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École spéciale militaire de Saint-Cyr

The École spéciale militaire de Saint-Cyr (ESM, literally the "Special Military School of Saint-Cyr") is the foremost French military academy – often referred to as Saint-Cyr (French pronunciation: ​[sɛ̃ siʁ]) – located in Coëtquidan in Guer, Morbihan, Brittany, along with the École militaire interarmes. Its motto is Ils s'instruisent pour vaincre, literally meaning "They study to vanquish" or, more freely put, "Training for victory". French cadet officers are called saint-cyriens or cyrards.[3][4]

École spéciale militaire de Saint-Cyr
MottoIls s'instruisent pour vaincre
("They study to vanquish")
TypeMilitary college
Established1 May 1802;
217 years ago
AffiliationFrench Army
CommandantGénéral Patrick Collet[2]
UndergraduatesNone (undergraduate degree in a military or civilian preparatory college is a prerequisite)
PostgraduatesEquivalent of a master's degree
ColoursRed, white and blue
NicknameSaint-cyrien, cyrard
WebsiteESM Saint-Cyr

French students who enter Saint-Cyr as cadets are about 21 years old, and undergo three years of training. All ESM cadets graduate with a master of arts or a master of science and are commissioned officers.[3][4]

The academy was founded in Fontainebleau in 1802 by Napoleon. It was moved in 1806 to the buildings of the former Maison Royale de Saint-Louis, in Saint-Cyr-l'École, west of Paris. During the Second World War, the cadets moved several times due to the German invasion. They eventually settled in 1945 in the Coetquidan military camp in Morbihan.


The Color guard of Saint-Cyr.
The 1st rank of the first company of cadets.






The school has links with the Royal Military College of Canada, United States Military Academy, (West Point,)and the Sandhurst Military Academy in Britain, including student exchanges.






Class names and insigniaEdit



Cadets of Saint-Cyr wear in full dress (grande tenue) a special uniform, derived from the 1845 Regulations Infantry Officer Dress. This dress incorporates a dark-blue tunic, red trousers (red skirts for female cadets) and a shako with red and white plumes. Facings are light blue, as is the képi worn on less formal occasions. Red fringed epaulettes are worn by cadets and yellow by cadet-officers. This traditional uniform was worn by both cadets and instructors at Saint-Cyr from 1845 until 1914 and then again from 1930 until 1939.[5] After World War II it was again adopted in 1949.[6]



The various steps of the cadets' formation are celebrated in various ceremonies, all performed during nighttime. At the beginning of the first year, after boot camp, the cadets are welcomed with shakos granted to them by the third-year cadets. This is called the petit soir or "small night". At the end of the first year, the cadets are presented with the Casoar (the red and white plumes on their shakos) and with their officer's sword. This is the grand soir or "big night". At the end of the second year, cadets are officially commissioned second lieutenants. This is celebrated in the "baptism" (baptême) of the class, a ceremony in with every cadet receive the accolade from a senior officer. At the end of the third and final year, the cadets are promoted to the rank of lieutenant and receive their new insignia in a ceremony called the "triumph" (triomphe). This ceremony is also the time of solemn proclamation of the class name.


Using authentic battle gear and uniforms of the period, re-enactments of famous battles and ceremonies are regularly staged. The most famous of these is the Battle of Austerlitz, which took place on 2 December 1805 and has been celebrated since. 2 December, nicknamed "2S" by the Saint-Cyr cadets, is the date of many Saint-Cyr related celebrations in the Army proper or among the alumni associations made up of graduates of the school.




In addition, a number of foreign students are admitted annually.


As all officers are commissioned as Majors upon graduation, military and leadership education is nested with academic instruction. The course is three years long and covers academic training, military strategy and theory, practice of war, training, physical training and leadership and organisational training.



Upon graduation, cadets are awarded the diploma of Saint-Cyr, which is a master's degree in Strategy and Internationals Relations or Management, or a military degree, depending on their major. Majors are in engineering or science subjects or specialization in classics, modern or ancient history, modern languages, applied modern languages, security, science and economics, law, computer science, physical education, political science or military studies.


Notable alumniEdit


  1. ^ Governement of the French Republic (Napoléon Bonaparte, First Consul) (1 May 1802). "Loi générale sur l'instruction publique du 1er mai 1802 (11 Floréal An X), Titre VI". Retrieved 23 July 2019.
  2. ^ Governement of the French Republic (1 July 2019). "Décret du 1er juillet 2019 portant affectations d'officiers généraux". Retrieved 23 July 2019.
  3. ^ a b "Modern Languages — Norwich University College of Liberal Arts". Retrieved 30 January 2015.

External linksEdit