Major d’une Place de Guerre, Fr. Town-major.
Major, des quatres compagnies des Gardes du corps, Fr. A rank which was exclusively given to an officer belonging to the old French guards. This was an appointment of considerable trust under the old government of France. He was lieutenant in each of the companies; and had the right of seniority over all lieutenants younger than himself in date of commission.
Major sur un vaisseau de guerre, Fr. An officer on board a ship of war, whose duty it was to see the guard regularly mounted, and the sentries posted.
Etat-Major, Fr. A comprehensive French term, in which is included every thing that can be conveyed under the word staff, as applicable to the British service. In a very recent publication, intituled, Manuel des Adjudans-Généraux et leurs Adjoints, the particular duties of the etat-major are accurately explained, of which an entire translation is incorporated with the American Military Library. Another work on the same subject, was published in 1809, by general Grimoard, entitled Traité sur le Service des Armées contenant son organisation, et ses fonctions sous les rapports administratifs et Militaires, with plates. The author began this work in 1778, and part of it was published in 1797, in the Encyclopédie Methodique. This work has superceded the work of Thiebault, only on account of its being more comprehensive; their views and principles are the same.
Major-Dome, Fr. An officer belonging to the gallies, who has the chief superintendance of provisions.
MAJORITY, the office, charge, or appointment of a regimental major.
MAIRE, Fr. Under the old government of France the person so called was invested with the first dignity of the kingdom. Charles Martel, of whom so much is said in the history of the French kings, was Maire of the palace. He was, in fact, grand master of the king’s household, and had an entire control over the officers belonging to that establishment.
The appellation of Maire du Palais, or mayor of the palace, was given in lieu of Maitre du Palais, or master of the palace. This name was borrowed from the Roman emperors, who had each a grand master of the palace. Du Tillet, a French author, in page 12 of his book, pretends that the word is derived from Mer, which signifies Præfect. At first he had only the care and superintendance of the king’s household, so that his functions were nearly similar to those that were exercised by the grand master of the king’s household previous to the Revolution. During the reign of Clotaire the Second, the power of the Maires increased very considerably. Their influence grew greater through the weakness and effeminacy of the last kings of the second race; so much so, that they maintained an uncontroled power over the royal expenditure, and had the sole management of the king’s affairs. Pepin added the dignity and functions or Maire to the royal prerogative; but he did not suppress them wholly. He merely limited his functions to what they were originally; which however were soon restored, in consequence of the fall and extinction of the second race. As the Maires possessed an unlimited control over the finances and judicature of the country, and had more over the entire management of the war department, they found little difficulty in assuming a superiority over all the officers belonging to the crown. They took precedence of all dukes and counts who were the governors of provinces. On which account they were called Ducs des Ducs, or dukes of France. Hugh Capet was duke of France at the time he proclaimed himself king of the country; but the kings belonging to the third race, being convinced that the authority which was thus vested in one person, must eventually prove extremely dangerous, abolished the office of Maire du Palais, or duke of France. They divided the functions, and created the four great officers that were immediately attached to the crown. The command and superintendance of the army, were entrusted to the constable; the administration of civil justice was vested in the chancellor; the management of the finances was given to the grand treasurer, and the care of the king’s household devolved upon the seneschal, who was afterwards styled grand master.
MAISON-du-Roi, Fr. The king’s household. Certain select bodies of troops were so called during the monarchy of France, and consisted of the gardes du corps or body-guards, the Gendarmes, Chevaux legers or light horse, Mousquetaires or musqueteers, la gendarmerie, grenadiers à cheval or horse-grenadiers, the regiments belonging to the French and Swiss guards, and the cent Suisses or hundred Swiss guards. The Maison-du-Roi or king’s household, was not considered as a separate establishment from the rest of the army, until the reign of Louis IV. This establishment was successively formed by different kings out of militia companies, which they took into their body guard.
Maison Meurtriere, Fr. This term was formerly given to casemates.