commander-in-chief
Sign in to saveA commander-in-chief (sometimes called a supreme commander or supreme commander-in-chief) is the person who exercises supreme command and control over an armed force or a military branch. As a technical term, it refers to military competencies that reside in a country's executive leadership, a head of state, head of government, or other designated government official.
AI overview
A commander-in-chief is the highest-ranking leader who holds supreme control over a country's armed forces or a specific military branch. This role typically belongs to a country's executive leadership, such as a head of state or head of government, and is important because it establishes clear authority over military operations and decisions.
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83 sectionsContents
- Definition
- Heads of state as commanders in chief
- Albania
- Argentina
- Australia
- Austria
- Barbados
- Bangladesh
- Belarus
- Belgium
- Bosnia and Herzegovina
- Brazil
- Brunei
- Canada
- China
- Croatia
- Czechia
- Denmark
- Dominican Republic
- Egypt
- Eswatini
- Finland
- France
- Pre-1958
- Ghana
- Guyana
- India
- Indonesia
- Iran
- Ireland
- Italy
- Kenya
- Latvia
- Malaysia
- Mexico
- New Zealand
- Nigeria
- Norway
- Pakistan
- Philippines
- Poland
- Portugal
- Russia
- Rwanda
- Saudi Arabia
- Serbia
- Slovenia
- South Africa
- South Korea
- Spain
- Sri Lanka
- Suriname
- Syria
- Taiwan
- Thailand
- Turkey
- Ukraine
- United Kingdom
- United States
- U.S. States
- Uzbekistan
- Venezuela
- Vietnam
- Other officeholders as commanders-in-chief or other situations
- Armenia
- China
- Hong Kong
- Ethiopia
- Germany
- Greece
- Iraq
- Israel
- Japan
- Malta
- Myanmar
- Netherlands
- North Korea
- Sweden
- Switzerland
- See also
- Notes
- References
- Sources
A commander-in-chief (sometimes called a supreme commander or supreme commander-in-chief) is the person who exercises supreme command and control over an armed force or a military branch. As a technical term, it refers to military competencies that reside in a country's executive leadership, a head of state, head of government, or other designated government official.
The title used for this highest command authority varies by country and language. Generally speaking, English-speaking countries favor the title "Commander-in-chief", while French-speaking countries favor "Chief of armies" (); most continental European countries use the term "Supreme Commander"; while the Soviet Union, and consequently the post-soviet states, use "Supreme commander-in-chief" (). In those countries where the title "commander-in-chief" is not in use for the military's highest commander, it may nonetheless be in use for high-ranking military officers; for example, in the case of the Armed Forces of Ukraine, the supreme commander-in-chief is the president of Ukraine, while the commander-in-chief is its professional head.