A military dictionary

by William Duane

SERASKUR, Ind. This word is sometimes written Seraskier, and signifies the commander in chief of a Turkish army.

SERDANS. Colonels in the Turkish Service are so called.

SERGENT, Fr. See [Sergeant or Serjeant].

Sergent noble, Fr. A post of honor which existed during the first periods of the French monarchy. The French compiler, from whose work we have occasionally translated much matter relative to the military history, &c. of France, has the following passage concerning the term itself. We shall give his meaning literally:—“This term does not come from serviens, as I have imagined in common with many other etymologists. Monsieur Beneton, in his Histoire de la Guerre, says, that the serjeant who seemed to think he could trace the origin of his title in the Latin word Serviens, was a gentleman by birth, who during the prevalence of military fiefs, was liable to do military service, in consequence of the feodal tenure, called Fief de Sergenterie, by which he held his land. His superior officer was called Suzerain, the functions of whose situation corresponded with those of a modern adjutant. It was the business of the Sergent Noble, or gentleman serjeant, to assemble all the vassals of the Suzerain, for the purpose of incorporating them under one standard, and of rendering them fit for war.

Sergent de bande, Fr. Serjeant in the common acceptation of the term. The etymology of this word is different from that of Sergent Noble. It evidently comes from the French Serregens, or men that close or lock up, the same as serrefiles; shewing that this non-commissioned officer was placed to take charge of the rear files, whilst the commissioned one was in the front. It was his business to see that the rear conformed itself to the orders which were given in the front; to make the files lock up and dress, &c.

Sergent de bataille, Fr. Field Serjeant. This was an appointment of considerable trust in the old French armies. The sergens de bataille held commands, and did the duty of modern inspectors. They ranked next to a field marshal, or marechal de bataille. The sergens de bataille, or field serjeants, existed under Francis the First. But these field serjeants were only at that time sergens de bandes, or train serjeants. There were likewise, under the same king, sergens generaux de bataille, general field serjeants. These were officers of rank, and did the duty of a modern major general.

There were also officers of the same description in the reign of Henry IV. This appointment appears to have been dropped after the peace of the Pyrenees. The author of the Histoire de la Milice Francaise, observes, that the appointment and duty of the different officers, called marshals, or field serjeants, varied according to the will and pleasure of the French kings, and their war-ministers. He agrees with us, that the situation of field serjeant was originally of great consequence, but that it gradually declined, and was eventually made subservient to a superior officer, who was called Marechal de bataille, or field-marshal, whose duties corresponded with those of the French adjutant-general in the present times.

There have been officers of the same denomination both in Spain and Germany, who did the duty of Maréchaux de Camp; another term, we presume, for field marshal. But the general field serjeants in those countries were divided into two classes; one class was confined, in its functions, to the infantry, and the other to the cavalry; and both acted independently of one another; whereas in France they acted together.

According to the present establishment of the French army, there is a serjeant major belonging to each company. The sergens majors d’un régiment, or d’une place of the old French service, were what are now simply called majors, majors of regiments, or town majors. The senior serjeant of every company is called serjeant major in the French army at this time. In the British army the serjeant major is the head of the non-commissioned officers, and though sometimes attached to a company, is generally a detached staff officer. See [Serjeant Major].

SERGENTER, Fr. A word frequently used by the French in a figurative sense, signifying to press, to importune. On n’aime pointe à être sergenté; one does not like to be pressed; or as we familiarly say, to be dragooned into a thing.