Colonel ( ; abbreviated as Col., Col, or COL) is a senior military

officer An officer is a person who has a position of authority in a hierarchical organization. The term derives from Old French ''oficier'' "officer, official" (early 14c., Modern French ''officier''), from Medieval Latin ''officiarius'' "an officer," fro ...

rank used in many countries. It is also used in some police forces and

paramilitary A paramilitary is a military that is not a part of a country's official or legitimate armed forces. The Oxford English Dictionary traces the use of the term "paramilitary" as far back as 1934. Overview Though a paramilitary is, by definiti ...

organizations. In the 17th, 18th, and 19th centuries, a colonel was typically in charge of a

regiment A regiment is a military unit. Its role and size varies markedly, depending on the country, military service, service, or administrative corps, specialisation. In Middle Ages, Medieval Europe, the term "regiment" denoted any large body of l ...

in an army. Modern usage varies greatly, and in some cases, the term is used as an honorific title that may have no direct relationship to military. In some smaller military forces, such as those of

Monaco Monaco, officially the Principality of Monaco, is a Sovereign state, sovereign city-state and European microstates, microstate on the French Riviera a few kilometres west of the Regions of Italy, Italian region of Liguria, in Western Europe, ...

or the

Vatican Vatican may refer to: Geography * Vatican City, an independent city-state surrounded by Rome, Italy * Vatican Hill, in Rome, namesake of Vatican City * Ager Vaticanus, an alluvial plain in Rome * Vatican, an unincorporated community in the ...

, colonel is the highest rank. Equivalent naval ranks may be called

captain Captain is a title, an appellative for the commanding officer of a military unit; the supreme leader or highest rank officer of a navy ship, merchant ship, aeroplane, spacecraft, or other vessel; or the commander of a port, fire or police depa ...

ship-of-the-line captain Captain is the name most often given in English-speaking navies to the rank corresponding to command of the largest ships. The rank is equal to the army rank of colonel and air force rank of group captain. Equivalent ranks worldwide include ...

. In the

Commonwealth A commonwealth is a traditional English term for a political community founded for the common good. The noun "commonwealth", meaning "public welfare, general good or advantage", dates from the 15th century. Originally a phrase (the common-wealth ...

's air force ranking system, the equivalent rank is

group captain Group captain (Gp Capt or G/C) is a senior officer rank used by some air forces, with origins from the Royal Air Force. The rank is used by air forces of many Commonwealth of Nations, countries that have historical British influence. Group cap ...

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, , the Spanish began explicitly reorganizing part of their army into 20 ''colunelas'' or columns of approximately 1,000–1,250 soldiers. Each ''colunela'' was commanded by a ''cabo de colunela'' or column head. Because they were crown units who are directly under the control of the

monarch A monarch () is a head of stateWebster's II New College Dictionary. "Monarch". Houghton Mifflin. Boston. 2001. p. 707. Life tenure, for life or until abdication, and therefore the head of state of a monarchy. A monarch may exercise the highest ...

sovereign ''Sovereign'' is a title that can be applied to the highest leader in various categories. The word is borrowed from Old French , which is ultimately derived from the Latin">-4; we might wonder whether there's a point at which it's appropriate to ...

of a country, the units were also confusingly called ''coronelas'', and their commanders ''coronels''. Evidence of this can be seen when

Gonzalo Fernández de Córdoba Gonzalo Fernández de Córdoba (1 September 1453 – 2 December 1515) was a Spanish general and statesman. He led military campaigns during the Conquest of Granada and the Italian Wars, after which he served as Viceroy of Naples. For his e ...

, nicknamed "the Great Captain", divided his armies in ''coronelías'', each led by a ''coronel'', 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. Even so, they simply Gallicized ''colunela'' to the French 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 pronunciation "kernel". ''Colonel'' is linked to the word ''column'' (from

Latin Latin ( or ) is a classical language belonging to the Italic languages, Italic branch of the Indo-European languages. Latin was originally spoken by the Latins (Italic tribe), Latins in Latium (now known as Lazio), the lower Tiber area aroun ...

: ; Italian: ; French: ) 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 ) 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. 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

companies A company, abbreviated as co., is a legal entity representing an association of legal people, whether natural, juridical or a mixture of both, with a specific objective. Company members share a common purpose and unite to achieve specifi ...

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 Colonel general is a military rank used in some armies. It is particularly associated with Germany, where historically General officer#Old European system, general officer ranks were one grade lower than in the Commonwealth and the United States, ...

, 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 A sinecure ( or ; from the Latin , 'without', and , 'care') is a position with a salary or otherwise generating income that requires or involves little or no responsibility, labour, or active service. The term originated in the medieval church, ...

. The head of a single regiment or

demi-brigade A ''demi-brigade'' () is a military formation used by the French Army since the French Revolutionary Wars. The ''demi-brigade'' amalgamated the various infantry organizations of the French Revolutionary infantry into a single unit. Each one wa ...

would be called a ' mestre de camp' or, after the

Revolution In political science, a revolution (, 'a turn around') is a rapid, fundamental transformation of a society's class, state, ethnic or religious structures. According to sociologist Jack Goldstone, all revolutions contain "a common set of elements ...

