Navarch
- Navarch
-
Navarch (Greek: ναύαρχος, pronounced návarchos) is a Greek word meaning "leader of the ships", which in some states became the title of an office equivalent to that of a modern admiral.
Historical usage
Not all states gave their naval commanders such a title. Athens, for instance, placed its fleet under the command of generals (strategoi) holding the same title as those who commanded its land forces. Such command structures reflected the fact that, especially early in the Classical period, fleets operated in close conjunction with land forces, and indeed, the title of navarch did not begin to appear until the time of the Peloponnesian War, when fleets began to operate more independently. This separate title was originally used in cities that lacked an established naval tradition, Sparta being the most prominent, but entered broader use later, being adopted by the navies of the Hellenistic era states such as Macedon, Syracuse, Ptolemaic and Seleucid Empire, Achaean League, and Rhodes.
At Sparta and many other city-states, the position was held for one year only (a situation that compelled the Spartans to resort to an elaborate legal fiction when they wished to reinstate Lysander for more than one year in command). Admirals of despotic or monarchic states, however, could serve for years at a time. At Sparta, the position, unlike most high-level offices, was available to men from outside the Spartiate class; Lysander, the most famous occupant of the office, was a beneficiary of this rule.
Nauarchus, a direct transliteration of the Greek term into Latin, was also used by the Roman Navy for its squadron commanders. The Greek-speaking Byzantines sometimes used the term to designate the captains of ships; the terms drungarios or strategos were used to designate their admirals.
Rank flag of a Νávarchos.
In the modern Hellenic Navy, Νávarchos is the highest rank, equivalent to full Admiral. It is held only by the Chief of the General Staff of National Defence, when he is a Navy officer. All but one of the remaining flag ranks are also derivations of this word: Antinávarchos (Αντιναύαρχος, Vice Admiral) and Yponávarchos (Υποναύαρχος, Rear Admiral), while Archiploíarchos is the equivalent of Commodore. The same ranks are also used by the Hellenic Coast Guard.
Greek commissioned officer ranks
NATO code: OF-1 OF-2 OF-3 OF-4 OF-5 OF-6 OF-7 OF-8 OF-9 Navy: Simaioforos & Anthypoploiarchos Ypoploiarchos Plotarchis Antiploiarchos Ploiarchos Archiploiarchos Yponavarchos Antinavarchos Navarchos Army: Anthypolochagos & Ypolochagos Lochagos Tagmatarchis Antisyntagmatarchis Syntagmatarchis Taxiarchos Ypostratigos Antistratigos Stratigos Air Force: Anthyposminagos & Yposminagos Sminagos Episminagos Antisminarchos Sminarchos Taxiarchos Aeroporias Ypopterarchos Antipterarchos Pterarchos References
- Hornblower, Simon, and Anthony Spawforth ed., The Oxford Classical Dictionary (Oxford University Press, 2003) ISBN 0-19-866172-X
Categories:- Admirals
- Ancient Greek titles
- Hellenic Navy
- Military ranks of ancient Greece
- Military ranks of Greece
- Military ranks of Sparta
- Military ranks of ancient Macedon
Wikimedia Foundation. 2010.
Look at other dictionaries:
Navarch — Na varch (n[=a] v[aum]rk), n. [L. navarchus, Gr. nay archo s; nay^s ship + archo s chief.] (Gr. Antiq.) The commander of a fleet. Mitford. [1913 Webster] … The Collaborative International Dictionary of English
Callicratidas — (Καλλικρατίδας) was a Spartan naval commander in the Peloponnesian War. In 406 BC, he was sent to the Aegean to take command of the Spartan fleet from Lysander, the first navarch.Callicratidas s tenure as navarch was short, and he encountered a… … Wikipedia
Classical Greece — The Parthenon, in Athens, a temple to Athena. History of Greece … Wikipedia
Battle of Arginusae — Infobox Military Conflict caption= conflict=Battle of Arginusae partof=the Peloponnesian War date=406 BC place=Arginusae Islands result=Athenian victory combatant1=Sparta combatant2=Athens commander1=Callicratidas KIA commander2=8 generals… … Wikipedia
Battle of Notium — Infobox Military Conflict conflict=Battle of Notium partof=the Peloponnesian War caption= date=406 BC place= Near Ephesus and Notium result=Spartan victory combatant1=Sparta combatant2=Athens commander1=Lysander commander2=Antiochus †… … Wikipedia
Military history of Italy — The military history of Italy chronicles a vast time period, lasting from the overthrow of Tarquinius Superbus in 509 BC, through the Roman Empire, Italian unification, and into the modern day. The Italian peninsula has been a centre of military… … Wikipedia
Mytilenean revolt — Part of the Peloponnesian War Date 428 7 BC Location Lesbos Result Athenia … Wikipedia
Spartan army — Military history of Sparta redirects here. For other uses, see Military history of Sparta (disambiguation). The Spartan army was the military force of Sparta, one of the leading city states of ancient Greece. The army stood at the centre of the… … Wikipedia
406 BC — NOTOC EventsBy placeGreece* Callicratidas is appointed as the navarch of the Spartan fleet, replacing Lysander. Callicratidas assembles a fleet and sails to Methymna, on Lesbos, to which he lays siege. This move threatens the Athenian grain… … Wikipedia
Thrasybulus — Infobox Military Person name= Thrasybulus caption= Thrasybulus receiving an olive crown for his successful campaign against the Thirty Tyrants. From Andrea Alciato s Emblemata. allegiance= Athens rank= commands= nickname= lived= c. 440s BC ndash; … Wikipedia