The borrowed origins of English naval rank terms lead into the geometry behind the flag grades. The admiral commanded the centre, the vice admiral led the van, and the rear admiral commanded the rear division. Commodore supplied authority above individual captains when a formation needed coordination without another full admiral. The terminology therefore records how a sailing fleet distributed command across separate tactical groups.
Notable Point · 53:12-53:48
How fleet formation produced rear and vice admirals
Royal Navy flag titles preserve the sailing-fleet division into van, centre, and rear, with seniority tied to position.