, a ' chef de brigade'. By the late 19th century, colonel had evolved to a professional military rank that was 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, as well as 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). During the 20th century, with the rise of

communism Communism () is a political sociology, sociopolitical, political philosophy, philosophical, and economic ideology, economic ideology within the history of socialism, socialist movement, whose goal is the creation of a communist society, a ...

, some of the large communist militaries saw fit to expand the colonel rank into several grades, resulting, for example, in the unique

senior colonel __NOTOC__ Senior colonel is an officer rank usually placed between a regular colonel and a British brigadier or American brigadier general. Use Most western militaries tend to equate a senior colonel as being on the level of a "brigadier general ...

rank, which was found and is still used in such nations as China and

North Korea North Korea, officially the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK), is a country in East Asia. It constitutes the northern half of the Korea, Korean Peninsula and borders China and Russia to the north at the Yalu River, Yalu (Amnok) an ...

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

royal family A royal family is the immediate family of monarchs and sometimes their extended family. The term imperial family appropriately describes the family of an emperor or empress, and the term papal family describes the family of a pope, while th ...

, 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 officer A general officer is an Officer (armed forces), officer of high rank in the army, armies, and in some nations' air force, air and space forces, marines or naval infantry. In some usages, the term "general officer" refers to a rank above colone ...

brigadier Brigadier ( ) is a military rank, the seniority of which depends on the country. In some countries, it is a senior rank above colonel, equivalent to a brigadier general or commodore (rank), commodore, typically commanding a brigade of several t ...

s or colonels who have a close link to a particular regiment. Non-military personnel, usually for positions within the 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 A royal family is the immediate family of monarchs and sometimes their extended family. The term imperial family appropriately describes the family of an emperor or empress, and the term papal family describes the family of a pope, while th ...

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 (Bangladesh) *

Colonel (Canada) Colonel (Col; ) is a Canadian Forces rank used by commissioned officers who wear the army, air force or special operations uniform. Captain(N) is the equivalent rank for officers who wear the navy uniform. A colonel is senior to the army and a ...

* Colonel (Eastern European Countries) * Colonel (Germanic Countries) * Colonel (India) * Colonel (Pakistan) * Colonel (Sri Lanka) *

Colonel (United Kingdom) Colonel (Col) is a rank of the British Army and Royal Marines, ranking below Brigadier (United Kingdom), brigadier, and above Lieutenant colonel (United Kingdom), lieutenant colonel. British colonels are not usually field commanders; typically ...

Colonel (United States) A colonel () in the United States Army, United States Marine Corps, Marine Corps, United States Air Force, Air Force and United States Space Force, Space Force, is the most senior field officer, field-grade United States Military, military Off ...

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, File:15.AzAF-COL.png, 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, File: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, File:Eversti kauluslaatta.svg, File:Army-FRA-OF-05.svg, File:Georgia Army OF-6.png, File:HD H 53 Oberst ABCAbw.svg, File:Army-GRE-OF-05.svg, File:Guatemala-army-OF-5.svg, File:HON-army-OF-5.svg, File:Rank Army Hungary OF-05.svg, File:Colonel of the Indian Army.svg, File:18-TNI Army-COL.svg, File:Sarhang 1.png, File:IE-Army-OF5.png, File:IDF aluf mishne.svg, File:IT-Army-OF5b.svg, File:Mexico army OF5.svg, File:Monaco-army-OF-5.svg, File:Mongolian Army-COL-parade.svg, File:15-Moroccan Army-COL.svg, File:Mozambique-Army-OF-5.svg, File:Nl-landmacht-kolonel.svg, File:New Zealand-Army-OF-5.svg, File:13-Nicaragua Army-COL.svg, File:Polkovnik-arm.png, File:Army-NOR-OF-05.svg, File:OF-5 Pakistan Army.svg, alt=Pakistan, ("kernal") File:Paraguay-Army-OF-5.svg, File:EP CNEL.png, File:PA COL Svc.svg, File:Rank insignia of pułkownik of the Army of Poland.svg, File:18 - Coronel.svg, File:RO-Army-OF5.png, File:Russia-Army-OF-5-2010.svg, File:14-Serbian Army-COL.svg, File:Army-SVK-OF-05.svg, alt=, File:15.SKA-COL.svg, File:Spain-Army-OF-5.svg, File:SAA-OF-5.svg, File:Sri Lanka-army-OF-5.svg, File:SWE-överste.svg, File:Taiwan-army-OF-5.svg, File:RTA OF-5 (Colonel).svg, File:Turkey-army-OF-5.svg, File:Post-Soviet-Army-OF-5.svg, File:UA shoulder mark 17.svg, File:British Army OF-5.svg, File:US Army O6 (Army greens).svg, File:CNELEJB-GNB.png, File:Vietnam People's Army Colonel.png, File:12. Myanmar Army COL.svg,

Myanmar Myanmar, officially the Republic of the Union of Myanmar; and also referred to as Burma (the official English name until 1989), is a country in northwest Southeast Asia. It is the largest country by area in Mainland Southeast Asia and has ...

