Colonel (abbreviated as Col., Col or COL) is a senior military Officer (armed forces), officer rank used in many countries. It is also used in some police forces and paramilitary organizations. In the 17th, 18th and 19th centuries, a colonel was typically in charge of a regiment in an army. Modern usage varies greatly, and in some cases, the term is used as an Colonel (title), honorific title that may have no direct relationship to military service. The rank of colonel is typically above the rank of lieutenant colonel. The rank above colonel is typically called brigadier, brigade general or brigadier general. In some smaller military forces, such as those of Monaco or the Holy See, Vatican, colonel is the highest Military rank, rank. Equivalent naval ranks may be called Captain (naval), captain or ship-of-the-line captain. In the Commonwealth of Nations, Commonwealth's air force ranking system, the equivalent rank is group captain.

History and origins

By the end of the late medieval period, a group of "companies" was referred to as a "column" of an army. According to Raymond Oliver, around 1500, the Spanish began explicitly reorganizing part of their army into 20 ''colunelas'' or columns of approximately 1000-1250 soldiers. Each ''colunela'' was commanded by a ''cabo de colunela'' or column head. Because they were crown units, the units were also confusingly called ''coronelas,'' and their commanders ''coronels.'' Evidence of this can be seen when Gonzalo Fernández de Córdoba, nicknamed "the Great Captain," divided his armies in ''coronelías'' each led by a ''coronel'' (colonel) in 1508.Los tercios españoles. La batalla de Pavía
at militar.org.ua (in Spanish, unspecified authorship) Later in the 16th century, the French army adopted this organizational structure, renaming ''colunelas'' regiments. On the other hand, they simply Gallicized ''colunela'' to the French ''colonel'' and pronounced it as written. The English then copied the unit and rank from the French. However, for reasons unknown, the English adopted the Spanish pronunciation of ''coronel,'' and after several decades of use shortened it to its current two-syllable pronuciation "kernel." ''Colonel'' is linked to the word ''column'' (from Latin: ''columna''; Italian language, Italian: ''colonna''; French language, French: ''colonne'') in a similar way that ''brigadier'' is linked to ''brigade'', although in English this relationship is not immediately obvious. With the shift from primarily mercenary to primarily national armies in the course of the 17th century, a colonel (normally a member of the aristocracy) became a holder (German ''Inhaber'') or proprietor of a military contract with a sovereign. The colonel purchased the regimental contract—the right to hold the regiment—from the previous holder of that right or directly from the sovereign when a new regiment was formed or an incumbent was Killed in action, killed. As the office of colonel became an established practice, the colonel became the senior captain in a group of companies that were all sworn to observe his personal authority—to be ruled or regimented by him. This regiment, or governance, was to some extent embodied in a contract and set of written rules, also referred to as the colonel's regiment or standing regulation(s). By extension, the group of company (military), companies subject to a colonel's regiment (in the foregoing sense) came to be referred to as his regiment (in the modern sense) as well. In French usage of this period, the senior colonel in the army or, in a field force, the senior military contractor, was the colonel general and, in the absence of the sovereign or his designate, the colonel general might serve as the commander of a force. The position, however, was primarily contractual and it became progressively more of a functionless sinecure. (The head of a single regiment or demi-brigade would be called a 'mestre de camp' or, after the French Revolution, Revolution, a 'chef de brigade'.) By the late 19th century, colonel was a professional military rank though still held typically by an officer in command of a regiment or equivalent unit. Along with other ranks, it has become progressively more a matter of ranked duties, qualifications and experience and of corresponding titles and pay scale than of functional office in a particular organization. As European military influence expanded throughout the world, the rank of colonel became adopted by nearly every nation (albeit under a variety of names). With the rise of communism, some of the large communist militaries saw fit to expand the colonel rank into several grades, resulting in the unique senior colonel rank, which was found and is still used in such nations as China and North Korea.

