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<title>Colonel</title>

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<span id="openzim-page-title" class="mw-page-title-main"><span class="mw-page-title-main">Colonel</span></span>

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</style><div role="note" class="hatnote navigation-not-searchable">This article is about the military rank in Anglophone countries. For the equivalent rank in Slavophone armed forces, see <a href="Polkovnik" title="Polkovnik">Polkovnik</a>. For the equivalent rank in Austria, Switzerland and Germany, see <a href="Oberst" title="Oberst"><i>Oberst</i></a>. For other uses, see <a href="Colonel_(disambiguation)" class="mw-disambig" title="Colonel (disambiguation)">Colonel (disambiguation)</a>.</div>

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</style><table class="sidebar nomobile nowraplinks mw-collapsible" style="border-collapse:collapse;"><tbody><tr><td class="sidebar-above" style="background-color:#C3D6EF;color:inherit;text-align:center;vertical-align:middle;font-size:110%;;">

<a href="List_of_comparative_military_ranks" title="List of comparative military ranks">Comparative military ranks</a></td></tr><tr><td class="sidebar-content" style="padding:0;">

<b>Armies,<br>air forces <br><span style="font-size: 85%;">(non-Commonwealth)</span></b></td><td class="infobox-data infobox-data-b">

<b>Navies, <br>coast guards</b></td><td class="infobox-data infobox-data-c">

<b>Air forces</b><br><span style="font-size: 85%;"><b>(Commonwealth system)</b></span></td></tr><tr><th colspan="4" class="infobox-header" style="background-color:#C3D6EF;color:inherit;text-align:center;vertical-align:middle;font-size:110%;"><a href="General_officer" title="General officer">General officers</a>, <a href="Flag_officer" title="Flag officer">Flag officers</a>, <a href="Air_officer" title="Air officer">Air officers</a></th></tr><tr><th scope="row" class="infobox-label"></th><td class="infobox-data infobox-data-a">

<a href="Marshal" title="Marshal">Marshal</a> or<br> <a href="Field_marshal" title="Field marshal">field marshal</a></td><td class="infobox-data infobox-data-b">

<a href="Admiral_of_the_fleet" title="Admiral of the fleet">Admiral of the fleet</a></td><td class="infobox-data infobox-data-c">

<a href="Marshal_of_the_air_force" title="Marshal of the air force">Marshal of the air force</a></td></tr><tr><th scope="row" class="infobox-label"></th><td class="infobox-data infobox-data-a">

<a href="General_officer" title="General officer">General</a> or<br><a href="Colonel_general" title="Colonel general">colonel general</a> or<br><a href="Army_general" title="Army general">army general</a></td><td class="infobox-data infobox-data-b">

<a href="Admiral" title="Admiral">Admiral</a></td><td class="infobox-data infobox-data-c">

<a href="Air_chief_marshal" title="Air chief marshal">Air chief marshal</a></td></tr><tr><th scope="row" class="infobox-label"></th><td class="infobox-data infobox-data-a">

<a href="Lieutenant_general" title="Lieutenant general">Lieutenant general</a> or<br><a href="Army_corps_general" title="Army corps general">army corps general</a></td><td class="infobox-data infobox-data-b">

<a href="Vice_admiral" title="Vice admiral">Vice admiral</a></td><td class="infobox-data infobox-data-c">

<a href="Air_marshal" title="Air marshal">Air marshal</a></td></tr><tr><th scope="row" class="infobox-label"></th><td class="infobox-data infobox-data-a">

<a href="Major_general" title="Major general">Major general</a> or<br><a href="Divisional_general" title="Divisional general">divisional general</a></td><td class="infobox-data infobox-data-b">

<a href="Rear_admiral" title="Rear admiral">Rear admiral</a> or<br> <a href="Counter_admiral" title="Counter admiral">counter admiral</a></td><td class="infobox-data infobox-data-c">

<a href="Air_vice-marshal" title="Air vice-marshal">Air vice-marshal</a></td></tr><tr><th scope="row" class="infobox-label"></th><td class="infobox-data infobox-data-a">

<a href="Brigadier" title="Brigadier">Brigadier</a> or<br><a href="Brigadier_general" title="Brigadier general">brigadier general</a></td><td class="infobox-data infobox-data-b">

<a href="Commodore_(rank)" title="Commodore (rank)">Commodore</a> or<br><a href="Flotilla_admiral" title="Flotilla admiral">flotilla admiral</a></td><td class="infobox-data infobox-data-c">

<a href="Air_commodore" title="Air commodore">Air commodore</a></td></tr><tr><th colspan="4" class="infobox-header" style="background-color:#C3D6EF;color:inherit;text-align:center;vertical-align:middle;font-size:110%;"><a href="Senior_officer" title="Senior officer">Senior officers</a></th></tr><tr><th scope="row" class="infobox-label"></th><td class="infobox-data infobox-data-a">

</td><td class="infobox-data infobox-data-b">

<a href="Captain_(naval)" title="Captain (naval)">(Ship-of-the-line)<br>Captain</a></td><td class="infobox-data infobox-data-c">

<a href="Group_captain" title="Group captain">Group captain</a></td></tr><tr><th scope="row" class="infobox-label"></th><td class="infobox-data infobox-data-a">

<a href="Lieutenant_colonel" title="Lieutenant colonel">Lieutenant colonel</a></td><td class="infobox-data infobox-data-b">

<a href="Commander" title="Commander">Commander</a> or<br><a href="Frigate_captain" title="Frigate captain">frigate captain</a></td><td class="infobox-data infobox-data-c">

<a href="Wing_commander" title="Wing commander">Wing commander</a></td></tr><tr><th scope="row" class="infobox-label"></th><td class="infobox-data infobox-data-a">

<a href="Major_(rank)" title="Major (rank)">Major</a> or<br><a href="Commandant_(rank)" title="Commandant (rank)">commandant</a></td><td class="infobox-data infobox-data-b">

<a href="Lieutenant_commander" title="Lieutenant commander">Lieutenant<br>commander</a> or <a href="Corvette_captain" title="Corvette captain">corvette captain</a></td><td class="infobox-data infobox-data-c">

