In some countries, it is a senior rank above colonel, equivalent to a brigadier general or commodore, typically commanding a brigade of several thousand soldiers.
The rank was first created in the cavalry at the instigation of Marshal Turenne on June 8, 1657, then in the infantry on March 17, 1668, and in the dragoons on April 15, 1672.
Before the rank of brigadier of the armies was dissolved in 1788, it was materialized by the wearing of a single star.
Note that the rank of "Chef de brigade" created during the French Revolution replaced that of Colonel.
In many countries, especially those formerly part of the British Empire, a brigadier is either the highest field rank or most junior general appointment, nominally commanding a brigade.
"The grade of brigadier-general, also called, almost interchangeably, brigadier, first appeared in the British army during the reign of King James II.
"Brigadier" was already in use as a generic term for a commander of a brigade irrespective of specific rank.
Officers holding equivalent rank in administrative appointments were known as "colonels on the staff", also replaced by brigadier in 1928.
Colonel-commandants and colonels on the staff wore the same rank badge later adopted by brigadiers.
The rank then became brigadier-general with the insignia of St. Edward's Crown surmounting a crossed sword and baton over one gold maple leaf.
Many countries in South and Central America were formerly Spanish or Portuguese (Brazil) possessions.
However, both the Argentine and Brazilian Air Forces use a curious system of variations on brigadier for all (Argentina) or most (Brazil) general officers.
In France, and some countries whose forces were structured based on the method used in France, some branches of the army and the gendarmerie[2] use brigadier for a rank equivalent to caporal (corporal), and brigadier-chef for a rank equivalent to caporal-chef.
Since all professional police and gendarmes have sub-officer status in France, the gendarmerie brigadier ranks are rarely used, since they are used only by auxiliaries.
The Spanish rank brigada is distinct from the Spanish-language brigadier [-general] used for senior officers in Latin America (and historically in Spain).