The General’s Rank – Why Major General Is Lower Than Lieutenant General – Including Colonel-General, Captain-General, and South African Variants
THE GENERAL’S RANK – WHY MAJOR GENERAL IS LOWER THAN LIEUTENANT GENERAL: INCLUDING COLONEL-GENERAL, CAPTAIN-GENERAL, AND SOUTH AFRICAN VARIANTS
Compiled by Hennie Heymans
Introduction
Why is a Lieutenant General higher than a Major General? And why is Brigadier General the lowest general rank? These questions often puzzle those who expect a logical progression in military hierarchy. The answer lies in the historical evolution of military titles, especially in the British and European systems.
Originally, the Sergeant-Major General was a senior officer below the Lieutenant General. Over time, the title was shortened to Major General, but its position in the hierarchy remained unchanged.¹ Similarly, the Brigadier was once a low-ranking officer—comparable to a corporal in some European systems—and only later elevated to general status, though still the lowest among generals.²
Expanded General Rank Order (Including South African Usage)
Historical Notes
The rank of Captain-General was prominent in the 16th to 18th centuries and often synonymous with Commander-in-Chief.⁸ The Colonel-General, though absent in the British and South African traditions, held high status in the Wehrmacht and Soviet Army, often commanding entire army groups.⁶ South Africa’s use of Commandant-General and Combat General reflected a unique adaptation of British structures to local terminology and political context.⁴⁷
Sources
¹ Keegan, John. A History of Warfare. New York: Vintage Books, 1993.
² “British Army Officer Ranks.” National Army Museum. https://www.nam.ac.uk/explore/british-army-ranks
³ South African Defence Force Archives, Pretoria.
⁴ Heitman, Helmoed-Römer. South African Armed Forces. Johannesburg: Ashanti Publishing, 1990.
⁵ “Lieutenant General.” Encyclopaedia Britannica. https://www.britannica.com/topic/military-rank
⁶ “Colonel-General.” Oxford Reference. https://www.oxfordreference.com/view/10.1093/oi/authority.20110803095830585
⁷ Baines, Gary. South Africa’s Commanders and Conflicts. Cape Town: UCT Press, 2002.
⁸ Haythornthwaite, Philip J. The Armies of Wellington. London: Arms and Armour Press, 1994.
⁹ “Field Marshal.” Oxford Reference. https://www.oxfordreference.com/view/10.1093/oi/authority.20110803095830585
Die Rangorde van Generaals – Waarom ’n Generaal-Majoor Laer Is as ’n Luitenant-Generaal
Met Insluiting van Kolonel-Generaal, Kaptein-Generaal en Suid-Afrikaanse Benamings
Inleiding
Mense vra dikwels: Waarom is ’n Luitenant-Generaal hoër as ’n Generaal-Majoor? En waarom is ’n Brigadier-Generaal die laagste rang onder generaals? Hierdie vrae klink vreemd, veral vir diegene wat die rangorde logies wil volg. Die antwoord lê in die geskiedenis van militêre titels, en hoe verskillende lande hul rangstrukture ontwikkel het.
Die “Sergeant-Major General” was oorspronklik ’n senior offisier onder die Luitenant-Generaal, maar die titel is later verkort tot Generaal-Majoor, terwyl die rangorde behoue gebly het.¹ In Europa ias ’n Brigadier dikwels gelykstaande aan ’n korporaal in die Britse stelsel, en hoewel die titel later tot generaalstatus verhef is, het dit steeds die laagste posisie onder generaals behou.²
Uitgebreide Rangorde van Generaals (Met Suid-Afrikaanse Gebruik)
Historiese Aantekeninge
Die rang Kaptein-Generaal was prominent in die 16de tot 18de eeu en dikwels sinoniem met opperbevelhebber.⁸ Die Kolonel-Generaal, hoewel nie in die Britse of Suid-Afrikaanse tradisie gebruik nie, het ’n hoë status in die Weermag van Nazi-Duitsland en die Sowjetleër gehad.⁶ Suid-Afrika se gebruik van Kommandant-Generaal en Veg-generaal weerspieël ’n unieke aanpassing van Britse strukture tot plaaslike terminologie en politieke konteks.⁴⁷
Bronne
¹ Keegan, John. A History of Warfare. New York: Vintage Books, 1993.
² “British Army Officer Ranks.” National Army Museum. https://www.nam.ac.uk/explore/british-army-ranks
³ South African Defence Force Archives, Pretoria.
⁴ Heitman, Helmoed-Römer. South African Armed Forces. Johannesburg: Ashanti Publishing, 1990.
⁵ “Lieutenant General.” Encyclopaedia Britannica. https://www.britannica.com/topic/military-rank
⁶ “Colonel-General.” Oxford Reference. https://www.oxfordreference.com/view/10.1093/oi/authority.20110803095830585
⁷ Baines, Gary. South Africa’s Commanders and Conflicts. Cape Town: UCT Press, 2002.
⁸ Haythornthwaite, Philip J. The Armies of Wellington. London: Arms and Armour Press, 1994.
⁹ “Field Marshal.” Oxford Reference. https://www.oxfordreference.com/view/10.1093/oi/authority.20110803095830585
SANDF
The SANDF and the Department of Defence (DoD) have some 406 generals, admirals and civilian officials in equivalent ranks – (Defence Web: https://www.defenceweb.co.za/joint/military-art-a-science/too-many-generals-in-the-sandf/ )
SAPS
General & Brigadier ranks in the SAPS (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/South_African_Police_Service)
| Police ranks of South Africa: Commissioned Officers | ||||
| Group | Senior Management | |||
| Rank | General (Gen) | Lieutenant General (Lt Gen) | Major General (Maj Gen) | Brigadier |
| Role | Designation of National Commissioner |
Actg. National Commissioner, Deputy National Commissioner, Regional Commissioner, Provincial Commissioner, Divisional Commissioner |
||
| Insignia |  |
 |
 |
 |
SAPS
(https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/South_African_Police_Service)
| SAPS organisational profile (March 2023) | |
| Rank | Number of officers/employees |
| Ministerial personnel | 30 |
| National Commissioner (General) | 1 |
| Deputy National Commissioner (Lt. Gen.) | 4 |
| Div. Commissioners/National Head/Deputy Nat. Head, other top management (Lt. Gen.) | 12 |
| Provincial Commissioners (Lt. Gen.) | 9 |
| Major General | 156 |
| Brigadier | 623 |
| Colonel | 2,417 |
| Lieutenant Colonel | 5,975 |
| Captain | 12,155 |
| Non-commissioned officers | 123,896 |
| Public Service Act employees | 34,226 |
| Total employees | 179,502 |
