II d'Harcourt, Viscount of Châtellerault, Lord of Harcourt, (died 1302), Marshal of France in 1283
Raoul V Le Flamenc, (died 1287), Marshal of France in 1285

Six Marshals under Philip the Fair, 1285-1314

Jean de Varennes, (died 1292), Marshal of France in 1288
Simon de Melun, Lord of La Loupe and of Marcheville (died 1302), Marshal of France in 1290
Guy Ier de Clermont de Nesle, (died 1302), Marshal of France in 1292
Foulques du Merle, called Foucaud, (died 1314), Marshal of France in 1302
Miles VI de Noyers, (died 1350), Marshal of France in 1302
Jean de Corbeil, Lord of Grez (died 1318), Marshal of France in 1308

One Marshal under Louis X, 1314-1316

Jean IV de Beaumont (died 1318), Marshal of France in 1315

Three Marshals under Philip V, 1316-1322

Mathieu de Trie, (died 1344), Marshal of France in 1318
Jean des Barres, (died ?), Marshal of France in 1318
Bernard VI de Moreuil, Lord of Moreuil (died 1350), Marshal of France in 1322

One Marshal under Charles IV, 1322-1328

Robert-Jean Bertran de Briquebec, Baron of Briquebec, Viscount of Roncheville (died 1348), Marshal of France in 1325

Valois

Five Marshals under Philip VI of Valois, de 1328 à 1350

Anseau de Joinville, (1265-1343), Marshal of France in 1339
Charles de Montmorency, Lord of Montmorency (1325-1381), Marshal of France in 1344
Robert de Waurin, Lord of Saint-Venant (died 1360), Marshal of France in 1344
Guy II de Nesle, Lord of Offémont and of Mello (died 1352), Marshal of France in 1345
Édouard de Beaujeu, (1316-1351), Lord of Châteauneuf, Marshal of France in 1347

Four Marshals under John the Good, 1350-1364

Arnoul d'Audeneham, Lord of Audeneham (died 1370), Marshal of France in 1351
Rogues de Hangest, Lord of Avesnecourt (died 1352), Marshal of France in 1352
Jean de Clermont, Lord of Chantilly and of Beaumont (died 1356), Marshal of France in 1352
Jean Le Meingre called Boucicaut, nicknamed The Brave (1310-1367), Marshal of France in 1356

Two Marshals under Charles the Wise, 1364-1380

Jean IV de Mauquenchy, Lord of Blainville (died 1391), Marshal of France in 1368
Louis II de Champagne, Count of Sancerre (1342-1402), Marshal of France in 1369

Nine Marshals under Charles the Beloved, 1380-1422

Jean II Le Meingre called Boucicaut, (1364-1421), Marshal of France in 1391
Jean II de Rieux, Lord of Rochefort and of Rieux (1342-1417), Marshal of France in 1397
Pierre de Rieux, Lord of Rochefort and of Rieux (1389-1439), Marshal of France in 1417
Claude de Beauvoir, Lord of Chastellux and Viscount of Avallon (1385-1453), Marshal of France in 1418
Jean de Villiers de L'Isle-Adam, (1384-1437), Marshal of France in 1418
Jacques de Montberon, Lord of Engoumois (died 1422), Marshal of France in 1418
Gilbert Motier de La Fayette, (1396-1464), Marshal of France in 1421
Antoine de Vergy, (died 1439), Marshal of France in 1422
Jean de La Baume, Count of Montrevel-en-Bresse (died 1435), Marshal of France in 1422

Six Marshals under Charles VII, 1422-1461

Amaury de Séverac, Lord of Beaucaire and of Chaude-Aigues († 1427), Marshal of France in 1424
Jean de Brosse, Baron of Boussac and of Sainte-Sévère (1375 - 1433), Marshal of France in 1426
Gilles de Laval-Montmorency, “Maréchal de Rais”, Lord of Ingrande and of Champtocé, (1404-1440), Marshal of France in 1429
André de Laval-Montmorency, Lord of Lohéac and of Retz (1408 - 1486), Marshal of France in 1439
Philippe de Culant, Lord of Jaloignes, of La Croisette, of Saint-Armand and of Chalais (died 1454), Marshal of France in 1441
Jean Poton de Xaintrailles, Seneschal de Limousin (1400 † 1461), Marshal of France in 1454