<a href="Squadron_leader" title="Squadron leader">Squadron leader</a></td></tr><tr><th colspan="4" class="infobox-header" style="background-color:#C3D6EF;color:inherit;text-align:center;vertical-align:middle;font-size:110%;"><a href="Junior_officer" title="Junior officer">Junior officers</a></th></tr><tr><th scope="row" class="infobox-label"></th><td class="infobox-data infobox-data-a">

<a href="Captain_(armed_forces)" title="Captain (armed forces)">Captain</a></td><td class="infobox-data infobox-data-b">

<a href="Lieutenant_(navy)" title="Lieutenant (navy)">Lieutenant</a></td><td class="infobox-data infobox-data-c">

<a href="Flight_lieutenant" title="Flight lieutenant">Flight lieutenant</a></td></tr><tr><th scope="row" class="infobox-label"></th><td class="infobox-data infobox-data-a">

<a href="First_lieutenant" title="First lieutenant">First lieutenant</a> or<br><a href="Lieutenant" title="Lieutenant">lieutenant</a></td><td class="infobox-data infobox-data-b">

<a href="Lieutenant_(junior_grade)" title="Lieutenant (junior grade)">Lieutenant<br>junior grade</a> or <br><a href="Sub-lieutenant" title="Sub-lieutenant">sub-lieutenant</a></td><td class="infobox-data infobox-data-c">

<a href="Flying_officer" title="Flying officer">Flying officer</a></td></tr><tr><th scope="row" class="infobox-label"></th><td class="infobox-data infobox-data-a">

<a href="Second_lieutenant" title="Second lieutenant">Second lieutenant</a> or<br><a href="Junior_lieutenant" title="Junior lieutenant">junior lieutenant</a></td><td class="infobox-data infobox-data-b">

<a href="Ensign_(rank)" title="Ensign (rank)">Ensign</a> or<br><a href="Midshipman" title="Midshipman">midshipman</a></td><td class="infobox-data infobox-data-c">

<a href="Pilot_officer" title="Pilot officer">Pilot officer</a></td></tr><tr><th colspan="4" class="infobox-header" style="background-color:#C3D6EF;color:inherit;text-align:center;vertical-align:middle;font-size:110%;"><a href="Non-commissioned_officer" title="Non-commissioned officer">Non-commissioned officers</a></th></tr><tr><th scope="row" class="infobox-label"></th><td class="infobox-data infobox-data-a">

<a href="Warrant_officer" title="Warrant officer">Warrant officer</a> or<br><a href="Sergeant_major" title="Sergeant major">sergeant major</a></td><td class="infobox-data infobox-data-b">

<a href="Warrant_officer" title="Warrant officer">Warrant officer</a> or<br><a href="Chief_petty_officer" title="Chief petty officer">chief petty officer</a></td><td class="infobox-data infobox-data-c">

<a href="Warrant_officer" title="Warrant officer">Warrant officer</a></td></tr><tr><th scope="row" class="infobox-label"></th><td class="infobox-data infobox-data-a">

<a href="Sergeant" title="Sergeant">Sergeant</a></td><td class="infobox-data infobox-data-b">

<a href="Petty_officer" title="Petty officer">Petty officer</a></td><td class="infobox-data infobox-data-c">

<a href="Sergeant" title="Sergeant">Sergeant</a></td></tr><tr><th scope="row" class="infobox-label"></th><td class="infobox-data infobox-data-a">

<a href="Corporal" title="Corporal">Corporal</a> or<br><a href="Bombardier_(rank)" title="Bombardier (rank)">bombardier</a></td><td class="infobox-data infobox-data-b">

<a href="Leading_seaman" title="Leading seaman">Leading seaman</a></td><td class="infobox-data infobox-data-c">

<a href="Corporal" title="Corporal">Corporal</a></td></tr><tr><th colspan="4" class="infobox-header" style="background-color:#C3D6EF;color:inherit;text-align:center;vertical-align:middle;font-size:110%;"><a href="Enlisted_rank" title="Enlisted rank">Enlisted ranks</a></th></tr><tr><th scope="row" class="infobox-label"></th><td class="infobox-data infobox-data-a">

<a href="Lance_corporal" title="Lance corporal">Lance corporal</a> or<br><a href="Lance_bombardier" class="mw-redirect" title="Lance bombardier">Lance bombardier</a> or<br><a href="Specialist_(rank)" title="Specialist (rank)">specialist</a></td><td class="infobox-data infobox-data-b">

<a href="Able_seaman_(rank)" title="Able seaman (rank)">Able seaman</a></td><td class="infobox-data infobox-data-c">

<a href="Leading_aircraftman" title="Leading aircraftman">Leading aircraftman</a> or<br><a href="Air_specialist" title="Air specialist">Air specialist</a></td></tr><tr><th scope="row" class="infobox-label"></th><td class="infobox-data infobox-data-a">

<a href="Private_(rank)" title="Private (rank)">Private</a> or<br><a href="Gunner_(rank)" title="Gunner (rank)">gunner</a> or<br><a href="Trooper_(rank)" title="Trooper (rank)">trooper</a> or<br><a href="Sapper#Specific_usage" title="Sapper">sapper</a></td><td class="infobox-data infobox-data-b">

<a href="Seaman_(rank)" title="Seaman (rank)">Seaman</a></td><td class="infobox-data infobox-data-c">

<a href="Aircraftman" title="Aircraftman">Aircraftman</a> or<br><a href="Airman" title="Airman">airman</a> or<br><a href="Aircraftman" title="Aircraftman">aviator</a></td></tr></tbody></table></td>

