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.
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 French: 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] | ||||
| French: Maréchal de France | French: Général de division | French: Général de brigade | ||
| Rank group | Senior officers | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Insignia | |||||
| Infantry and artillery | French: Colonel | French: Colonel en second | French: Major | French: Major en second | French: Chef de bataillon |
| Cavalry and train[4] | French: Chef d'escadron | ||||
The rank insignia of non-commissioned officers and enlisted personnel.
| Rank group | NCOs | Caporals | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Insignia | ||||||
| Infantry and artillery | French: Adjudant sous-officier | French: Adjudant sous-officier version of 1808 | French: Sergent-major | French: Sergent | French: Caporal-fourrier | French: Caporal |
| Cavalry and train | French: Maréchal des logis-chef | French: Maréchal des logis | French: Brigadier-fourrier | French: Brigadier | ||
| Physician[5] | Surgeons | Pharmacists | |
|---|---|---|---|
| French: Médecin en chef | French: Chirurgien en chef | - | |
| French: Médecin major | French: Chirurgien major | French: Pharmacien major | |
| French: Médecin aide major | French: Chirurgien aide major | French: Pharmacien aide major | |
| - | French: Chirurgien sous aide major | French: Pharmacien sous aide major |
Sergeants, corporals and privates were issued good conduct and long service badges, French: 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]