Four Marshals under Louis XI, 1461-1483

Joachim Rouhault de Gamaches, Lord of Boismenard (died 1478), Marshal of France in 1461
Jean de Lescun, called the “Bastard of Armagnac,” Count of Comminges (died 1473), Marshal of France in 1461
Wolfart VI Van Borselleen, Lord of Vère in Holland and Earl of Buchan in Scotland (died 1487), Marshal of France in 1464
Pierre de Rohan de Gié, Lord of Rohan (1450-1514), Marshal of France in 1476

Two Marshals under Charles VIII, de 1483 à 1498

Philippe de Crèvecœur d'Esquerdes, (1418-1494), Marshal of France in 1486
Jean de Baudricourt, Lord of Choiseul and Bailiff of Chaumont (died 1499), Marshal of France in 1486

Valois-Orléans

Four Marshals under Louis XII, 1498-1515

Jacques de Trivulce, (1448-1518), Marquis of Vigevano, Marshal of France in 1499
Charles II d'Amboise de Chaumont, (1473-1511), Lord of Chaumont, of Meillan and of Charenton, Marshal of France in 1506
Odet de Foix, Vicomte de Lautrec, (1485-1528), Viscount of Lautrec, Marshal of France in 1511
Robert Stuart d'Aubigny, (1470-1544), Count of Lennox, Marshal of France in 1514

Valois-Angoulême

Twelve Marshals under François I, 1515-1547

Jacques II de Chabannes, Lord of La Palice (died 1525), Marshal of France in 1515
Gaspard I de Coligny, Lord of Chatillon-sur-Loing (died 1522), Marshal of France in 1516
Thomas de Foix-Lescun, (died 1525), Marshal of France in 1518
Anne I de Montmorency, Duke of Montmorency and of Damville, Count of Beaumont-sur-Oise and of Dammartin, Viscount of Melun, first Baron of France and Grand Master, Constable of France etc. (1492-1567), Marshal of France in 1522
Théodor Trivulce, (1458-1531), Marshal of France in 1526
Robert III de La Marck, Duke of Bouillon, Lord of Sedan (1491-1537), Marshal of France in 1526
Claude d'Ailly, Seigneur d’Annebaut (died 1500), Marshal of France in 1538
Claude d'Annebaut, (1500-1552), Marshal of France in 1538
René de Montjean, Lord of Montjean, Marshal of France in 1538
Oudard du Biez, Seigneur of Le Biez (died 1553), Marshal of France in 1542
Antoine de Lettes-Desprez, Lord of Montpezat, Marshal of France in 1544
Jean Caraccioli, Prince of Melphes (1480-1550), Marshal of France in 1544

Five Marshals created by Henry II, 1547-1559

Jacques d'Albon de Saint-André, Marquis of Fronsac (died 1562), Marshal of France 1547
Robert IV de La Marck, Duke of Bouillon and Prince of Sedan (1520-1556), Marshal of France in 1547
Charles I de Cossé, Count of Brissac (1505-1563), Marshal of France in 1550
Pierre Strozzi, (1500-1558), Marshal of France in 1554
Paul de La Barthe, Lord of Thermes (1482-1558), Marshal of France in 1558

One Marshal created by François II in 1559

Francis, Duke of Montmorency (1520-1563), Marshal of France in 1559

Five Marshals under Charles IX, de 1560 à 1574

François de Scépeaux, Lord of Vieilleville, (1509-1571), Marshal of France in 1562
Imbert de La Plâtrière, Lord of Bourdillon (1524-1567), Marshal of France in 1564
Henri I of Montmorency, Lord of Damville, Duke of Montmorency, Count of Dammartin and Alais, Baron of Chateaubriant, Lord of Chantilly and Ecouen (1534-1614), Marshal of France in 1566
Artus de Cossé-Brissac, Lord of Gonnor and Count of Secondigny (died 1582), Marshal of France in 1567
Gaspard de Saulx, Lord of Tavannes (1509-1575), Marshal of France in 1570
Honorat II de Savoye, Marquis of Villars (died 1580), Marshal of France in 1571
Albert de Gondi, Duke of Retz (1522-1602), Marshal of France in 1573