Colonel-in-chief

In many modern armies, the regiment has more importance as a ceremonial unit or a focus of members' loyalty than as an actual battle formation. Troops tend to be deployed in battalions (commanded by a lieutenant colonel) as a more convenient size of military unit and, as such, colonels have tended to have a higher profile in specialist and command roles than as actual commanders of regiments. However, in Commonwealth armies, the position of the colonel as the figurehead of a regiment is maintained in the honorary role of "colonel-in-chief", usually held by a member of the British Royal family, royal family, the nobility, or a retired senior military officer. The colonel-in-chief wears a colonel's uniform and encourages the members of the regiment, but takes no active part in the actual command structure or in any operational duties.

Colonel of the Regiment

The title Colonel of the Regiment (to distinguish it from the military rank of colonel) continues to be used in the modern British Army. The ceremonial position is often conferred on retired general officers, brigadiers or colonels who have a close link to a particular regiment. Non-military personnel, usually for positions within the Army Reserve(United Kingdom), Army Reserve may also be appointed to the ceremonial position. When attending functions as "Colonel of the Regiment", the titleholder wears the regimental uniform with rank insignia of (full) colonel, regardless of their official rank. A member of the Royal Family is known as a Royal Colonel. A Colonel of the Regiment is expected to work closely with a regiment and its Regimental Association.

Colonel by country

* Colonel (Canada) * Colonel (Eastern Europe) * Oberst, Colonel (Germanic languages) * Colonel (India) * Colonel (Pakistan) * Colonel (Sri Lanka) * Colonel (United Kingdom) * Colonel (United States)

Insignia

Insignia of army colonels

File:ALB-Army-OF-5.svg, File:Angola-Army-OF-5.svg, File:CR-EA.png, File:Australian Army OF-5.svg, Fil