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<p><b>Colonel</b> (<span class="rt-commentedText nowrap"><span class="IPA nopopups noexcerpt" lang="en-fonipa">/<span style="border-bottom:1px dotted"><span title="/ˈ/: primary stress follows">ˈ</span><span title="'k' in 'kind'">k</span><span title="/ɜːr/: 'ur' in 'fur'">ɜːr</span><span title="'n' in 'nigh'">n</span><span title="/ə/: 'a' in 'about'">ə</span><span title="'l' in 'lie'">l</span></span>/</span> <span class="ext-phonos"><span data-nosnippet="" id="ooui-php-1" class="noexcerpt ext-phonos-PhonosButton ext-phonos-PhonosButton-emptylabel oo-ui-widget oo-ui-widget-enabled oo-ui-buttonElement oo-ui-buttonElement-frameless oo-ui-iconElement oo-ui-buttonWidget" data-ooui="{"_":"mw.Phonos.PhonosButton","href":"\/\/upload.wikimedia.org\/wikipedia\/commons\/transcoded\/8\/81\/LL-Q1860_%28eng%29-Naomi_Persephone_Amethyst_%28NaomiAmethyst%29-colonel.wav\/LL-Q1860_%28eng%29-Naomi_Persephone_Amethyst_%28NaomiAmethyst%29-colonel.wav.mp3","rel":["nofollow"],"framed":false,"icon":"volumeUp","data":{"ipa":"","text":"","lang":"en","wikibase":"","file":"LL-Q1860 (eng)-Naomi Persephone Amethyst (NaomiAmethyst)-colonel.wav"},"classes":["noexcerpt","ext-phonos-PhonosButton","ext-phonos-PhonosButton-emptylabel"]}"><a role="button" tabindex="0" href="https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/transcoded/8/81/LL-Q1860_%28eng%29-Naomi_Persephone_Amethyst_%28NaomiAmethyst%29-colonel.wav/LL-Q1860_%28eng%29-Naomi_Persephone_Amethyst_%28NaomiAmethyst%29-colonel.wav.mp3" rel="nofollow" aria-label="Play audio" title="Play audio" class="oo-ui-buttonElement-button"></a></span><sup class="ext-phonos-attribution noexcerpt navigation-not-searchable">ⓘ</sup></span></span> <i title="English pronunciation respelling"><span style="font-size:90%">KUR</span>-nəl</i>; abbreviated as <b>Col.</b>, <b>Col</b>, or <b>COL</b>) is a senior military <a href="Officer_(armed_forces)" title="Officer (armed forces)">officer</a> rank used in many countries. It is also used in some police forces and <a href="Paramilitary" title="Paramilitary">paramilitary</a> organizations.

</p><p>In the 17th, 18th, and 19th centuries, a colonel was typically in charge of a <a href="Regiment" title="Regiment">regiment</a> in an army. Modern usage varies greatly, and in some cases, the term is used as an <a href="Colonel_(title)" class="mw-redirect" title="Colonel (title)">honorific title</a> that may have no direct military relationship. In some smaller military forces, such as those of <a href="Monaco" title="Monaco">Monaco</a> or the <a href="Holy_See" title="Holy See">Vatican</a>, colonel is the highest <a href="Military_rank" title="Military rank">rank</a>.

</p><p>Equivalent naval ranks may be called <a href="Captain_(naval)" title="Captain (naval)">captain</a> or <a href="Ship-of-the-line_captain" class="mw-redirect" title="Ship-of-the-line captain">ship-of-the-line captain</a>. In the <a href="Commonwealth_of_Nations" title="Commonwealth of Nations">Commonwealth</a>'s air force ranking system, the equivalent rank is <a href="Group_captain" title="Group captain">group captain</a>.

</p>

<div class="mw-heading mw-heading2"><h2 id="History_and_origins">History and origins</h2></div>

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<p>By the end of the <a href="Late_medieval" class="mw-redirect" title="Late medieval">late medieval</a> period, a group of "companies" was referred to as a "column" of an army. According to Raymond Oliver, <abbr title="circa">c.</abbr><span style="white-space:nowrap;"> 1500</span>, the Spanish began explicitly reorganizing part of their army into 20 <i>colunelas</i> or columns of approximately 1,000–1,250 soldiers. Each <i>colunela</i> was commanded by a <i>cabo de colunela</i> or column head. Because they were crown units who are directly under the control of the <a href="Monarch" title="Monarch">monarch</a> or <a href="Sovereign" title="Sovereign">sovereign</a> of a country, the units were also confusingly called <i>coronelas</i>, and their commanders <i>coronels</i>.<sup id="cite_ref-:0_1-0" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-:0-1"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>1<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup> Evidence of this can be seen when <a href="Gonzalo_Fern%C3%A1ndez_de_C%C3%B3rdoba" title="Gonzalo Fernández de Córdoba">Gonzalo Fernández de Córdoba</a>, nicknamed "the Great Captain", divided his armies in <i>coronelías</i>, each led by a <i>coronel</i>, in 1508.<sup id="cite_ref-:1_2-0" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-:1-2"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>2<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup>

</p><p>Later, in the 16th century, the French army adopted this organizational structure, renaming <i>colunelas</i> regiments. Even so, they simply Gallicized <i>colunela</i> to the French <span title="French-language text"><i lang="fr">colonel</i></span> and pronounced it as written. The English then copied the unit and rank from the French. However, for reasons unknown, the English adopted the Spanish pronunciation of <i>coronel</i>, and after several decades of use shortened it to its current two-syllable pronunciation "kernel". <i>Colonel</i> is linked to the word <i>column</i> (from <a href="Latin" title="Latin">Latin</a>: <span title="Latin-language text"><i lang="la">columna</i></span>; Italian: <span title="Italian-language text"><i lang="it">colonna</i></span>; French: <span title="French-language text"><i lang="fr">colonne</i></span>) in a similar way that <i>brigadier</i> is linked to <i>brigade</i>, although in English this relationship is not immediately obvious.<sup id="cite_ref-:0_1-1" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-:0-1"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>1<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup>

</p><p>With the shift from primarily mercenary to primarily national armies in the course of the 17th century, a colonel (normally a member of the aristocracy) became a holder (German <span title="German-language text"><i lang="de">Inhaber</i></span>) or proprietor of a military contract with a sovereign. The colonel purchased the regimental contract—the right to hold the regiment—from the previous holder of that right or directly from the sovereign when a new regiment was formed or an incumbent was <a href="Killed_in_action" title="Killed in action">killed</a>.

</p><p>As the office of colonel became an established practice, the colonel became the senior captain in a group of companies that were all sworn to observe his personal authority—to be ruled or regimented by him. This regiment, or governance, was to some extent embodied in a contract and set of written rules, also referred to as the colonel's regiment or standing regulation(s). By extension, the group of <a href="Company_(military)" class="mw-redirect" title="Company (military)">companies</a> subject to a colonel's regiment (in the foregoing sense) came to be referred to as his regiment (in the modern sense) as well.