Seven Marshals under Henry III, 1574-1589

Roger I de Saint Larry, Lord of Bellegarde (died 1579), Marshal of France in 1574
Blaise de Lasseran-Massencôme, Seigneur de Montluc, (1500-1577), Marshal of France in 1574
Louis Prévost de Sansac, Baron de Sansac (1496-1576), Marshal of France
Armand de Gontaut, Baron de Biron, (1524-1592), Marshal of France in 1577
Jacques de Goyon, Lord of Matignon and of Lesparre, Count of Thorigny, Prince of Mortagne sur Gironde (1525-1597), Marshal of France in 1579
Jean VI d’Aumont, Baron of Estrabonne, Count of Châteauroux (died 1580), Marshal of France in 1571
Guillaume de Joyeuse, Viscount of Joyeuse, Lord of Saint-Didier, of Laudun, of Puyvert and of Arques (1520-1592), Marshal of France in 1582
Charles II de Cossé, Duke of Brissac (1562-1621), Henry III gave him the title of Marshal of France

Bourbons

Eleven Marshals created by Henry IV between 1592 and 1602

French Empire

Twenty-seven Marshals under Napoleon I, 1804-1814

Louis Alexandre Berthier, Prince of Neufchatel and of Wagram, Duke of Valengin. (1753-1815), Marshal of France in 1804
Joachim Murat, Prince d’Empire, Grand Duke of Clèves and of Berg, King of Naples under the name of Napoleon in 1808 (1767-1815), Marshal of France in 1804
Bon Adrien Jeannot de Moncey, Duke of Conégliano (1754-1842), Marshal of France in 1804
Jean-Baptiste Jourdan, Count Jourdan (1762-1833), Marshal of France in 1804
André Masséna, Duke of Rivoli, Prince of Essling (1758-1817), Marshal of France in 1804
Pierre Augereau, Duke of Castiglione (1757-1816), Marshal of France in 1804
Jean Baptiste Jules Bernadotte, Prince of Pontecorvo, King of Sweden and Norway under the name of Charles XIV in 1818 (1763-1844), Marshal of France in 1804
Guillaume Marie-Anne Brune, Count Brune (1763-1815), Marshal of France in 1804
Nicolas Jean de Dieu Soult, Duke of Dalmatia (1769-1851), Marshal of France in 1804
Jean Lannes, Duke of Montebello (1769-1809), Marshal of France in 1804
Édouard Adolphe Casimir Joseph Mortier, Duke of Trévise (1768-1835), Marshal of France in 1804
Michel Ney, Duke of Elchingen, Prince of Moscow (1769-1815), Marshal of France in 1804
Louis Nicolas Davout, Duke of Auerstaedt, Prince of Eckmühl (1770-1823), Marshal of France in 1804
Jean-Baptiste Bessières, Duke of Istria (1768-1813), Marshal of France in 1804
François Christophe Kellermann, Duke of Valmy (1737-1820), Marshal of France in 1804
François Joseph Lefebvre, Duke of Dantzig (1755-1820), Marshal of France in 1804
Dominique Catherine de Pérignon, Marquis of Pérignon (1754-1818), Marshal of France in 1804
Jean-Mathieu-Philibert, Comte Sérurier, (1742-1819), Marshal of France in 1804
Claude Perrin Victor, Duke of Bellune (1764-1841), Marshal of France in 1807
Etienne-Jacques-Joseph-Alexandre MacDonald, Duke of Tarento (1765-1840), Marshal of France in 1809
Nicolas Charles Oudinot, Duke of Reggio (1767-1847), marshal of France in 1809
Auguste Frédéric Louis Viesse de Marmont, Duke of Ragusa (1774-1852), Marshal of France in 1809
Louis Gabriel Suchet, Duke of Albufera (1770-1826), Marshal of France in 1811
Laurent, Marquis de Gouvion Saint-Cyr, Marquis of Gouvion-Saint-Cyr (1764-1830), Marshal of France in 1812
Joseph Poniatowski, Prince Poniatowski (1763-1813), Marshal of France in 1813
Emmanuel, marquis de Grouchy, (1766-1847), Marshal of France in 1815

The names of a great proportion of these have been given to successive stretches of a circular avenue encircling Paris, thus nicknamed Boulevard des Maréchaux ("The Marshals' Boulevard").