File:Bangladesh-army-OF-5.svg, File:Post-Soviet-Army-OF-5.svg, File:Army-BEL-OF-05.svg, File:CnelEB.svg, File:Bosnia_and_Herzegovina_Brigadier_Insignia.svg, File:Coronel-V.gif, File:Rank insignia of Полковник of the Bulgarian Army.png, Image:Cdn-Army-Col(OF-5)-2014.svg, File:Cape_Verde-army-OF-5.svg, File:coronelrch.jpg, File:PLA Colonel.svg, File:Rank insignia of coronel of the Colombian Army.svg, File:Cuba-Army-OF-5.svg, File:CzArmy_2011_OF5-Plukovnik_shoulder.svg, File:Rank insignia of oberst of the Royal Danish Army.svg, File:Capona de Coronel Ejercito Nacional.svg, File:14.ECA-COL.svg, File:El-Salvador-Army-OF-5.svg, File:12._EGLF-COL.svg, Image:Eversti kauluslaatta.svg, File:Army-FRA-OF-05.svg, File:Georgia Army OF-6.png, File:HD H 53 Oberst ABCAbw.svg, Image:Army-GRE-OF-05.svg, File:Guatemala-army-OF-5.svg, Guyana_Defence_Force_(GDF)_Colonel_rank_insignia.svg, {{center, Guyana Defense Force, Guayana File:HON-army-OF-5.svg, {{center, Armed Forces of Honduras, Honduras
(''coronel'') File:Rank Army Hungary OF-05.svg, {{center, Hungary
(''ezredes'') Colonel_of_the_Indian_Army.svg, {{center, India File:18-TNI Army-COL.svg, {{center, Indonesia File:16-_Sarhang-IRGC.png, {{center, Iran
(''sarhang'') Image:IE-Army-OF5.png, {{center, Republic of Ireland, Ireland IDF aluf mishne.svg, {{center, Israel Image:IT-Army-OF5b.svg, {{center, Italy
(''colonnello'') File:Mexico_army_OF5.svg, {{center, Mexican Army, Mexico
(''coronel'') Image:Monaco-army-OF-5.svg, {{center, Monaco
(''colonel'') File:Mongolian Army-COL-parade.svg, {{center, Mongolia
(''Хурандаа'') File:15-Moroccan_Army-COL.svg, {{center, Morocco
(''عقيد'') File:Mozambique-Army-OF-5.svg, {{center, Mozambique Defence Armed Forces, Mozambique
(''coronel'') Image:Nl-landmacht-kolonel.svg, {{center, Netherlands
(''kolonel'') File:13-Nicaragua_Army-COL.svg, {{center, Nicaraguan Armed Forces, Nicaragua
(''coronel'') File:Polkovnik-arm.png, {{center, North Macedonia
(полковник, ''polkovnik'') File:Army-NOR-OF-05.svg, {{center, Norway
(''oberst'') File:OF-5 Pakistan Army.svg, {{center, Pakistan File:Paraguay-Army-OF-5.svg, {{center, Paraguayan Army, Paraguay
(''coronel'') File:EP_CNEL.png, {{center, Peruvian Army, Peru
(''coronel'') File:PA COL Svc.svg, {{center, Philippines
(''Lakan/Coronel'') Image:Rank insignia of pułkownik of the Army of Poland.svg, {{center, Poland
(''pułkownik'') Image:18 - Coronel.svg, {{center, Portugal
(''coronel'') File:RO-Army-OF5.png, {{center, Romania File:Russia-Army-OF-5-2010.svg, {{center, Russia
(''polkovnik / Полковник'') File:14-Serbian_Army-COL.svg, {{center, Serbia
(''pukovnik'') 15.SKA-COL.svg, {{center, South Korea File:Spain-Army-OF-5.svg, {{center, Spanish Army, Spain
(''coronel'') File:SAA-OF-5.svg, {{center, South Africa File:Syria-Aqid.jpg, {{center, Syrian Arab Army, Syria
(عقيد) File:Sri Lanka-army-OF-5.svg, {{center, Sri Lanka File:SWE-överste.svg, {{center, Sweden
(Överste) File:Taiwan-army-OF-5.svg, {{center, Taiwan
(''shang xiao'') File:RTA OF-5 (Colonel).svg, {{center, Thailand File:Turkey-army-OF-5.svg, {{center, Turkey
(''albay'') File:UA shoulder mark 17.svg, {{center, Ukraine
(''polkovnik/Полковник'') File:British Army OF-5.svg, {{center, United Kingdom File:US Army O6 (Army greens).svg, {{center, United States File:CNELEJB-GNB.png, {{center, Venezuelan Army, Venezuela
(''coronel'')

Insignia of air force colonels

File:BE-Air Force-OF5.svg, {{center, Belgium File:Coronel FAB V.jpg, {{center, Brazil (''coronel'') File:Canadian RCAF OF-5.svg, {{center, Colonel (Canada), Canada File:Fach cav.gif, {{center, Chile (''coronel'') File:RDAF Col.svg, {{center, Denmark (''oberst'') File:French Air Force-colonel.svg, {{center, France File:Georgia Air Force OF-6.png, {{center, Georgia (პოლკოვნიკი, ''Polkovniki, polkovnik'') File:Luftwaffe-271-Oberst.png, {{center, Germany (''oberst'') File:18-TNI Navy-CAPT.svg, {{center, Indonesia (''kolonel'') File:IT-Airforce-OF-5.png, {{center, Italy (''colonnello'') File:15.SKAF-COL.svg, {{center, South Korea File:Nl-luchtmacht-kolonel.svg, {{center, Netherlands (''kolonel'') File:PAF COL Svc.svg, {{center, Philippines
(''Lakan/Coronel'') File:Rank insignia of pułkownik of the Air Force of Poland.svg, {{center, Poland (''pułkownik'') File:Cor t.jpg, {{center, Portugal (''coronel'') File:Russia-Airforce-OF-5-2010.svg, {{center, Russia (''polkovnik'') File:14-Serbian Air Force-COL.svg, {{center, Serbia (''pukovnik'') File:Cor-ea.svg, {{center, Spain (''coronel'') File:SWE-Airforce-överste.png, {{center, Sweden (''Överste'') File:Taiwan-airforce-OF-5.svg, {{center, Taiwan File:US Air Force O6 shoulderboard.svg, {{center, United States File:6-CNELAMB.png, {{center, Venezuela

