Below is an outline of how Charles VII of France's army was structured and how the hierarchy of command, at least theoretically, played out.

This might be helpful for those seeking a basis for giving titles and other fluff to their models in their army. For example, it would be an inconceivable act to place a Viscount at the head of an army with a Duke in it!

Also included is a list of the other important titles and positions, which may be helpful in creating a more realistic feel in fluff such as stories, or WFRP games by providing perhaps a whole new set of potential characters.

In the Middle Age, the military hierarchy, as we understand it today, was practically non-existent. The King was the overall political leader of his army but usually delegated his general military command to the Constable of France. The King could also delegate military command to a Lieutenant General whose authority was usually restricted to a campaign or to a region (such as was the case of Jean d'Alençon for the relief of Jargeau and the battle of Patay). For the military leaders, command status was predicated largely on the basis of their power and their wealth as feudal lords. For these lords, command authority was largely established by considering the nobiliary hierarchy, the chivalrous hierarchy and the status of offices identified with the Grand Officers of the Crown. The relative ranking of these positions are shown below.

(*All highlighted names can be found in the other Joan of Arc / Joan D'Arc items I have posted.)

French nobiliary hierarchy in the Middle Age:

(in decreasing order)

- The Dukes;
- The Counts;
- The Viscounts;
- The Barons;
- The Lords (but someone were not noblemen).

(Originally, the "Marquiss" were the defenders of borders and frontier zone; and the "Vidames" were the representatives in the temporal positions of the high clerics. These titles gradually became hereditary . The title of marquis was accepted as real title within the nobiliary hierarchy at the beginning of the sixteen century. The title of vidame, granted by a clerics and by the King were never a real nobiliary title, designed only a function).

The chivalry:

( It should be noted that "chivalry" was an institution largely organized by the Church and by the fifteenth century, it no longer held the strong, symbolic role it had in earlier times).

- The knights;
- The squires (aspirants knights);
- And pages (aspirants squires).

Grand Officers of the Crown in 1429:

- The Grand Chamberlain (grand chambellan) (G. de La Trémoïlle 1427-1433);
- The Grand Chancelor (grand chancelier) (R. de Chartres 1424-1444);
- The Constable of France (connétable) (A. de Richemont 1425-1458);
- Three Marschals (maréchaux) (Rieux 1417-1439, La Fayette 1421-1464, Boussac 1427-1433);
- a fourth marshal was created during the Coronation of Charles VII at Reims (Rais 1429-1440) ;
- The Admiral of France (L. de Culant 1421-1439);
- The High Master of Crossbowmen (Jean Malet de Graville 1425-1449)
- The High Master of Artillery (Pierre Bessonneau 1420-1446)
- The High Stewart (grand maître de l'Hôtel ) (L. de Bourbon 1413-1446).

Officers of the Household in 1429:

- The Great Wine Waiter (grand bouteillier) (J. de Dinan 1427-1444);
- The Master of The Bakery (grand panetier) (J. de Naillac 1428-1429);
- The Master of the Kitchen (grand queux) (J. de Lignières 1412-1432);
- The Master of the Horse (grand écuyer) (Xaintrailles "écuyer d'écurie" 1429);
- The Master of the Hounds (grand veneur) (G. Bellier 1424-1449);
- The Grand Falconer (grand fauconnier) (Ph. de La Châtre 1429-?);
- The Master of Rivers and Forests (grand maître des eaux et forêts) (Ch. de La Rivière 1428-1429);

Not included in the above are many lesser positions such as: chamberlains, cupbearers, squires, huntsmen, etc.