Insignia of air force colonels

File:BE-Air Force-OF5.svg, File:Coronel FAB V.jpg, File:Canadian RCAF OF-5.svg, File:Fach cav.gif, File:RDAF Col.svg, File:French Air Force-colonel.svg, File:Georgia Air Force OF-6.png, File:Luftwaffe-271-Oberst.png, File:18-TNI Navy-CAPT.svg, File: IAF aluf mishne.svg , File:IT-Airforce-OF-5.png, File:15.SKAF-COL.svg, File:Nl-luchtmacht-kolonel.svg, File:PAF COL Svc.svg, File:Rank insignia of pułkownik of the Air Force of Poland.svg, File:Cor t.jpg, File:Russia-Airforce-OF-5-2010.svg, File:14-Serbian Air Force-COL.svg, File:Cor-ea.svg, File:SWE-Airforce-överste.png, File:Taiwan-airforce-OF-5.svg, File:US Air Force O6 shoulderboard.svg, File:6-CNELAMB.png,

Insignia of naval infantry colonels

File:18-TNI Air Force-COL.svg, File:IDF Navy aluf mishne.png, File:PHIL ARMY COL WOODLAND.svg, ROKMC-OF-5.svg, File:Taiwan-Marine-OF-5.svg, File:British Royal Marines OF-5.svg, US Marine O6 shoulderboard vertical.svg,

Insignia of colonels of other services

File:US_Space-force_O6.svg,

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 Antigua and Barbuda is a Sovereign state, sovereign archipelagic country composed of Antigua, Barbuda, and List of islands of Antigua and Barbuda, numerous other small islands. Antigua and Barbuda has a total area of 440 km2 (170 sq mi), ...

(170 personnel) *

Costa Rica Costa Rica, officially the Republic of Costa Rica, is a country in Central America. It borders Nicaragua to the north, the Caribbean Sea to the northeast, Panama to the southeast, and the Pacific Ocean to the southwest, as well as Maritime bo ...

(about 8,000 personnel) *

Iceland Iceland is a Nordic countries, Nordic island country between the Atlantic Ocean, North Atlantic and Arctic Oceans, on the Mid-Atlantic Ridge between North America and Europe. It is culturally and politically linked with Europe and is the regi ...

(100 personnel, employed only for peacekeeping duties) *

Libya Libya, officially the State of Libya, is a country in the Maghreb region of North Africa. It borders the Mediterranean Sea to the north, Egypt to Egypt–Libya border, the east, Sudan to Libya–Sudan border, the southeast, Chad to Chad–L ...

(commands all the Armed Forces –

Muammar Gaddafi Muammar Muhammad Abu Minyar al-Gaddafi (20 October 2011) was a Libyan military officer, revolutionary, politician and political theorist who ruled Libya from 1969 until Killing of Muammar Gaddafi, his assassination by Libyan Anti-Gaddafi ...

until 2011) *

(two branches, with a total of about 250 personnel) *

Suriname Suriname, officially the Republic of Suriname, is a country in northern South America, also considered as part of the Caribbean and the West Indies. It is a developing country with a Human Development Index, high level of human development; i ...

(1,800 personnel) (up to 19 June 2020) *

Vatican City Vatican City, officially the Vatican City State (; ), is a Landlocked country, landlocked sovereign state and city-state; it is enclaved within Rome, the capital city of Italy and Bishop of Rome, seat of the Catholic Church. It became inde ...

(110 personnel – the

Swiss Guard The Pontifical Swiss Guard,; ; ; ; , %5BCorps of the Pontifical Swiss Guard%5D. ''vatican.va'' (in Italian). Retrieved 19 July 2022. also known as the Papal Swiss Guard or simply Swiss Guard,Swiss Guards , History, Vatican, Uniform, Require ...

)

Other uses of colonel ranks

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. One of these is the claim that during the

American Civil War The American Civil War (April 12, 1861May 26, 1865; also known by Names of the American Civil War, other names) was a civil war in the United States between the Union (American Civil War), Union ("the North") and the Confederate States of A ...

goods seized by armies were sold at auction by the colonel of the division. 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. This is the equivalent to a full colonel in the militia. 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 Harland Sanders of ''

Kentucky Fried Chicken KFC Corporation, doing business as KFC (an abbreviation of Kentucky Fried Chicken), is an American fast food restaurant chain specializing in fried chicken and chicken sandwiches. Headquartered in Louisville, Kentucky, it is the world's s ...

'' fame. The rank of colonel is also used by some police forces and paramilitary organizations.

References

Bibliography

* {{Authority control Military ranks Police ranks