Major general major-general was reintroduced in the Portuguese Army, Air Force and National Republican Guard in 1999, replacing the former rank of brigadier in the role of brigade commander. As a rank, it had previously been used in the Army only for a brief period (from 1862 to 1864). It is equivalent to the rank of "contra-almirante" (rear-admiral) in the Portuguese Navy. In 2015, the rank of major-general was moved up one level, with the role of brigade commander being assumed by the below rank of brigadier-general. In most of the 19th and first half of the 20th century, major-general was not
Ranks in the French Army a company ("compagnie") of infantry, a squadron ("escadron") of cavalry or a battery ("batterie") of artillery. A "lieutenant" (lieutenant or first lieutenant) commands a platoon ("section") of infantry, a troop ("peloton") of cavalry, or a "brigade" of the "Gendarmerie". A "Sous-lieutenant" (sub-lieutenant or second lieutenant) commands at the same level as a "lieutenant", but is a more junior officer rank. Note the difference with many army rank systems of other countries where the term "major" is used for a rank above that of "captain". For example, the rank of "major" in the US Army or British army is equivalent to