How a humble administrative assistant became a powerful military commander

History · Published 3 October 2026 Swipe more like this →

In short: The rank of major began not as a command position, but as a shorthand for a sergeant major. Over centuries, this administrative role evolved into a critical field-grade rank. Today, it sits between captain and lieutenant colonel, representing the lowest tier of senior officer ranks in most modern military organizations.

The origins of the major rank are rooted in the 16th and 17th centuries, where the term functioned as an adjective within the title sergeant major. At that time, the sergeant major served as the third principal officer in a regiment, responsible for essential drill and administrative duties. This role mirrored the sergeant’s work for a company and the sergeant major general’s work for an entire army. By 1660, the word sergeant was dropped, leaving the shortened title major.

During the 17th century, a major’s responsibilities were a hybrid of modern administrative tasks and second-in-command duties. However, the introduction of adjutants eventually relieved majors of much of their routine paperwork. Historically, the rank was positioned below lieutenant colonel; in a regiment led by a colonel, the major was third in command, while in a battalion led by a lieutenant colonel, the major served as second in command. In contemporary military structures, a regiment may employ three or more majors, each tasked with commanding a battalion.

The evolution of the term has led to diverse applications. While major is a commissioned rank in most nations, France serves as a notable exception, where it represents the highest non-commissioned officer rank. Other variations, such as brigade major, town major, and fort major, highlight how the title was adapted for specific staff or garrison appointments. Even musical units adopted the term, with the drum major historically managing training, banking, and postal duties for regimental drummers, a tradition that persists in modern military bands.

General information, not professional advice. Spotted an error? Flag the card or see corrections and complaints.

Intellect Plus is a visual educational discovery platform for exploring fascinating facts and ideas. Brain Food, Not Brain Rot. What is Intellect Plus?

Related

• From Army General to Senior Advisor: The Surprising Evolution of the Sergeant Major
• Why does a lieutenant general outrank a major general in modern military hierarchies?
• The three-star rank is a high-stakes game of musical chairs
• The Silver Oak Leaf: Understanding the Complex History of the Lieutenant Colonel Rank
• What does a major general actually do in the theater of modern war?
• How a series of corporate mergers created Europe's dominant missile manufacturing powerhouse
• From Montreal mayoral candidate to Canada's top diplomat, the career of Mélanie Joly
• Mehmed V: The secluded prince who became the Ottoman Empire's final constitutional figurehead
• From metalworker to president: The extraordinary political trajectory of Brazil’s Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva.
• Was the legendary King Minos a single ruler or a title for Cretan priests?
• How one woman’s dynastic ambition turned her family into the royalty of Europe
• The engineer who rose from a village to Egypt's presidency

More in History by country · More in History · Latest · A–Z · All topics