The French Foreign Legion by Douglas Boyd

During this period, 42,000 out of a total of 146,000 soldiers in the French army were non-French nationals. Germanic, Italian, Batavian, and Polish Legions were also formed. In its Jdecree, the Assembly stated that 'if the enemies' kingdoms would deploy numerous armies against the free people, it is important for these free people to admit into their ranks all the men whose sublime impulse calls to fight for the sacred cause of Liberty.' Accordingly, the Légion Franche Etrangère (Free Foreign Legion), a precursor to the modern-day Foreign Legion, was created on August 1, 1792. ĭuring the French Revolution, the National Legislative Assembly allowed the use of foreign soldiers and created foreign volunteer units, such as the Foreign Volunteer Units in Service of France. The red uniforms of the Swiss are distinct from the other combatants.ĭuring the Seven Years' War, France mustered 32 foreign regiments: twelve German units, ten Swiss, seven Irish, two Italian and one Scottish. , formed mostly from foreign infantry corps.ĭay of AugLa Prise des Tuileries (The taking of the Tuileries). įrancis I created the Foreign Regiments of the Ancien Régime. Additionally, Louis XI employed a Garde Écossaise (Scottish Guard) and up to 6000 Swiss guards in 1480. ĭuring the reign of Louis XI, 20–30% of the French army consisted of non-French soldiers. The 13th century and the 14th century also saw large free companies of Scottish, Castillan, Savoyard, Swiss, and Dutch soldiers serving under various chiefs and princes. In 1346, Philip VI of France deployed 15,000 Genovese soldiers at the Battle of Crécy. There is evidence of the French monarchy hiring foreign soldiers since before the Bourbon Restoration. This Legion would become the modern Foreign Legion and would participate in the expansion and maintenance of the French colonial empire during the 19th and 20th centuries.įoreign nationals in the service of France Middle Ages and Ancien Régime After the Legion was essentially abandoned by the French government during the First Carlist War, a second Legion was formed in 1836. Initially, the Legion was heavily involved in the French conquest of Algeria (1830–1849) and the First Carlist War (1833–1840). After its creation, the Legion participated in the further recruitment of foreign nationals into French military service. The Foreign Legion was established in 1831 by King Louis Philippe I to consolidate all foreign corps fighting under French colors, which included, among others, the Swiss Guards, the Swiss regiment of the Royal Guard, and the Hohenlohe Regiment.

The French Foreign Legion by Douglas Boyd