In the ancien Régime French Navy, the rank of chef d'escadre (literally, squadron commander, pronounced ) was equivalent to the present-day rank of rear admiral. It was replaced in 1791 by the rank of "contre-amiral" (counter admiral). Chefs d'escadre were naval generals. The first were created by Louis XIII in 1627 - he had a "chef d'escadre of Normandy" commanding the port of Le Havre, a chef d'escadre of Britanny commanding Brest et a chef d'escadre of Guyenne commanding Brouage. Each of these chefs d'escadres, as officiers d'épée, was flanked by a commissaire général, an officier de plume.