École spéciale militaire de Saint-Cyr
| Motto | Ils s'instruisent pour vaincre (French) |
|---|---|
Motto in English | They study to vanquish |
| Type | Military college |
| Established | 1 May 1802 |
| Affiliation | French Army |
| Commandant | Général Patrick Collet |
| Location | , 47°56′43″N 2°09′08″W / 47.9453°N 2.1522°W |
| Campus | Rural |
| Colors | Red – White – Blue |
| Nickname | Saint-cyrien, cyrard |
| Website | ESM Saint-Cyr |
The École spéciale militaire de Saint-Cyr (French pronunciation: [ekɔl spesjal militɛʁ də sɛ̃siʁ], lit. 'Special Military School of Saint-Cyr', abbr. ESM) is a French military academy, and is often referred to as Saint-Cyr (French pronunciation: [sɛ̃ siʁ]). It is located in Coëtquidan in Guer, Morbihan, Brittany. Its motto is Ils s'instruisent pour vaincre, literally meaning "They study to vanquish" or, more freely put, "Training for victory". French cadet officers are called saint-cyriens or cyrards. France's other most senior military education institute is the École de guerre (EdG) (School of Warfare), located in the École militaire complex, in Paris.
French students who enter Saint-Cyr as cadets are about 21 years old, and undergo three years of training. All ESM cadets graduate with a Master of Arts or a Master of Science and are commissioned officers.
The academy was founded in Fontainebleau in 1802 by Napoleon. It was moved in 1806 to the buildings of the former Maison Royale de Saint-Louis, in Saint-Cyr-l'École, west of Paris. During the Second World War, the cadets moved several times due to the German invasion. They eventually settled in 1945 in the Coëtquidan military camp in Morbihan.