</p><p>In French usage of this period, the senior colonel in the army or, in a field force, the senior military contractor, was the <a href="Colonel_general" title="Colonel general">colonel general</a>, and, in the absence of the sovereign or his designate, the colonel general might serve as the commander of a force. The position, however, was primarily contractual and it became progressively more of a functionless <a href="Sinecure" title="Sinecure">sinecure</a>. The head of a single regiment or <a href="Demi-brigade" title="Demi-brigade">demi-brigade</a> would be called a '<a href="Mestre_de_camp" title="Mestre de camp">mestre de camp</a>' or, after the <a href="French_Revolution" title="French Revolution">Revolution</a>, a '<a href="Chef_de_brigade" title="Chef de brigade">chef de brigade</a>'.

</p><p>By the late 19th century, colonel had evolved to a professional military rank that was still held typically by an officer in command of a regiment or equivalent unit. Along with other ranks, it has become progressively more a matter of ranked duties, qualifications, and experience, as well as of corresponding titles and pay scale, than of functional office in a particular organization.

</p><p>As European military influence expanded throughout the world, the rank of colonel became adopted by nearly every nation (albeit under a variety of names).

</p><p>During the 20th century, with the rise of <a href="Communism" title="Communism">communism</a>, some of the large communist militaries saw fit to expand the colonel rank into several grades, resulting, for example, in the unique <a href="Senior_colonel" title="Senior colonel">senior colonel</a> rank, which was found and is still used in such nations as China and <a href="North_Korea" title="North Korea">North Korea</a>.

</p>

<div class="mw-heading mw-heading3"><h3 id="Colonel-in-chief">Colonel-in-chief</h3></div>

<div role="note" class="hatnote navigation-not-searchable">Main article: <a href="Colonel-in-chief" title="Colonel-in-chief">Colonel-in-chief</a></div>

<p>In many modern armies, the regiment has more importance as a ceremonial unit or a focus of members' loyalty than as an actual battle formation. Troops tend to be deployed in battalions (commanded by a <a href="Lieutenant_colonel" title="Lieutenant colonel">lieutenant colonel</a>) as a more convenient size of military unit and, as such, colonels have tended to have a higher profile in specialist and command roles than as actual commanders of regiments. However, in Commonwealth armies, the position of the colonel as the figurehead of a regiment is maintained in the honorary role of "colonel-in-chief", usually held by a member of the <a href="British_Royal_family" class="mw-redirect" title="British Royal family">royal family</a>,<sup id="cite_ref-3" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-3"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>3<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup> the nobility, or a retired senior military officer. The colonel-in-chief wears a colonel's uniform and encourages the members of the regiment, but takes no active part in the actual command structure or in any operational duties.<sup id="cite_ref-4" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-4"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>4<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup>

</p>

<div class="mw-heading mw-heading3"><h3 id="Colonel_of_the_Regiment">Colonel of the Regiment</h3></div>

<p>The title <b>Colonel of the Regiment</b> (to distinguish it from the military rank of colonel) continues to be used in the modern British Army. The ceremonial position is often conferred on retired <a href="General_officer" title="General officer">general officers</a>, <a href="Brigadier" title="Brigadier">brigadiers</a> or colonels who have a close link to a particular regiment. Non-military personnel, usually for positions within the Army Reserve may also be appointed to the ceremonial position. When attending functions as "Colonel of the Regiment", the titleholder wears the regimental uniform with rank insignia of (full) colonel, regardless of their official rank. A member of the <a href="Royal_Family" class="mw-redirect" title="Royal Family">Royal Family</a> is known as a <a href="Royal_Colonel" class="mw-redirect" title="Royal Colonel">Royal Colonel</a>. A Colonel of the Regiment is expected to work closely with a regiment and its Regimental Association.

</p>

<div class="mw-heading mw-heading2"><h2 id="Colonel_by_country">Colonel by country</h2></div>

<ul><li><a href="Colonel_(Bangladesh)" title="Colonel (Bangladesh)">Colonel (Bangladesh)</a></li>

<li><a href="Colonel_(Canada)" title="Colonel (Canada)">Colonel (Canada)</a></li>

<li><a href="Colonel_(Eastern_Europe)" class="mw-redirect" title="Colonel (Eastern Europe)">Colonel (Eastern European Countries)</a></li>

<li><a href="Oberst" title="Oberst">Colonel (Germanic Countries)</a></li>

<li><a href="Colonel_(India)" title="Colonel (India)">Colonel (India)</a></li>

<li><a href="Colonel_(Pakistan)" title="Colonel (Pakistan)">Colonel (Pakistan)</a></li>

<li><a href="Colonel_(Sri_Lanka)" title="Colonel (Sri Lanka)">Colonel (Sri Lanka)</a></li>

<li><a href="Colonel_(United_Kingdom)" title="Colonel (United Kingdom)">Colonel (United Kingdom)</a></li>

<li><a href="Colonel_(United_States)" title="Colonel (United States)">Colonel (United States)</a></li></ul>

<div class="mw-heading mw-heading3"><h3 id="Insignia">Insignia</h3></div>

<div class="mw-heading mw-heading4"><h4 id="Insignia_of_army_colonels">Insignia of army colonels</h4></div>

<div class="gallerytext"><div class="center"><a href="Albania" title="Albania">Albania</a><br> (<i>kolonel</i>)</div></div>

</li>

<div class="gallerytext"><div class="center"><a href="Angolan_Army" title="Angolan Army">Angola</a><br>(<i>coronel</i>)</div></div>

</li>

<div class="gallerytext"><div class="center"><a href="Argentine_Army" title="Argentine Army">Argentina</a><br>(<i>coronel</i>)</div></div>

</li>

<div class="gallerytext"><div class="center">Australia</div></div>

</li>

<div class="gallerytext"><div class="center"><a href="Azerbaijani_Armed_Forces" title="Azerbaijani Armed Forces">Azerbaijan</a><br>(<i>polkovnik</i>)</div></div>

