The ''Gardes du Corps du Roi'' () was a

cavalry Historically, cavalry (from the French word ''cavalerie'', itself derived from ''cheval'' meaning "horse") are groups of soldiers or warriors who Horses in warfare, fight mounted on horseback. Until the 20th century, cavalry were the most mob ...

unit of the ''

maison militaire du roi de France The ''maison militaire du roi de France'' (, ''military household of the king of France'') were the Royal guard, military branch of the Maison du Roi, the royal household of the List of French monarchs, French monarchy. Officially part of the Fr ...

''.

History

Foundation

The oldest unit in the ''Garde du Corps'' was the Company of Scottish Archers, later just the 1st Scottish Company or ''

Garde Écossaise The Scottish Guards () was a bodyguard unit founded in 1418 by the Valois Charles VII of France, to be personal bodyguards to the French monarchy. They were assimilated into the ''Maison du Roi'' and later formed the first company of the '' Gar ...

'', formed in 1419 from Scots that fought for the French during

Hundred Years' War The Hundred Years' War (; 1337–1453) was a conflict between the kingdoms of Kingdom of England, England and Kingdom of France, France and a civil war in France during the Late Middle Ages. It emerged from feudal disputes over the Duchy ...

. This unit was created at an uncertain date between 1423 and 1448. Subsequently, two further French companies were raised. A final company was established on 17 March 1515. Each of the four companies initially numbered less than a hundred men.

Active service

In the

Battle of Fornovo The Battle of Fornovo took place 30 km (19 miles) southwest of the city of Parma on 6 July 1495. It was fought as Charles VIII of France, King Charles VIII of Kingdom of France, France left Kingdom of Naples, Naples upon hearing the news of the ...

during the

Italian Wars The Italian Wars were a series of conflicts fought between 1494 and 1559, mostly in the Italian Peninsula, but later expanding into Flanders, the Rhineland and Mediterranean Sea. The primary belligerents were the House of Valois, Valois kings o ...

the ''Garde du Corps'' saved King Charles VIII from being captured by enemy forces. Later in the Italian Wars they failed to save Francis I from being captured in the

Battle of Pavia The Battle of Pavia, fought on the morning of 24 February 1525, was the decisive engagement of the Italian War of 1521–1526 between the Kingdom of France and the Habsburg Empire of Charles V, Holy Roman Emperor, Charles V, Holy Roman Empero ...

. The last time the ''Garde du Corps'' campaigned was during the

War of the Austrian Succession The War of the Austrian Succession was a European conflict fought between 1740 and 1748, primarily in Central Europe, the Austrian Netherlands, Italian Peninsula, Italy, the Atlantic Ocean and Mediterranean Sea. Related conflicts include King Ge ...

because it only went on campaign when the king was present. The last battle in which the ''Garde du Corps'' was present was Lauffeld on 1 July 1747.

Composition and military quality

In contrast to other units of the royal household such as the

French Guards The French Guards (, ) were an elite infantry regiment of the French Royal Army. They formed a constituent part of the maison militaire du roi de France ("military household of the king of France") under the Ancien Régime. The French Guards, w ...

and the Swiss Guards, the ''Garde du Corps'' was an exclusively aristocratic corps. Even the rank and file were drawn from families with appropriate social backgrounds. As such they were noted for their courtly manners but less so for their professionalism and military skills. Individual courtier guardsmen stationed at Versailles were not subject to regular training beyond ceremonial drill, and extended periods of leave from duty were common. A critical report, dated 1775, concluded that the Garde du Corps and other "distinguished units with their own privileges are always very expensive - fight less than line troops, are usually badly disciplined and badly trained, and are always very embarrassing on campaign". Officers of the Garde du Corps resented having to wear uniforms (perceived as a form of servant's

livery A livery is an identifying design, such as a uniform, ornament, symbol, or insignia that designates ownership or affiliation, often found on an individual or vehicle. Livery often includes elements of the heraldry relating to the individual or ...

) when on duty at Versailles and eventually won the concession of appearing in civilian

court dress Court dress comprises the style of clothes and other attire prescribed for members of court, courts of law. Depending on the country and jurisdiction's traditions, members of the court (judges, magistrates, and so on) may wear formal robes, g ...

with their military belts and swords, except when on parade.

