Alférez_(rank)
Alférez (rank)
Junior officer rank in the militaries of Spain, Argentina, Chile and Uruguay
Alférez or alferes is a junior officer rank in the militaries of some Hispanophone and Lusophone countries.
The name originates from al-fāris (Arabic: الفارس), meaning "the knight", "the horseman" or "the cavalryman".[citation needed] However, today the rank is often translated as ensign, sub-lieutenant or second lieutenant.[citation needed]
The rank was first used by Iberian armies during the reconquista in the Middle Ages, being associated to the officer responsible for the carrying of a unit flag. During that time alférez was the leader of the retinue of a king or high-ranking nobleman. The famous warrior El Cid was the alférez of King Alfonso VI of Castile and Alfonso Núñez was the alférez of Duke Raymond of Galicia.[citation needed]