French Gardes du Corps

Hierarchical Path: War of the Spanish Succession (Main Page) >> Armies >> French Army >> French Gardes du Corps

Origin and History

This prestigious unit served under Louis XI, Charles VIII, Louis XII, François I, Henri IV, Louis XIII and Louis XIV.

By a decree of 1671, the organisation of this unit was fixed as follows:

• 4 companies, each totalling 343 men and consisting of:
  • 1 kettle-drummer
  • 6 brigades, each totalling 57 men and consisting of:
    • 2 brigadiers
    • 2 sous-brigadiers
    • 1 standard-bearer
    • 51 guards
    • 1 trumpeter

Each of the four companies deployed into two squadrons of 165 guards, including 12 brigadiers, 12 sous-brigadiers, 6 standard-bearers, 6 trumpeters et one kettle-drummer. The four companies counted a total (excluding staff) of 80 officers, 120 NCOs, 28 musicians and 1,172 men.

The staff consisted of:

• 1 major
• 2 aide-majors
• 1 commissary
• 1 chaplain
• 1 surgeon

To be admitted in this corps, one had to measure at least 5 feet 4 inches, to be well constituted and well "faced", to be of noble extraction or at least "exceptional" and to be catholic.

The Gardes du Corps, the elite of the French heavy cavalry, accompanied the king in his campaigns: they were with Louis XI at Montlhéry and Liège; Charles VIII at Fornoue and Novarre; Louis XII at Agnadel; François I at Marignan and Pavia; Henry IV at Ivry; and Louis XIII at the Pas de Suse. They also accompanied Louis XIV in his campaigns in Flanders and Franche-Comté.

The unit was disbanded on September 12, 1791.

1ère Compagnie Écossaise

Arms of the Duc de Noailles - Source: PMPdeL

This company was created in 1440 under the reign of Charles VII. It marched at the head of the Maison du Roi. It initially consisted of Scots noblemen but it gradually recruited among French troops until, despite its name, the unit did not count a single Scot. Nevertheless, the tradition of answering "hamir!" (I am here) when on guard duty remained.

During the War of the Spanish Succession, the company was under the command of:

• from 5 February 1678: Anne-Jules, Duc de Noailles
• from 17 February 1707 until 23 December 1731: Adrien-Maurice, Duc de Noailles

The 24 members of the Gardes de la Manche, who accompanied the king in all his public outings, were recruited among this company.

1ère Compagnie Française

This company was created on 4 September 1474 by Louis XI as his personal body guard. In 1515, François I transformed this unit into the first French company of his Gardes du Corps.

During the War of the Spanish Succession, the company was under the command of:

• from 1 April 1672: Jacques-Henri de Durfort, Marquis de Duras
• from 10 December 1704: Louis-François, Duc de Boufflers
• from 21 October 1711 until 23 October 1747: Armand de Béthune, Duc de Charost

2e Compagnie Française

Arms of the Duc de Villeroi - Source: PMPdeL

This company was created in 1479 by Louis XI at Plessis-lez-Tours.

During the War of the Spanish Succession, the company was under the command of:

• from 1 February 1695 to 22 April 1734: François de Neufville, Duc de Villeroy

3e Compagnie Française

This company was created on 1 March 1516 by François I.

During the Seven Years' War, the company was under the command of:

• from 12 June 1676: Guy-Aldonse de Durfort, Comte de Lorges
• from 26 February 1703 until 23 October 1747: Henri Duc d'Harcourt

Service during the War

At the beginning of 1701, 4 squadrons were posted at Strasbourg and the 4 other squadrons at Obernheim, Molsheim, Mutzich, Dorleshiem, Binfeld, Ilkirch, Lawantzenau and Erstein. They were all transferred to the Moselle at the end of July.

By 22 April 1702, the 8 squadrons were part of the army of the Maréchal de Boufflers in Upper Guelderland. They were deployed in the first line of the cavalry right wing.

In mid-May 1704, the unit crossed the Meuse River at Namur and marched to Luxembourg with the rest of the "Maison du Roi".

On 23 May 1706, the unit took part in the Battle of Ramillies, where it was deployed behind the first line of the cavalry right wing.

On 11 July 1708, the unit took part in the Battle of Oudenarde, where it was deployed in the first line of the cavalry right wing. In December 1708, it was sent to Arras, Bapaume and Péronne.

Uniform

Privates

Uniform Details

Headgear	black tricorne laced silver, with a white cockade
Neckstock	n/a
Coat	turquin blue laced silver and lined red with large silver buttonholes and a silver lace on each sleeve Collar none Shoulder straps silver for the Compagnie Écossaise, blue for the other companies Lapels none Pockets horizontal pockets laced silver with 3 white buttons on the lace Cuffs red Turnbacks red
Waistcoat	red
Breeches	red
Leather Equipment	Bandolier each company was distinguished by the colour of the bandolier: 1ère Compagnie Écossaise:white and silver squares laced silver 1ère Compagnie Française: green and silver squares laced silver 2e Compagnie Française: blue and silver squares laced silver 3e Compagnie Française: yellow and silver squares laced silver Waistbelt same colours and patterns as the bandolier Cartridge Box n/a Scabbard n/a Footgear black boots
Horse Furniture	Saddlecloth each company was distinguished by the colour of the saddle cloth: 1ère Compagnie Écossaise: red laced silver 1ère Compagnie Française: green laced silver 2e Compagnie Française: blue laced silver 3e Compagnie Française: yellow laced silver Housings same as for the saddle cloth Blanket roll n/a

Troopers were armed with a sword, a pistol and a carbine.

There was no specific colour assigned for the horses of the troopers.

Officers

Officers wore similar uniforms distinguished by more elaborate lacing. They also carried an ebony cane garnished in ivory at each end.

Like for all units belonging to the Maison du Roi, the horses of the officers had to be grey.

Musicians

Musicians of the Garde du Corps in 1724. - Source: Alfred de Marbot Tableaux synoptiques de l'infanterie et de la cavalerie...

Trumpeters and kettle-drummers wore a silver "paletot" laced blue.

For the musicians of all companies, the saddle cloth, housings as well as the aprons of the kettle-drums and the pennants of the trumpets were blue decorated in silver.

Like for all units belonging to the Maison du Roi, the musicians were mounted on buckskin horses.

Standards

The standards of all companies were made of silk fringed in gold and silver; embroidered with a golden the Royal Sun with the motto Nec Pluribus Impar. The flagpoles were golden. There were six standards per company. Each company had its own distinctive colours:

• 1ère Compagnie Écossaise: white field
• 1ère Compagnie Française: green field
• 2e Compagnie Française: blue field
• 3e Compagnie Française: yellow field

References

This article incorporates texts from the following books, which are now in the public domain:

• Pajol, Charles P. V.: Les Guerres sous Louis XV, vol. VII, Paris, 1891, pp. 2-6
• Susane, Louis: Histoire de la cavalerie française, Vol. 1, Paris: Hetzel, 1874, pp. 209-222

Other sources

Funcken, L. and F.: Les uniformes de la guerre en dentelle

Vial, J.-L.: Nec Pluribus Impar

N.B.: the section Service during the War is mostly derived from our articles depicting the various campaigns, battles and sieges.