Revolution and Restoration

The ''Garde du Corps'' featured conspicuously in several incidents in the opening stages of the French Revolution. On 1 October 1789 the officers of the ''Garde'' hosted a banquet to welcome their colleagues of the ''Régiment de Flandre'' (Flanders Regiment); a

line infantry Line infantry was the type of infantry that formed the bulk of most European land armies from the mid-17th century to the mid-19th century. Maurice of Nassau and Gustavus Adolphus are generally regarded as its pioneers, while Henri de la Tour d ...

regiment of the Royal Army, which had been brought to

Versailles The Palace of Versailles ( ; ) is a former royal residence commissioned by King Louis XIV located in Versailles, Yvelines, Versailles, about west of Paris, in the Yvelines, Yvelines Department of Île-de-France, Île-de-France region in Franc ...

to replace the disbanded ''Gardes Francais'' (

). The latter regiment had joined in the attack on the

Bastille The Bastille (, ) was a fortress in Paris, known as the Bastille Saint-Antoine. It played an important role in the internal conflicts of France and for most of its history was used as a state prison by the kings of France. It was stormed by a ...

six weeks before. The banquet was reported in Paris as a royalist provocation and an angry crowd of thousands marched on Versailles. During the night of 5 October about 500 members of the crowd broke into the palace, killing two of the ''Gardes du Corps'' on duty. Other ''Gardes du Corps'' held the doors to the royal apartments until grenadiers of the National Guard – mostly former ''Gardes Francais'' – restored order. The ''Garde du Corps'' narrowly escaped massacre and, disarmed, was obliged to accompany the Royal Family to Paris. Most of this aristocratic regiment then dispersed to their estates or into exile. The ''Garde du Corps'' was formally dissolved in 1791 along with all of the Maison du Roi, except for the ill-fated Swiss Guards. After the abdication of

Napoleon Napoleon Bonaparte (born Napoleone di Buonaparte; 15 August 1769 – 5 May 1821), later known by his regnal name Napoleon I, was a French general and statesman who rose to prominence during the French Revolution and led Military career ...

I in April 1814 and the

Bourbon Restoration Bourbon Restoration may refer to: France under the House of Bourbon: * Bourbon Restoration in France (1814, after the French revolution and Napoleonic era, until 1830; interrupted by the Hundred Days in 1815) Spain under the Spanish Bourbons: * Ab ...

Louis XVIII Louis XVIII (Louis Stanislas Xavier; 17 November 1755 – 16 September 1824), known as the Desired (), was King of France from 1814 to 1824, except for a brief interruption during the Hundred Days in 1815. Before his reign, he spent 23 y ...

recreated the ''Garde du Corps'' with the rest of the ''Maison du Roi''. These units disappeared during Napoleon's return, at the start of the

Hundred Days The Hundred Days ( ), also known as the War of the Seventh Coalition (), marked the period between Napoleon's return from eleven months of exile on the island of Elba to Paris on20 March 1815 and the second restoration of King Louis XVIII o ...

. After

Waterloo Waterloo most commonly refers to: * Battle of Waterloo, 1815 battle where Napoleon's French army was defeated by Anglo-allied and Prussian forces * Waterloo, Belgium Waterloo may also refer to: Other places Australia * Waterloo, New South Wale ...

and the return of the

Bourbons The House of Bourbon (, also ; ) is a dynasty that originated in the Kingdom of France as a branch of the Capetian dynasty, the royal House of France. Bourbon kings first ruled France and Navarre in the 16th century. A branch descended from ...

the ''Garde du Corps'' was recreated again, almost the only unit of the old ''Maison du Roi'' to be given a further chance after the disappointing performance of these expensive and militarily obsolete regiments in 1815. The ''Garde du Corps'' was however reorganised, reduced in numbers to about 1,500 and integrated more closely with the regular army. The reconstituted ''Garde du Corps'' served the returned Bourbons loyally until being finally abolished, along with all Guard units, by

Louis-Philippe I Louis Philippe I (6 October 1773 – 26 August 1850), nicknamed the Citizen King, was King of the French from 1830 to 1848, the penultimate monarch of France, and the last French monarch to bear the title "King". He abdicated from his thron ...

in 1830 after the

July Revolution The French Revolution of 1830, also known as the July Revolution (), Second French Revolution, or ("Three Glorious ays), was a second French Revolution after French Revolution, the first of 1789–99. It led to the overthrow of King Cha ...

