Gardes Françaises
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| Gardes Françaises | |
|---|---|
| Active | 1563-September, 1789 |
| Country | France |
| Branch | Army |
| Type | Guard Infantry |
| Role | Infantry |
| Size | Six Battalions |
The Gardes Françaises (English: French Guards) was one of two infantry guard regiments in the French Army during the Ancien Régime. The other regiment was the Gardes Suisses, which made the Gardes Françaises the only one recruited from France.
[edit] History
It was created in 1563 by Charles IX. It counted 30 companies in 1635 with 300 fusiliers per company. They were armed with rifles ("fusils") or steel-handled pikes, and were allowed to conduct a normal civilian life in times of peace.
At Catherine de Medicis' insistence, they were at first spread over several garrisons, but after the attempted kidnapping of King Charles IX near Meaux by Huguenots, the Gardes were brought back together specifically to protect the monarch.
In times of war they had the privilege of choosing their own battle positions (usually in the centre of the first line of infantry). Other privileges included being the first through the walls during a siege, first choice of barracks, and special rights of trial.
Their support for the French Revolution at its outbreak was critical to its success, and, on disbanded in September 1789, they became the core of the new Garde Nationale.
[edit] Battles
- Lens (1648)
- Fleurus (1690)
- Steenkerque (1692)
- Ramillies (1706)
- Malplaquet (1709)
- Dettingen (1743)
- Fontenoy (1745)
- The Storming of the Bastille (1789)
