Marshal
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- This article is about a title. For an adjective meaning "warlike" and associated meanings, see martial (disambiguation) and wiktionary:martial. For marshaling in computer science, see serialization. Or see Marshall.
Marshal (also sometimes spelled marshall in American English, but not in British English) is a word used in several official titles of various branches of society. The word derives from Old Germanic marh "horse" and scalc "servant", and originally meant "stable keeper". As marshals became trusted members of the courts of Medieval Europe, the title grew in reputation. During the last few centuries, it has been used for the most elevated offices. The American English spelling of the name ("Marshall") is often confused with the spelling of the title ("Marshal").
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[edit] Military
In many countries, the rank of Marshal is the highest Army rank, outranking a General. Marshals are very sparsely appointed, and typically only in war-time (although this need not be the case). The rank of Marshal may also be expanded into the similar title of Field Marshal. The special symbol of a Marshal is a baton, and so their insignia often incorporate batons.
In some countries, the word Marshal is also used instead of General in the higher Air force ranks. The four highest Royal Air Force ranks are Marshal of the Royal Air Force, Air Chief Marshal, Air Marshal and Air Vice Marshal (although the first has generally been suspended as a peacetime rank). The 5 star rank of Marshal of the Air Force is used by some Commonwealth air forces.
In the French army and some armies based on the French army, Maréchal des logis ( Marshal-of-Lodgings ) is a cavalry term equivalent to sergeant.
Some historical rulers have used special Marshal titles to reward certain subjects. Though not strictly military ranks, these honorary titles have been exclusively bestowed upon successful military leaders, such as the famous Grand Marshal of Ayacucho Antonio Jose de Sucre. Most famous are the Marshals of France (Maréchaux de France), not least under Napoleon I. Another such title was that of Reich Marshal (Reichsmarschall), that was bestowed upon Hermann Göring by Adolf Hitler, although it was never a regular title.
Soviet Union and Russia have both General of the Army and Marshal in their rank system, which leaves the latter as a largely honorary rank.
[edit] Marshal ranks by country
The following articles deal with the rank of Marshal as used by specific countries:
- Marshal of the German Democratic Republic (East Germany)
- Marshal of Finland (Finland)
- Marshal of France (France)
- Marshal-of-Lodgings (France)
- Marshal of Italy (Italy)
- Marshal of Poland (Poland)
- Marshal of the Russian Federation (Russian Federation)
- Marshal of the Soviet Union (Soviet Union)
- Marshal of Yugoslavia (Yugoslavia)
- Mariscal and the upper Condestable (Spanish language countries)
These non-European ranks are considered the equivalent to a Marshal
- Mushir (Middle East)
- Wonsu (North Korea and South Korea)
- Maresal (Turkey)
- Yuan Shuai (China)
- Chom Phon (Thailand)
[edit] Ceremonial
- In feudal times, at many courts one or more of the major dignitaries were styled marshal or a compound such as court marshal (not related to court martial) or grand marshal; their functions varied, also in time, but frequently included formally announcing guests at audiences, balls, dinners, etc. Such prestigious office was often made hereditary in the high nobility, e.g. the English Earl Marshal, or the Scots Earl Marischal.
- The term is still used in modern pageantry; for example, the grand marshal of a parade is often an honored guest or dignitary
[edit] Racing and other competitions
- In motor racing, rallying etc. the track marshals wave the Racing flags and assist crashed or broken down vehicles cars and their drivers, while pit marshals watch over the procedures in the pits, and fire marshals operate fire extinguisher if needed. The FIA provides [1] general rules and recommendations on marshalling. In the 2000 Italian Grand Prix and 2001 Australian Grand Prix, track marshals were victims of fatal accidents
- In some organized competitions, such as the endurance sport Tough guy, officials, seeing to the observance of the rules, are styled marshals
- Marshal is the highest playing piece in the board game Stratego
[edit] Law enforcement
Particularly in the United States, marshal is used for various kinds of law enforcement officers with specialist status. They mainly protect the security of the courts and justice system.
- At the federal level, the federal court system is served by the United States Marshal.
- The US Supreme Court maintains a Marshal of the Supreme Court who also controls the US Supreme Court Police, a security police service.
- At the state, local or municipal court level, marshals are petty court officers similar to constables. Although they may be sworn peace officers their job is civil rather than criminal law enforcement.
- In the American Old West, marshals, also called the "Town Marshal", were appointed or elected police officers of small communities, with similar powers and duties to that of a sheriff, while federal marshals would work in a larger, possibly overlapping area, especially in pioneering country. The word is still used in this sense, especially in the Southwest United States. (See List of Western lawmen). Still the name for some police forces.
- In California, several counties maintained separate county marshal's Offices which served as court officers similar to US Marshals. Most have been merged into or taken over by the local County Sheriff's Office.
- In Connecticut, marshals serve as court officers. They are separated into two classes: State Marshals are charged with service of process, and Judicial Marshals perform court security and transport detainees to and from court.
- In Georgia, the Marshal is a civil law enforcement officer in some counties.
- In Indiana, Marshals are responsible for law enforcement in a town.
- In New York City, New York, Marshals are charged with the enforcement of civil judgments. A Marshal is appointed by the Mayor and the office is a private business which pays a percentage of fees it collects to the government. It is supervised by the Department of Investigation. Generally, the office performs the collection of money judgments, evictions, seizure of scofflaw vehicles, replevins, small claims as well as garnishments.
- In Ohio the term village marshal has been used for the same, often without any colleague, directly under the Mayor.
- In Texas, city marshals and deputy city marshals have, by law, the same authority as a municipal (village, town, or city) police officer. However, municipalities that have both a police force as well as a city marshal's office often utilize the police as the general law enforcement agency of the municipality, while court security and process service is provided by the city marshal's office. In municipalites that do not have a police department, the city marshal's office sometimes serves as the agency that provides general law enforcement services to residents.
- In Washington, the City of Seattle employs Marshals in their Municipal Court, with the senior officer holding the title of Chief Marshal and the subordinate officers being Deputy Marshals.
- In Maine the State Marshal Service provides physical security and law enforcement duties to the judicial system as well as protection of all state judges. Deputy Marshals are fully sworn state law enforcement officers with statewide authority.
- Sky Marshals are armed security police officers employed to protect commercial airliners from the threat of Skyjacking. (Though sometimes called Air Marshals, they are completely unrelated to the military rank mentioned above, and are not to be confused with it.)
[edit] Science fiction
The rank of Marshal has made frequent appearances in science fiction works, both live action productions and literature. In the universe of Star Wars, the rank of Marshal is conjectured to be connected to the TIE fighter forces, being ranks held by senior TIE fighter commanders, equivalent to Imperial Navy Admirals. Several sources of the Star Wars Expanded Universe have conjectured the following Marshal ranks of the starfighter service.
- Grand Marshal
- High Marshal
- Force Marshal
- Chief Marshal
- Marshal
- Vice Marshal
In addition to Star Wars, the rank of Marshal may also be found in the novel Starship Troopers where the rank of Sky Marshal is held by the Commander-in-Chief of the military. Marshal is also a military rank frequently found in the universe of Doctor Who where, more often than not, it is held by various villains who seek galactic domination through military force. In the Riddick universe, the leader of the diabolic Necromonger army is called the Lord Marshal. In the StarCraft computer game, Jim Raynor, nominally the main character, holds the rank of Marshal at the story's outset. In the Warhammer 40,000 universe, the Black Templars Space Marines chapter has Marshals.
Another example of the rank of Marshal in science fiction and fantasy can be found in Mercedes Lackey's world of Valdemar. One of the country's most important ranks is that of Lord Marshal.