Motto

The original motto of the ''Garde du Corps'' was ''Erit haec quoque cognita monstris'' (They will be recognized, them also, with their brilliant deeds), but during the reign of

Louis XIV LouisXIV (Louis-Dieudonné; 5 September 16381 September 1715), also known as Louis the Great () or the Sun King (), was King of France from 1643 until his death in 1715. His verified reign of 72 years and 110 days is the List of longest-reign ...

it changed to ''Nec pluribus impar'' (No unequal match for many (suns)), which also was Louis XIV's personal motto. The

sword A sword is an edged and bladed weapons, edged, bladed weapon intended for manual cutting or thrusting. Its blade, longer than a knife or dagger, is attached to a hilt and can be straight or curved. A thrusting sword tends to have a straighter ...

s of the guardsmen were inscribed with ''Vive le Roi'' (Long live the King).

Organization

The number of guardsmen increased between the reign of Francis I and that of Louis XIV from 400 to 1,600 men. In the eighteenth century, the numbers eventually stabilized at around 1,500 men. In 1737, each company had 320 men, organized into two squadrons and six brigades.

1st Scottish Company (Garde Écossaise)

Despite the name, by the 16th century the company had ceased to be purely Scottish. Little by little the Scottish Company became Scottish in name only. Captains/Chefs de corps: * 1440 : Robert Patilloch * 1449 : Mathieu d'Harcourt, Lord of Rugny * 1455 : Claude de Châteauneuf, Garde-du-Corps of

Charles VII of France Charles VII (22 February 1403 – 22 July 1461), called the Victorious () or the Well-Served (), was King of France from 1422 to his death in 1461. His reign saw the end of the Hundred Years' War and a ''de facto'' end of the English claims to ...

* 1456 : Michel de Beauvilliers, seigneur de La Ferte-Hubert, du Lude et de Thoury * 1462 : William Stuyers * 1466 : Thomas Stuyers * 1471 : Geffrey Coowran * 1473 : Robert Coningham * 1480 : Jean Coningham * 1495-1508 : Bernard Stewart (1452-1508),

Duke of Aubigny Duke of Aubigny () is a title that was created in the Peerage of France in 1684. It was granted by King Louis XIV of France to Louise de Kérouaille, the last mistress of King Charles II of England, and to descend to Charles's illegitimate issu ...

* 1508-1512 : John Stewart ( † 1512), seigneur d' Henrichemont * 1512 : Robert Stewart (1570-1544),

, ''

Maréchal de France Marshal of France (, plural ') is a French military distinction, rather than a military rank, that is awarded to generals for exceptional achievements. The title has been awarded since 1185, though briefly abolished (1793–1804) and for a period ...

'' (1515) * 1514-1544 : Jean Stuart ( † 1551), sieur de

Vézinnes Vézinnes () is a commune in the Yonne department in Bourgogne-Franche-Comté in north-central France. See also *Communes of the Yonne department The following is a list of the 423 communes of the Yonne department of France France, ...

et de Fontaine * 1544 : Jacques I de Montgomery (vers 1485–1560), seigneur de Lorges * 1557 : Gabriel I de Montgommery (vers 1530–1574), seigneur de Lorges * 1559 : Jacques II de Montgommery ( † 1562), seigneur de Lorges * 1562-1563 : Jean d'O (vers 1510-vers 1578), seigneur de Maillebois * 1563-1569 : Jean de Losse, écuyer, seigneur de Bannes * 1569-1599 : Joachim de Châteauvieux (1545-1615),

Governor of the Bastille The Bastille or Bastille Saint-Antoine was completed in 1383. The commander of the Bastille was its governor, and was previously called ''capitaine''. History In 1367, King Charles V of France, Charles V ordered the construction of the ''fort e ...

