Lieutenant-Général (French: Lieutenant-Général) in France, was a title and rank across various military and security institutions with history dating back well beyond the 18th century. The official historic succession of the "Lieutenant-Général of France" corresponded to Général de division for the French Army, and Vice-Amiral (Vice-Admiral) for the French Navy.
While the French Navy's equivalent of a Lieutenant General is a Vice-Admiral, the equivalent of today's Lieutenant-Général in the French Armed Forces would be partially that of Général de corps d'armée (French: Général de corps d'armée), such was due to the fact that the concept of an Army Corps (French: Corps d'Armée) wasn't adopted first until 19 November 1873, by a Presidential Decree, and the actual rank of Général de corps d'armée was not officially formed until a Law Decree on 6 June 1939.[1]
In France, under the Ancien Régime, the Restoration (French: restauration) and July Monarchy, several officers carried the title of Lieutenant-General (French: Lieutenant-Général). Within a general context, the title designated the individual who was delegated all the powers of authority on behalf of the person who he was supposed to replace.
Province Lieutenant-General
The Province Lieutenant-General (French: Lieutenant-Général de Province) was a personage, often issued from high aristocracy, and who represented the King in the provinces of the Kingdom. His role was theoretically resumed to the assurance locum status of the Governor. Accordingly, the Kings would hope that their influence would get neutralized simultaneously, preventing any sort of tentative revolt. The charge function of the lieutenant-general became in the 17th century and specially in the 18th century, purely an honorific title: The individual bearing this title would reside in the Cour de France (French: Cour de France) and would contempt to earn income without actual real work. In addition, the Kings had the tendency to nominate the sons which were heir to their fathers, a hereditary system which made the offices of the lieutenant-general strictly part of the patrimony of aristocratic families.
One should not mix the office of the lieutenant-general with that of the Lieutenant of the King (French: Lieutenant du Roi). The Lieutenant of the King was subordinated to the Lieutenant-General and his role (within a similar framework: represented the King in the provinces) was only upheld with very limited functions.
Lieutenant-General Bailliage
The Lieutenant-General Baillage (Baillage (French: bailliage)[3] or Sénéchaussée (French: sénéchaussée) - Bailliage : designated both a territorial entity (administrative, financial or legal circumscription) and the charge officer of that function, designated as Bailli) was the name which referred to the Grand-Judge (French: Juge-Mage),[4] charged with replacing temporarily the Bailli (French: bailli) and Sénéchal (French: Sénéchal) in relation to legal cases.
Lieutenant-General of the Police
The title of Lieutenant-General of the Police (French: lieutenant-général de police) under the Ancien Régime was established in 1667, at Paris, to assure and maintain order. As of 1699, other Police Lieutenant-Generals were established in other grand cities in France.
Lieutenant-General of the Kingdom
The title of Lieutenant-General of the Kingdom referred to a temporary function which the Kings, in circumstances of crises, invested all their power in them to exercise their will or part of their royal authority.
Charged with this function were:
The Duke of Orléans[5] on 31 July 1830, who assured the régence to count from 2 August, before being proclaimed King of the French under the name of Louis Philippe I on 9 August 1830.
^The Général de corps d'armée in the French Armed Forces, is the third ranking order of the general officer corps, based on the hierarchical order. The designation of a général de corps d'armée is situated above a général de division and underneath the designation of général d'armée. By regulation, the rank refers to an officer of the rank of « Général de division » who receives the « rank and designation » of a « Général de corps d'armée ». This rank would command an Army Corps, a unit composing several Divisions. The insignia is composed of 4 stars. A Presidential Decree on 19 November 1873 introduced for a first time the notion of "corps armée". A circular on 17 March 1921 depicted that generals commanding an Army Corps (French: corps d'armée) would wear a 4th star, forming with the first three, a diamond shape. The generals commanding the army and the members of the Superior War Council wore a 5th star, superposed in the first 4 stars. Finally a Law Decree of 6 June 1939 made official, the designations and ranks referrals of "Général d'armée", "Général de corps d'armée", "Amiral", "Vice-amiral d'escadre", "Général d'armée aérienne" et "Général de corps aérien".
^A charge function which was also in application in Belgium and Switzerland.
^From LatinJudex Major (« Grand Judge ») was an old legal function depending on the lieu and époque in concern. Since Roman Antiquity, the Judex Major was the first Judge in a tribunal. During the Ancien Régime in France, the charge function of the lieutenant-general should not be confused with the military rank of a lieutenant-general. Certain cities had their Grand-Judge, first officer in the jurisdiction implications. In France, this function disappeared with the Revolution.