This article is about the military rank in Anglophone countries. For the equivalent rank in Slavophone armed forces, seePolkovnik. For the equivalent rank in Austria, Switzerland and Germany, seeOberst. For other uses, seeColonel (disambiguation).
Colonel (/ˈkɜːrnəl/ⓘKUR-nəl; abbreviated asCol.,Col, orCOL) is a senior militaryofficer rank used in many countries. It is also used in some police forces andparamilitary organizations.
In the 17th, 18th, and 19th centuries, a colonel was typically in charge of aregiment in an army. Modern usage varies greatly, and in some cases, the term is used as anhonorific title that may have no direct military relationship. In some smaller military forces, such as those ofMonaco or theVatican, colonel is the highestrank.
Later, in the 16th century, the French army adopted this organizational structure, renamingcolunelas regiments. Even so, they simply Gallicizedcolunela to the Frenchcolonel 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 ofcoronel, and after several decades of use shortened it to its current two-syllable pronunciation "kernel".Colonel is linked to the wordcolumn (fromLatin:columna; Italian:colonna; French:colonne) in a similar way thatbrigadier is linked tobrigade, although in English this relationship is not immediately obvious.[1]
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 (GermanInhaber) 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 waskilled.
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 ofcompanies 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 thecolonel 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 functionlesssinecure. The head of a single regiment ordemi-brigade would be called a 'mestre de camp' or, after theRevolution, 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 ofcommunism, some of the large communist militaries saw fit to expand the colonel rank into several grades, resulting, for example, in the uniquesenior colonel rank, which was found and is still used in such nations as China andNorth Korea.
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 alieutenant 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 theroyal family,[3] 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.[4]
The titleColonel 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 retiredgeneral officers,brigadiers or colonels who have a close link to a particular regiment. Non-military personnel, usually for positions within theArmy 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 theRoyal Family is known as aRoyal Colonel. A Colonel of the Regiment is expected to work closely with a regiment and itsRegimental Association.
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):
The termcolonel is also used as a title for auctioneers in the United States; there are a variety of theories orfolk etymologies to explain the use of the term.[6] One of these is the claim that during theAmerican Civil War goods seized by armies were sold at auction by the colonel of the division.[7]
Kentucky colonel is the highest title of honor bestowed by theCommonwealth 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 isHarland Sanders ofKentucky Fried Chicken fame.
The rank of colonel is also used by some police forces and paramilitary organizations.
^abOliver, Raymond (1983).Why is the Colonel Called Kernal?(PDF). Sacramento, CA: Office of History, Sacramento Air Logistics Center. p. 13. Retrieved2022-10-04.
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