Insignia of naval infantry colonels

File:18-TNI Air Force-COL.svg, {{center, Indonesia File:IDF Navy aluf mishne.png, {{center, Israel File:PHIL ARMY COL WOODLAND.svg, {{center, Philippines ROKMC-OF-5.svg, {{center, South Korea File:Taiwan-Marine-OF-5.svg, {{center, Taiwan File:British Royal Marines OF-5.svg, {{center, United Kingdom US Marine O6 shoulderboard vertical.svg, {{center, United States

Insignia of colonels of other services

File:US Space-force O6 (interim).svg, {{center, United States Space Force

Colonel as highest-ranking officer

Some military forces have a colonel as their highest-ranking officer, with no 'general' ranks, and no superior authority (except, perhaps, the head of state as a titular commander-in-chief) other than the respective national government. Examples include the following (arranged alphabetically by country name): * Antigua and Barbuda Defence Force, Antigua and Barbuda (170 personnel) * Public Force of Costa Rica, Costa Rica (about 8,000 personnel) * Iceland Crisis Response Unit, Iceland (100 personnel, employed only for peacekeeping duties) * Armed Forces of the Libyan Arab Jamahiriya, Libya (commands all the Armed Forces – Muammar Gaddafi until 2011) * Military of Monaco, Monaco (two branches, with a total of about 250 personnel) * Suriname National Army, Suriname (1,800 personnel) (up to 19 June 2020) * Military in Vatican City, Vatican City (110 personnel – the Pontifical Swiss Guard, Swiss Guard) {, class="wikitable" style="text-align: center" , - ! colspan="6", Rank insignia for a colonel in several nations which have no higher military rank , - ! rowspan=2 , Iceland ! colspan=2 , Monaco ! rowspan=2 , Vatican City , - ! Colonel Compagnie des Carabiniers du Prince, CCP !! Colonel Corps des Sapeurs-Pompiers de Monaco, CSP
, - , IFRofursti

Rank insignia of Oberst (OF-5) Pontifical Swiss Guard

Other uses of colonel ranks

{{Further, Colonel (disambiguation) The term ''colonel'' is also used as a title for auctioneers in the United States; there are a variety of theories or folk etymologies to explain the use of the term.{{cite book, url=https://books.google.com/books?id=7p9HAQAAIAAJ&q=auctioneer+colonel, title=The auction companion, first1=Daniel J., last1=Leab, first2=Katharine Kyes, last2=Leab, date=29 December 1981, publisher=Harper & Row, isbn=9780060125561, via=Google Books One of these is the claim that during the American Civil War goods seized by armies were sold at auction by the colonel of the division.{{Citation , last1 = Doyle , first1 = Robert A. , last2 = Baska , first2 = Steve , title = History of Auctions: From ancient Rome to todays high-tech auctions , journal = Auctioneer , date = November 2002 , access-date = 2008-06-22 , url = http://www.auctioneersfoundation.org/news_detail.php?id=5094 , archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20080517071614/http://auctioneersfoundation.org/news_detail.php?id=5094 , archive-date = May 17, 2008 Kentucky colonel is the highest title of honor bestowed by the Commonwealth of Kentucky. Commissions for Kentucky colonels are given by the Governor and the Secretary of State to individuals in recognition of noteworthy accomplishments and outstanding service to a community, state or the nation. The sitting governor of the Commonwealth of Kentucky bestows the honor of a colonel's Commission, by issuance of letters patent. Perhaps the best known Kentucky colonel is Colonel Sanders, Harland Sanders of ''KFC, Kentucky Fried Chicken'' fame. The rank of colonel is also used by some police forces and paramilitary organizations.

References

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