Mareşal (Turkey)


Mareşal is the highest rank in the Turkish Land Forces and Turkish Air Force. It is the equivalent of a field marshal in other countries.
The rank of Mareşal can trace its origins to the Ottoman Empire, where the rank of Mushir was bestowed upon senior commanders upon order of the ruling Sultan.
The word mariscalcus in Latin, had parts from the old-German words meaning horse and servant.
The rank of Mareşal can only be bestowed by the National Assembly, and only given to a general who leads an army, and/or air force with an extraordinary success in battle gaining a victory over the enemy.
The corresponding rank in the Turkish Navy is Admiral of the fleet.

List of Turkish Marshals

Only two people were bestowed the rank Mareşal to date, both for their successes in the Turkish War of Independence.
PortraitName
Date of promotionForOffice
1Mustafa Kemal Atatürk
19 September 1921Battle of SakaryaCommander-in-chief of the Army of the GNA
2Fevzi Çakmak
31 August 1922Battle of DumlupınarCommander-in-chief of the Army of the GNA
Chief of the Turkish General Staff