In the ancien Régime French Navy, the rank of chef d'escadre (literally, squadron commander, pronounced [ʃɛf dɛskaːdʁ]) was equivalent to the present-day rank of rear admiral. It was replaced in 1791 by the rank of "contre-amiral" (counter admiral). The chefs d'escadres were chosen from among the capitaines de vaisseau; as the flag of their command they flew a "cornette" at the top of their flagship's main-mast (a flag named after its resemblance in shape to a cornette, making it roughly the same shape as a British commodore's 'broad pennant').