</li>

<div class="gallerytext"><div class="center"><a href="Bangladesh" title="Bangladesh">Bangladesh</a></div></div>

</li>

<div class="gallerytext"><div class="center"><a href="Belarus" title="Belarus">Belarus</a></div></div>

</li>

<div class="gallerytext"><div class="center"><a href="Belgium" title="Belgium">Belgium</a></div></div>

</li>

<div class="gallerytext"><div class="center"><a href="Bolivian_Army" title="Bolivian Army">Bolivia</a><br>(<i>coronel</i>)</div></div>

</li>

<div class="gallerytext"><div class="center"><a href="Bosnia_and_Herzegovina" title="Bosnia and Herzegovina">Bosnia and Herzegovina</a><br>(<i>pukovnik</i>)</div></div>

</li>

<div class="gallerytext"><div class="center"><a href="Brazilian_Army" title="Brazilian Army">Brazil</a><br>(<i>coronel</i>)</div></div>

</li>

<div class="gallerytext"><div class="center"><a href="Bulgaria" title="Bulgaria">Bulgaria</a><br>(<i>полковник</i>)</div></div>

</li>

<div class="gallerytext"><div class="center"><a href="Colonel_(Canada)" title="Colonel (Canada)">Canada</a><br>(<i>colonel</i>)</div></div>

</li>

<div class="gallerytext"><div class="center"><a href="Cape_Verdean_Armed_Forces" title="Cape Verdean Armed Forces">Cape Verde</a><br>(<i>coronel</i>)</div></div>

</li>

<div class="gallerytext"><div class="center"><a href="Chilean_Army" title="Chilean Army">Chile</a><br>(<i>coronel</i>)</div></div>

</li>

<div class="gallerytext"><div class="center"><a href="People's_Liberation_Army" title="People's Liberation Army">China</a><br>(<i>shang xiao, 上校</i>)</div></div>

</li>

<div class="gallerytext"><div class="center"><a href="Colombia" title="Colombia">Colombia</a><br> (<i>coronel</i>)</div></div>

</li>

<div class="gallerytext"><div class="center"><a href="Cuban_Revolutionary_Army" title="Cuban Revolutionary Army">Cuba</a><br>(<i>coronel</i>)</div></div>

</li>

<div class="gallerytext"><div class="center"><a href="Czech_Republic" title="Czech Republic">Czech Republic</a> (<i><a href="Plukovn%C3%ADk" class="mw-redirect" title="Plukovník">plukovník</a></i>)</div></div>

</li>

<div class="gallerytext"><div class="center"><a href="Denmark" title="Denmark">Denmark</a><br> (<i>oberst</i>)</div></div>

</li>

<div class="gallerytext"><div class="center"><a href="Dominican_Republic" title="Dominican Republic">Dominican Republic</a></div></div>

</li>

<div class="gallerytext"><div class="center"><a href="Ecuadorian_Army" title="Ecuadorian Army">Ecuador</a><br>(<i>coronel</i>)</div></div>

</li>

<div class="gallerytext"><div class="center"><a href="Salvadoran_Army" title="Salvadoran Army">El Salvador</a><br>(<i>coronel</i>)</div></div>

</li>

<div class="gallerytext"><div class="center"><a href="Armed_Forces_of_Equatorial_Guinea" title="Armed Forces of Equatorial Guinea">Equatorial Guinea</a><br>(<i>coronel</i>)</div></div>

</li>

<div class="gallerytext"><div class="center"><a href="Finland" title="Finland">Finland</a><br> (<i>eversti</i>)</div></div>

</li>

<div class="gallerytext"><div class="center"><a href="French_Army" title="French Army">France</a></div></div>

</li>

<div class="gallerytext"><div class="center"><a href="Georgian_Army" class="mw-redirect" title="Georgian Army">Georgia</a><br>(პოლკოვნიკი, <i><a href="Polkovniki" class="mw-redirect" title="Polkovniki">polkovnik</a></i>)</div></div>

</li>

<div class="gallerytext"><div class="center">Germany<br>(<i><a href="Oberst" title="Oberst">Oberst</a></i>)</div></div>

</li>

<div class="gallerytext"><div class="center"><a href="Greece" title="Greece">Greece</a><br> (<i><a href="Syntagmatarchis" title="Syntagmatarchis">syntagmatarchis</a></i>)</div></div>

</li>

<div class="gallerytext"><div class="center"><a href="Guatemalan_Army" class="mw-redirect" title="Guatemalan Army">Guatemala</a><br>(<i>coronel</i>)</div></div>

</li>

<div class="gallerytext"><div class="center"><a href="Armed_Forces_of_Honduras" title="Armed Forces of Honduras">Honduras</a><br>(<i>coronel</i>)</div></div>

</li>

<div class="gallerytext"><div class="center"><a href="Hungary" title="Hungary">Hungary</a><br> (<i>ezredes</i>)</div></div>

</li>

<div class="gallerytext"><div class="center">India</div></div>

</li>

<div class="gallerytext"><div class="center"><a href="Indonesia" title="Indonesia">Indonesia</a></div></div>

</li>

<div class="gallerytext"><div class="center"><a href="Iran" title="Iran">Iran</a><br>("sarhang")</div></div>

</li>

<div class="gallerytext"><div class="center">Ireland</div></div>

</li>

<div class="gallerytext"><div class="center"><a href="Israel" title="Israel">Israel</a><br>(<i>Aluf Mishne</i>)</div></div>

</li>

<div class="gallerytext"><div class="center"><a href="Italy" title="Italy">Italy</a><br> (<i>colonnello</i>)</div></div>

</li>

<div class="gallerytext"><div class="center"><a href="Mexican_Army" title="Mexican Army">Mexico</a><br>(<i>coronel</i>)</div></div>

</li>

<div class="gallerytext"><div class="center"><a href="Monaco" title="Monaco">Monaco</a><br> (<i>colonel</i>)</div></div>

</li>

<div class="gallerytext"><div class="center"><a href="Mongolia" title="Mongolia">Mongolia</a><br> (<i>хурандаа</i>)</div></div>

</li>

<div class="gallerytext"><div class="center"><a href="Morocco" title="Morocco">Morocco</a><br> (<i>عقيد</i>)</div></div>

