French Gardes du Corps

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Origin and History

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

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

By a decree of 1671, renewed on January 8, 1737, 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.

Ths 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. In 1744, 1745 and 1747, they accompanied Louis XV. On July 2, 1747, the Battle of Lauffeld was the last engagement in which they actively participated.

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

• from December 23, 1731: Louis de Noailles, Duc d'Ayen
• from December 23, 1758 to March 1776: Jean-Louis-François-Paul de Noailles, Duc d'Ayen

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

Arms of the Prince de Beauvau - Source: PMPdeL

This company was created on September 4, 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 Seven Years' War, the company was under the command of:

• from May 1, 1756: Gaston-Jacques-Pierre de Lévis, Duc de Mirepoix
• from November 11, 1757 to February 22, 1786: Charles-Just, Prince de Beauvau-Craon

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

• from April 22, 1734: Louis-Nicolas de Neufville, Duc de Villeroy
• from June 29, 1758: Gabriel-Louis-Fran]ois de Neufville, Duc de Villeroy

3e Compagnie Française

Arms of the Duc de Montmorency-Luxembourg - Source: PMPdeL

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

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

• from July 19, 1750 until May 23, 1764: Charles-François-Frédéric de Montmorency, Duc de Luxembourg-Piney

Service during the War

The unit did not take part in the early campaigns of the Seven Years' War, remaining at Versailles.

In 1761, the unit took the field with the army of the Prince de Soubise. On July 16, it was present at the Battle of Vellinghausen but was not engaged.

In 1762, the unit formed part of Condé's Army of the Lower Rhine. On August 30, it was present at the Combat of Nauheim but was not engaged.

Uniform

Privates

1ère Compagnie Écossaise Uniform – Copyright: Kronoskaf	1ère Compagnie Française Uniform – Copyright: Kronoskaf
2ème Compagnie Française Uniform – Copyright: Kronoskaf	3ème Compagnie Française Uniform – Copyright: Kronoskaf

Uniform Details as per
the Etat Général des Troupes Françoises of 1753 and Etat Militaire of 1761

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

Uniform of the musicians in 1758 - Source: PMPdeL

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

1ère Compagnie Écossaise Standard – Copyright: Kronoskaf	1ère Compagnie Française Standard – Copyright: Kronoskaf
2ème Compagnie Française Standard – Copyright: Kronoskaf	3ème Compagnie Française Standard – Copyright: Kronoskaf

References

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

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

Other sources

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

Grosser Generalstab Kriegsgeschichtliche Abteilung II: Die Kriege Friedrichs des Grossen, Part 3 Der siebenjährige Krieg 1756-1763, Vol. 5 Hastenbeck und Roßbach, Berlin, 1903, Appendix 10

Menguy, Patrice: Les Sujets du Bien Aimé (an interesting website which has unfortunately been removed from the web)

Mouillard, Lucien: Les Régiments sous Louis XV; Paris 1882

Vial, J.-L.: Nec Pluribus Impar