View source for Syntagmatarchis

{{Unreferenced stub|auto=yes|date=December 2009}}
{{Infobox military rank
| name           = {{lang|el-Latn|Syntagmatarchis}}
| native_name    = {{Lang|el|Συνταγματάρχης}}
| image          = Army-GRE-OF-05.svg
| image_size     = 80px
| alt            =
| caption        = Rank insignia
| image2         = 
| image_size2    = 
| alt2           =
| caption2       = 
| image3         = 
| image_size3    = 
| alt3           =
| caption3       = 
| country        = {{flag|Greece}}
| service branch = {{army|Greece}} <br>
[[Hellenic Gendarmerie]] (till 1984)
| abbreviation   = {{lang|el|Σχης}}
| rank group     =
| rank           = 
| NATO rank      = OF-5
| Non-NATO rank  = 
| pay grade      = 
| formation      = 
| abolished      = 
| higher rank    = {{lang|el-Latn|[[Taxiarchos]]}}
| lower rank     = {{lang|el-Latn|Antisyntagmatarchis}}
| equivalents    = 
| history        = 
}}
'''{{lang|el-Latn|Syntagmatarchis}}''' ({{Langx|el|Συνταγματάρχης}}; abbreviated {{lang|el|Σχης}}), sometimes anglicised as '''Syntagmatarch''', is used in modern Greek to denote the rank of [[colonel]]. It is translated as "leader of a regiment (''syntagma'')", and dates back to the Classical Age armies. However, the name is misleading in that the Hellenic Army retains very few regiments in its command structure. Thus, the typical responsibilities of ''Syntagmatarches'' are in staff positions, or as executive officers in brigades. Officers holding this rank should be addressed as ''Kyrie Syntagmatarcha'' (Κύριε Συνταγματάρχα).

In the modern [[Hellenic Army]] the rank is superior to an ''Antisyntagmatarchis'' ([[Lieutenant Colonel]]) and inferior to a ''[[Taxiarchos]]'' ([[Brigadier]]). The insignia consists of a flaming grenade and three golden stars.

The [[Greek junta]], a [[military dictatorship]] which ruled the country from 1967 until 1974, is also known as "The Regime of the Colonels" because most of its chief leaders were of Colonel rank, including two of the three chief leaders, [[Georgios Papadopoulos|George Papadopoulos]] and [[Nikolaos Makarezos]].

== Rank insignia ==
<gallery>
File:GR-Army-OF5-1912.svg|Rank insignia of a ''Syntagmatarchis'', 1908–1936
File:GR-Army-OF5-1937.svg|Rank insignia of a ''Syntagmatarchis'', 1937–1970
File:GR-Army-OF5-1970.png|Rank insignia of a ''Syntagmatarchis'', 1970–1973
File:Army-GRE-OF-05.svg|Current rank insignia of a ''Syntagmatarchis'', since 1975 
</gallery>

==References==
{{reflist}}

{{Greece officer ranks}}

[[Category:Hellenic Army officers]]
[[Category:Military ranks of Greece]]
[[Category:Military ranks of ancient Greece]]

{{Greece-mil-stub}}