* 1599-1605 : Jean-Paul d'Esparbès de Lussan ( † 1616), seigneur de La Serre, chevalier du Saint-Esprit * 1605-1611 : Antoine Arnaud de Pardaillan de Gondrin (1562-1624), marquis de Montespan, chevalier du Saint-Esprit * 1611-1612 : Philibert de Nerestang ( † 1620), marquis de Nerestang * 1612-1616 : Charles d'Estournel, seigneur de Blainville * 1616-1623 : Charles de La Vieuville (1583-1653), marquis de de La Vieuville * 1623-1642 : Guillaume de Simiane ( † 1642), marquis de Gordes (février 1615), chevalier du Saint-Esprit ; * 1642-1642 : François de Simiane (vers 1622–1680), marquis de Gordes * 1642-1651 : François de Rochechouart (1611-1696), comte de Limoges (1661), marquis de Chandenier * 1651 :

Anne de Noailles Anne de Noailles, 1st Duke of Noailles (died 15 February 1678) was the great-grandson of Antoine, 1st comte de Noailles. He played an important part in the Fronde and the early years of the reign of Louis XIV, became captain-general of the newl ...

(1620-1678),

Duke of Noailles The title of Duke of Noailles is a French peerage created in 1663 for Anne de Noailles, Count of Ayen. History Noailles is the name of a prominent French noble family, derived from the castle of Noailles in the territory of Ayen, between Briv ...

* 1678 :

Anne Jules de Noailles Anne Jules de Noailles, 2nd Duke of Noailles (5 February 16502 October 1708) was one of the chief generals of Kingdom of France, France towards the end of the reign of Louis XIV of France, Louis XIV, and, after raising the regiment of Noailles in ...

(1650-1708), comte d'Ayen,

, ''

'' (1693) * 1707 :

Adrien Maurice de Noailles Adrien Maurice de Noailles, 3rd Duke of Noailles (29 September 167824 June 1766) was a French nobleman and soldier. Biography Son of Anne Jules de Noailles, he inherited the title duc de Noailles on his father's death in 1708. He fought ...

(1678-1766),

, ''

'' (1734) * 1731 :

Louis de Noailles Louis de Noailles, 4th Duke of Noailles (21 April 1713 in Palace of Versailles, Versailles22 August 1793 in Saint-Germain-en-Laye) was a Peerage of France, French peer and Marshal of France. Early life He was the son of Françoise Charlotte d'A ...

(1713-1793), Duke of Ayen,

, ''

'' (1775) * 1758-1791 : Jean-Paul de Noailles (1739-1824), Duke of Ayen,

* 1814-1825 : Joseph Anne Maximilien de Croÿ d'Havré (1744-1839) * 1825-1830 : Emmanuel Marie Maximilien de Croÿ-Solre (1768-1848)

2nd Company (1st French Company)

Louis XI Louis XI (3 July 1423 – 30 August 1483), called "Louis the Prudent" (), was King of France from 1461 to 1483. He succeeded his father, Charles VII. Louis entered into open rebellion against his father in a short-lived revolt known as the ...

, by edict of 4 September 1474, had instituted for the custody of his person a company of 100 French men-at-arms, under the command of Hector de Galard. This troop was for a long time known under the nickname of ''gentilshommes au bec de corbin'', because they carried a balanced ax on its handle by a bent tip. Each of these gentlemen was to maintain at his own expense two archers. By letters patent given at

Rouen Rouen (, ; or ) is a city on the River Seine, in northwestern France. It is in the prefecture of Regions of France, region of Normandy (administrative region), Normandy and the Departments of France, department of Seine-Maritime. Formerly one ...

on 10 June 1475, the King exempted these gentlemen from the maintenance of the archers; he took them in his pay and formed a special company, which he entrusted to Jean Blosset, Lord of Plessis-Pate. This company of archers was called ''la petite garde du roi'', to distinguish it from the 1st Company (Scottish Guard) which was officially designated under the title of ''Cent lances des gentilshommes de l’hôtel du Roy'', ordered for the guard his person, that is, his escort. The ''petite garde'' served on foot and horseback. It is this ''petite garde'', transformed by Francis I in the company of 100 men-at-arms, which became in 1515, the 1st French Company of the Garde-du-Corps. This company distinguished itself from others, from the reign of

, by the blue color of its banners and shoulder straps. The company held quarters at Coulommiers and served at

the quarter of April. Captains/Chefs de corps: * 1474 : Hector de Galard de Brassac (1415-1475), chambellan de

* 1475 : Jean Blosset du Plessis-Pâté († avant 1500), baron de Torcy * 1477 : Hervé de Chalnay * 1482 : Jacques de Silly (1450-1503), seigneur de Launay et de Vaulx, chambellan de Charles VIII, bailli et capitaine de Caen,

grand maître de l'artillerie de France The Grand Master of Artillery or Grand Maître de l'artillerie was one of the Great Officers of the Crown of France during the Ancien Régime. The position of Grand Master of Artillery replaced the earlier position of Grand Maître des arbalétrie ...