</li>

<div class="gallerytext"><div class="center"><a href="Mozambique_Defence_Armed_Forces" title="Mozambique Defence Armed Forces">Mozambique</a><br>(<i>coronel</i>)</div></div>

</li>

<div class="gallerytext"><div class="center"><a href="Netherlands" title="Netherlands">Netherlands</a><br> (<i>kolonel</i>)</div></div>

</li>

<div class="gallerytext"><div class="center"><a href="New_Zealand_Army" title="New Zealand Army">New Zealand</a></div></div>

</li>

<div class="gallerytext"><div class="center"><a href="Nicaraguan_Armed_Forces" title="Nicaraguan Armed Forces">Nicaragua</a><br>(<i>coronel</i>)</div></div>

</li>

<div class="gallerytext"><div class="center"><a href="North_Macedonia" title="North Macedonia">North Macedonia</a><br>(полковник, <i>polkovnik</i>)</div></div>

</li>

<div class="gallerytext"><div class="center"><a href="Norway" title="Norway">Norway</a><br>(<i>oberst</i>)</div></div>

</li>

<div class="gallerytext"><div class="center"><a href="Pakistan" title="Pakistan">Pakistan</a> </div>("kernal")</div>

</li>

<div class="gallerytext"><div class="center"><a href="Paraguayan_Army" title="Paraguayan Army">Paraguay</a><br>(<i>coronel</i>)</div></div>

</li>

<div class="gallerytext"><div class="center"><a href="Peruvian_Army" title="Peruvian Army">Peru</a><br>(<i>coronel</i>)</div></div>

</li>

<div class="gallerytext"><div class="center"><a href="Philippines" title="Philippines">Philippines</a><br>(<i>lakan/coronel</i>)</div></div>

</li>

<div class="gallerytext"><div class="center"><a href="Poland" title="Poland">Poland</a><br> (<span title="Polish-language text"><i lang="pl"><a href="Pu%C5%82kownik" class="mw-redirect" title="Pułkownik">pułkownik</a></i></span>)</div></div>

</li>

<div class="gallerytext"><div class="center"><a href="Portugal" title="Portugal">Portugal</a><br> (<i>coronel</i>)</div></div>

</li>

<div class="gallerytext"><div class="center"><a href="Romania" title="Romania">Romania</a></div></div>

</li>

<div class="gallerytext"><div class="center">Russia<br>(<i>polkovnik / полковник</i>)</div></div>

</li>

<div class="gallerytext"><div class="center"><a href="Serbia" title="Serbia">Serbia</a><br> (<i>pukovnik</i>)</div></div>

</li>

<div class="gallerytext"><div class="center"><a href="Slovak_Army" class="mw-redirect" title="Slovak Army">Slovakia</a><br>(<i>plukovník</i>)</div></div>

</li>

<div class="gallerytext"><div class="center"><a href="South_Korea" title="South Korea">South Korea</a></div></div>

</li>

<div class="gallerytext"><div class="center"><a href="Spanish_Army" title="Spanish Army">Spain</a><br>(<i>coronel</i>)</div></div>

</li>

<div class="gallerytext"><div class="center">South Africa</div></div>

</li>

<div class="gallerytext"><div class="center"><a href="Sri_Lanka" title="Sri Lanka">Sri Lanka</a></div></div>

</li>

<div class="gallerytext"><div class="center">Sweden<br>(<a href="%C3%96verste" title="Överste">överste</a>)</div></div>

</li>

<div class="gallerytext"><div class="center"><a href="Taiwan" title="Taiwan">Taiwan</a><br>(<i><a href="Shang_xiao" class="mw-redirect" title="Shang xiao">shang xiao</a></i>)</div></div>

</li>

<div class="gallerytext"><div class="center"><a href="Thailand" title="Thailand">Thailand</a></div></div>

</li>

<div class="gallerytext"><div class="center"><a href="Turkey" title="Turkey">Turkey</a><br>(<i>albay</i>)</div></div>

</li>

<div class="gallerytext"><div class="center"><a href="Armed_Forces_of_Turkmenistan" title="Armed Forces of Turkmenistan">Turkmenistan</a><br>(<i>Polkownik</i>)</div></div>

</li>

<div class="gallerytext"><div class="center"><a href="Ukraine" title="Ukraine">Ukraine</a><br>(<i>polkovnik/полковник</i>)</div></div>

</li>

<div class="gallerytext"><div class="center">United Kingdom</div></div>

</li>

<div class="gallerytext"><div class="center">United States</div></div>

</li>

<div class="gallerytext"><div class="center"><a href="Venezuelan_Army" class="mw-redirect" title="Venezuelan Army">Venezuela</a><br>(<i>coronel</i>)</div></div>

</li>

<div class="gallerytext"><div class="center"><a href="People's_Army_of_Vietnam" title="People's Army of Vietnam">Vietnam</a><br>(<i>thượng tá</i>)</div></div>

</li>

<div class="gallerytext"><a href="Myanmar" title="Myanmar">Myanmar</a> </div>

</li>

</ul>

<div class="mw-heading mw-heading4"><h4 id="Insignia_of_air_force_colonels">Insignia of air force colonels</h4></div>

<div class="gallerytext"><div class="center">Belgium</div></div>

</li>

<div class="gallerytext"><div class="center">Brazil (<i>coronel</i>)</div></div>

</li>

<div class="gallerytext"><div class="center"><a href="Colonel_(Canada)" title="Colonel (Canada)">Canada</a></div></div>

</li>

<div class="gallerytext"><div class="center">Chile (<i>coronel</i>)</div></div>

</li>

<div class="gallerytext"><div class="center">Denmark (<i>oberst</i>)</div></div>

</li>

<div class="gallerytext"><div class="center">France</div></div>

</li>

<div class="gallerytext"><div class="center">Georgia (პოლკოვნიკი, <i><a href="Polkovniki" class="mw-redirect" title="Polkovniki">polkovnik</a></i>)</div></div>

</li>

<div class="gallerytext"><div class="center">Germany (<i>oberst</i>)</div></div>

</li>

<div class="gallerytext"><div class="center">Indonesia (<i>kolonel</i>)</div></div>

