General of the Army (France)

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Please see "General of the Army" for other nations which use this rank

A Général d'Armée (General of Army) is the highest active military rank of the French Army.

Officially, Général d'armée is not a rank (grade in French), but a position and style (rang et appelation) bestowed on some Généraux de division (which is the highest substantive rank) in charge of important commands, such as chief of staff of the army (Chef d'état-major de l'armée de terre) or chiefs of general staff (Chef d'état-major des armées).

A French General of the Army displays five stars on a shoulder board, with a sixth star authorized for the General of the Army in command of the Paris sector.

The Air Force equivalent is Général d'armée aérienne and the Navy equivalent is Amiral.

Only a Marshal of France (Maréchal de France) is higher; however Marshal is not a rank, but a dignity of the State (dignité dans l'État), only today bestowed ceremonially. It is considered to be a position of distinction rather than an actual military rank. A seventh star may be displayed on the General of the Army insignia by a Marshal of France.

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