* 1482 : Jacques Ier de Crussol, vicomte d'Uzès * 1524 : Louis II Mitte de Miolans de Chevrières († 1529), seigneur de Chevrières, sénéchal du

Bourbonnais The Bourbonnais (; Occitan language, Occitan: ''Borbonés'') was a Provinces of France, historic province in the centre of France that corresponds to the modern ''département in France, département'' of Allier, along with part of the ''dépar ...

(1525), et bailli de

Gévaudan Gévaudan (; ) is a historical area of France in Lozère ''département''. It took its name from the Gabali, a Gallic tribe. History After the conquest of Gaul, the Romans preserved the capital city of the Gabali, ''Anderitum'', which they ...

(1528) * 1530 : Antoine de Raffin, seigneur de Puycalvary, de Beaucaire et d'Azay-le-Rideau, Governor of

Cherbourg Cherbourg is a former Communes of France, commune and Subprefectures in France, subprefecture located at the northern end of the Cotentin peninsula in the northwestern French departments of France, department of Manche. It was merged into the com ...

Marmande Marmande (; in Occitan language, Occitan, ''Marmanda'') is a Communes of France, commune in the Lot-et-Garonne ''Departments of France, département'' in south-western France. Geography Marmande is located 35 km north-west of Agen, on the ...

and La Sauvetat * 1551 : Louis de Talaru, seigneur de Chalmazel * 1570 : Eustache de Conflans, vicomte d'Ouchy (vers 1526–1574), Governor of Saint-Quentin, chevalier du Saint-Esprit, distinguished at

Surprise of Meaux The surprise of Meaux (''La surprise de Meaux'') was a failed coup attempt by leading aristocratic Huguenots which precipitated the second French War of Religion. Dissatisfied with their lot, and under the pretext of fear of extermination, Lou ...

and

Battle of Saint-Denis (1567) The Battle of Saint-Denis was fought on 10 November 1567 between a royalist army and Huguenot rebels during the second of the French Wars of Religion. Although their 74 year old commander, Anne de Montmorency, was killed in the fighting, the roy ...

* 1574 : Nicolas d'Angennes (1533-1611), marquis de

Rambouillet Rambouillet (, , ) is a Subprefectures in France, subprefecture of the Yvelines Departments of France, department in the Île-de-France Regions of France, region of France. It is located beyond the outskirts of Paris, southwest of its Kilometr ...

, vidame du Mans, chevalier du Saint-Esprit * 1580 : Jean d'O, sieur de Manou, chevalier du Saint-Esprit * 1595 : Louis de L'Hôpital († 1611), marquis de Vitry, chevalier du Saint-Esprit * 1611 : Nicolas de L'Hospital, marquis de Vitry * 1617 : François de L'Hospital, marquis du Hallier * 1631 : Charles de Lévis-Charlus (1600-1662), marquis de

Château-Renault Château-Renault is a commune in the Indre-et-Loire department in central France. Geography Château-Renault is located on the Far-West of the Gâtine Tourangelle plateau, next to the Loir-et-Cher department and at the confluence of two rive ...

* 1634 : Louis de Béthune (1605-1681), Duke of Chârost (1672),

maréchal de camp ''Maréchal de camp'' (sometimes incorrectly translated as field marshal) was a general officer rank used by the French Army until 1848. The rank originated from the older rank of sergeant major general ( French: ''sergent-major général'') ...

, lieutenant-général des ville et citadelle de

Calais Calais ( , , traditionally , ) is a French port city in the Pas-de-Calais department, of which it is a subprefecture. Calais is the largest city in Pas-de-Calais. The population of the city proper is 67,544; that of the urban area is 144,6 ...

, chevalier du Saint-Esprit * 1648 : René du Plessis de Jarzé, marquis de Jarzé (1613-1676), ''le Beau Jarzé'' * 1649 : Louis de Béthune (1605-1681), Duke of Chârost * 1663 : Louis Armand de Béthune-Chârost (1640-1717), Duke of Chârost, chevalier du Saint-Esprit. * 1672 :

Jacques Henri de Durfort de Duras Jacques Henri de Durfort, 1st Duke of Duras (9 October 1625 – 12 October 1704) was Marshal of France. Early life Jacques Henri was the oldest son of Guy Aldonce de Durfort (1605–1665), Marquis of Duras, Count of Rauzan and of Lorges, m ...