</li>

<div class="gallerytext"><div class="center">Israel (<i>Aluf Mishne</i>)</div></div>

</li>

<div class="gallerytext"><div class="center">Italy (<i>colonnello</i>)</div></div>

</li>

<div class="gallerytext"><div class="center"><a href="South_Korea" title="South Korea">South Korea</a></div></div>

</li>

<div class="gallerytext"><div class="center">Netherlands (<i>kolonel</i>)</div></div>

</li>

<div class="gallerytext"><div class="center">Philippines<br>(<i>Lakan/Coronel</i>)</div></div>

</li>

<div class="gallerytext"><div class="center">Poland (<span title="Polish-language text"><i lang="pl"><a href="Pu%C5%82kownik" class="mw-redirect" title="Pułkownik">pułkownik</a></i></span>)</div></div>

</li>

<div class="gallerytext"><div class="center">Portugal (<i>coronel</i>)</div></div>

</li>

<div class="gallerytext"><div class="center">Russia (<i><a href="Polkovnik" title="Polkovnik">polkovnik</a></i>)</div></div>

</li>

<div class="gallerytext"><div class="center">Serbia (<i>pukovnik</i>)</div></div>

</li>

<div class="gallerytext"><div class="center">Spain (<i>coronel</i>)</div></div>

</li>

<div class="gallerytext"><div class="center">Sweden (<i>Överste</i>)</div></div>

</li>

<div class="gallerytext"><div class="center"><a href="Taiwan" title="Taiwan">Taiwan</a></div></div>

</li>

<div class="gallerytext"><div class="center">United States</div></div>

</li>

<div class="gallerytext"><div class="center"><a href="Venezuela" title="Venezuela">Venezuela</a></div> </div>

</li>

</ul>

<div class="mw-heading mw-heading4"><h4 id="Insignia_of_naval_infantry_colonels">Insignia of naval infantry colonels</h4></div>

<div class="gallerytext"><div class="center">Indonesia</div></div>

</li>

<div class="gallerytext"><div class="center">Israel (<i>Aluf Mishne</i>)</div></div>

</li>

<div class="gallerytext"><div class="center">Philippines</div></div>

</li>

<div class="gallerytext"><div class="center"><a href="South_Korea" title="South Korea">South Korea</a></div></div>

</li>

<div class="gallerytext"><div class="center"><a href="Taiwan" title="Taiwan">Taiwan</a></div></div>

</li>

<div class="gallerytext"><div class="center">United Kingdom</div></div>

</li>

<div class="gallerytext"><div class="center">United States</div></div>

</li>

</ul>

<div class="mw-heading mw-heading4"><h4 id="Insignia_of_colonels_of_other_services">Insignia of colonels of other services</h4></div>

<div class="gallerytext"><div class="center"><a href="United_States_Space_Force" title="United States Space Force">United States Space Force</a></div></div>

</li>

</ul>

<div class="mw-heading mw-heading2"><h2 id="Colonel_as_highest-ranking_officer">Colonel as highest-ranking officer</h2></div>

<p>Some military forces have a colonel as their highest-ranking officer, with no 'general' ranks, and no superior authority (except, perhaps, the head of state as a titular commander-in-chief) other than the respective national government. Examples include the following (arranged alphabetically by country name):

</p>

<ul><li><a href="Antigua_and_Barbuda_Defence_Force" title="Antigua and Barbuda Defence Force">Antigua and Barbuda</a> (170 personnel)</li>

<li><a href="Public_Force_of_Costa_Rica" title="Public Force of Costa Rica">Costa Rica</a> (about 8,000 personnel)</li>

<li><a href="Iceland_Crisis_Response_Unit" title="Iceland Crisis Response Unit">Iceland</a> (100 personnel, employed only for peacekeeping duties)</li>

<li><a href="Armed_Forces_of_the_Libyan_Arab_Jamahiriya" title="Armed Forces of the Libyan Arab Jamahiriya">Libya</a> (commands all the Armed Forces – <a href="Muammar_Gaddafi" title="Muammar Gaddafi">Muammar Gaddafi</a> until 2011)</li>

<li><a href="Military_of_Monaco" class="mw-redirect" title="Military of Monaco">Monaco</a> (two branches, with a total of about 250 personnel)</li>

<li><a href="Suriname_National_Army" title="Suriname National Army">Suriname</a> (1,800 personnel) (up to 19 June 2020)<sup id="cite_ref-5" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-5"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>5<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup></li>

<li><a href="Military_in_Vatican_City" title="Military in Vatican City">Vatican City</a> (110 personnel – the <a href="Pontifical_Swiss_Guard" class="mw-redirect" title="Pontifical Swiss Guard">Swiss Guard</a>)</li></ul>

<th colspan="6">Rank insignia for a colonel in several nations which have no higher military rank

</th></tr>

<tr>

<th rowspan="2">Iceland

</th>

<th colspan="2">Monaco

</th>

<th rowspan="2">Vatican City

</th></tr>

<tr>

<th>Colonel <a href="Compagnie_des_Carabiniers_du_Prince" title="Compagnie des Carabiniers du Prince">CCP</a></th>

<th>Colonel <a href="Corps_des_Sapeurs-Pompiers_de_Monaco" title="Corps des Sapeurs-Pompiers de Monaco">CSP</a><br>

</th></tr>

<tr>

<td>

</td>

<td>

</td>

<td>

</td>

<td>

</td></tr></tbody></table>

<div class="mw-heading mw-heading2"><h2 id="Other_uses_of_colonel_ranks">Other uses of colonel ranks</h2></div>

<div role="note" class="hatnote navigation-not-searchable">Further information: <a href="Colonel_(disambiguation)" class="mw-disambig" title="Colonel (disambiguation)">Colonel (disambiguation)</a></div>

<p>The term <i>colonel</i> is also used as a title for auctioneers in the United States; there are a variety of theories or <a href="Folk_etymologies" class="mw-redirect" title="Folk etymologies">folk etymologies</a> to explain the use of the term.<sup id="cite_ref-6" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-6"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>6<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup> One of these is the claim that during the <a href="American_Civil_War" title="American Civil War">American Civil War</a> goods seized by armies were sold at auction by the colonel of the division.<sup id="cite_ref-Doyle_7-0" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-Doyle-7"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>7<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup>

</p><p><a href="Kentucky_colonel" class="mw-redirect" title="Kentucky colonel">Kentucky colonel</a> is the highest title of honor bestowed by the <a href="Commonwealth_of_Kentucky" class="mw-redirect" title="Commonwealth of Kentucky">Commonwealth of Kentucky</a>. Commissions for Kentucky colonels are given by the Governor and the Secretary of State to individuals in recognition of noteworthy accomplishments and outstanding service to a community, state or the nation. This is the equivalent to a full colonel in the militia. The sitting governor of the Commonwealth of Kentucky bestows the honor of a colonel's Commission, by issuance of letters patent. Perhaps the best known Kentucky colonel is <a href="Colonel_Sanders" title="Colonel Sanders">Harland Sanders</a> of <i><a href="KFC" title="KFC">Kentucky Fried Chicken</a></i> fame.

</p><p>The rank of colonel is also used by some police forces and paramilitary organizations.

</p>

<ul><li><a href="List_of_comparative_military_ranks" title="List of comparative military ranks">List of comparative military ranks</a></li></ul>

<div class="mw-heading mw-heading2"><h2 id="References">References</h2></div>

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</style><cite id="CITEREFOliver1983" class="citation book cs1">Oliver, Raymond (1983). <a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="https://media.defense.gov/2011/Jan/11/2001330017/-1/-1/0/Why%20is%20the%20Colonel%20called%20Kernal.pdf"><i>Why is the Colonel Called Kernal?</i></a> <span class="cs1-format">(PDF)</span>. Sacramento, CA: Office of History, Sacramento Air Logistics Center. p. 13<span class="reference-accessdate">. Retrieved <span class="nowrap">2022-10-04</span></span>.</cite></span>

</li>

<li id="cite_note-:1-2"><span class="mw-cite-backlink"><b><a href="#cite_ref-:1_2-0">^</a></b></span> <span class="reference-text"><a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="http://www.militar.org.ua/militar/hm/historia-militar-espana-tercios-espanoles-batalla-de-pavia.html#coronelia">Los tercios españoles. La batalla de Pavía</a> at militar.org.ua (in Spanish, unspecified authorship)</span>

</li>

<li id="cite_note-3"><span class="mw-cite-backlink"><b><a href="#cite_ref-3">^</a></b></span> <span class="reference-text">See this list of colonel-in-chief appointments held by <a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="http://www.princeofwales.gov.uk/personalprofiles/theprinceofwales/atwork/supportingthequeen/specialrelationshipsandregiments/">The Prince of Wales.</a> <a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="https://web.archive.org/web/20121017130148/http://princeofwales.gov.uk/personalprofiles/theprinceofwales/atwork/supportingthequeen/specialrelationshipsandregiments/">Archived</a> 2012-10-17 at the <a href="Wayback_Machine" title="Wayback Machine">Wayback Machine</a></span>

</li>

<li id="cite_note-4"><span class="mw-cite-backlink"><b><a href="#cite_ref-4">^</a></b></span> <span class="reference-text">A webpage by a Scottish regiment concerning <a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="http://www.theroyalscots.co.uk/colonel.html">their colonel-in-chief.</a> <a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="https://web.archive.org/web/20071219214929/http://www.theroyalscots.co.uk/colonel.html">Archived</a> 2007-12-19 at the <a href="Wayback_Machine" title="Wayback Machine">Wayback Machine</a></span>

</li>

<li id="cite_note-5"><span class="mw-cite-backlink"><b><a href="#cite_ref-5">^</a></b></span> <span class="reference-text"><cite class="citation news cs1 cs1-prop-foreign-lang-source"><a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="https://web.archive.org/web/20200624043501/https://www.suriname.nu/surinamenieuws/minister-benschop-bevorderd-tot-generaal-majoor-su/">"Minister Benschop bevorderd tot Generaal-Majoor"</a>. <i>Suriname.nu</i> (in Dutch). Archived from <a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="https://www.suriname.nu/surinamenieuws/minister-benschop-bevorderd-tot-generaal-majoor-su/">the original</a> on June 24, 2020<span class="reference-accessdate">. Retrieved <span class="nowrap">14 July</span> 2020</span>.</cite></span>

</li>

<li id="cite_note-6"><span class="mw-cite-backlink"><b><a href="#cite_ref-6">^</a></b></span> <span class="reference-text"><cite id="CITEREFLeabLeab1981" class="citation book cs1">Leab, Daniel J.; Leab, Katharine Kyes (29 December 1981). <a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="https://books.google.com/books?id=7p9HAQAAIAAJ&q=auctioneer+colonel"><i>The auction companion</i></a>. Harper & Row. <a href="ISBN_(identifier)" class="mw-redirect" title="ISBN (identifier)">ISBN</a> <bdi>9780060125561</bdi> – via Google Books.</cite></span>

</li>

<li id="cite_note-Doyle-7"><span class="mw-cite-backlink"><b><a href="#cite_ref-Doyle_7-0">^</a></b></span> <span class="reference-text"><cite id="CITEREFDoyleBaska2002" class="citation cs2">Doyle, Robert A.; Baska, Steve (November 2002), <a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="https://web.archive.org/web/20080517071614/http://auctioneersfoundation.org/news_detail.php?id=5094">"History of Auctions: From ancient Rome to todays high-tech auctions"</a>, <i>Auctioneer</i>, archived from <a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="http://www.auctioneersfoundation.org/news_detail.php?id=5094">the original</a> on May 17, 2008<span class="reference-accessdate">, retrieved <span class="nowrap">2008-06-22</span></span></cite></span>

</li>

</ol></div></div>

<div class="mw-heading mw-heading2"><h2 id="Bibliography">Bibliography</h2></div>

<ul><li><cite id="CITEREFKeeganWheatcroft1996" class="citation book cs1">Keegan, John; Wheatcroft, Andrew (1996). <i>Who's Who in Military History: From 1453 to the Present Day</i>. London: <a href="Routledge" title="Routledge">Routledge</a>.</cite></li></ul>

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