(1652-1704), Duke of Duras, ''

'', chevalier du Saint-Esprit * 1704 :

Louis-François de Boufflers Louis François de Boufflers, Duke of Boufflers (10 January 1644 – 22 August 1711), known in his lifetime as Chevalier Boufflers, was a prominent French people, French French army, soldier during the reign of Louis XIV of France. He was fa ...

(1644-1711), Duke of Boufflers * 1711 : Armand I de Béthune-Chârost (1663-1747), Duke of Chârost, baron d'Ancenis * 1747 : Paul François de Béthune-Chârost (1682-1759), Duke of Chârost * 1756 : Gaston Pierre de Lévis (1699-1757), Duke of Mirepoix * 1757 :

Charles Juste de Beauvau, Prince of Craon Charles Juste de Beauvau, 2nd Prince of Craon (10 September 1720 – 21 May 1793), 2nd Beauvau family, Prince of Craon (1754), Marshal of France (1783) was a French scholar, nobleman and general. The son of Marc de Beauvau-Craon (1679-1754), Marc ...

(1720-1793), prince de Beauvau * 1784 : Philippe Louis de Noailles (1752-1819), prince de Poix,

Duke of Mouchy Duke of Mouchy () was a hereditary title in the peerage of Spain, accompanied by the dignity of Grandee and granted in 1747 by Ferdinand VI to Philippe de Noailles, a French military officer. After failure of the 1st Duke's successors in inheri ...

* 1790 : Charles-Anne des Escotais (1772-1822), comte des Escotais

3rd Company (2nd French Company)

, satisfied with the services of his ''petits gardes'' of the 1st French Company, created in 1479 a second similar company, and gave the command to Claude de La Chatre. It became, like the previous one, a company of bodyguards at the beginning of the reign of Francis I. Captains/Chefs de corps: * 1479 : Claude de La Châtre de Nançay, seigneur de

Nançay Nançay () is a commune in the Cher department in central France. Geography The village is located south of the Sologne and northeast of Vierzon. The Rère flows southwest through the middle of the commune. History Its name comes from Nanciac ...

* 1490 : Abel de La Châtre * 1499 : Gabriel de La Châtre, baron de La Maisonfort, seigneur de Nançay * 1529 : Joachim de La Châtre, baron de La Maisonfort * 1549 : François, seigneur de La Ferté, gentilhomme ordinaire de la Chambre du Roi * ???? : Gaspard de La Châtre (vers 1539–1576), seigneur de Nançay * 1580 : Charles de Balsac, seigneur de Clermont (vers 1565–1610), baron d’Entragues * 1590 : François du Plessis (1548-1590), Provost Marshal of France, conseiller d'État * 1590 : Charles de Choiseul, marquis de Praslin (1563-1626), ''

'' * 1611:Sur la démission du marquis de Praslin (1563-1626) René Potier (1579-1670), Duke of Tresmes * 1635 : Louis Potier de Gesvres (1612-1645), marquis de Gesvres * 1643 : François Potier de Gesvres (1612-1646), marquis de Gesvres * 1646 : Léon Potier (vers 1620–1704), Duke of Gesvres :: Lauzun, who lost in 1669 the position of Colonel General of the Dragoons, received that of captain of this company, thanks to the support (or the passion which it devotes to him) of

Anne Marie Louise d'Orléans, Duchess of Montpensier Anne, alternatively spelled Ann, is a form of the Latin female name Anna. This in turn is a representation of the Hebrew Hannah, which means 'favour' or 'grace'. Related names include Annie and Ana. Anne is sometimes used as a male name in ...

, who not only obtained the approval of the King, but paid this charge 750,000 livres to the Duke of Gesvres. * 1646 :

Antoine Nompar de Caumont Antonin Nompar de Caumont, 1st Duke of Lauzun (, 163219 November 1723) was a French courtier and soldier. He was the only love interest of the "greatest heiress in Europe", Anne Marie Louise d'Orléans, Duchess of Montpensier, cousin of Louis ...

(1633-1723), Duke of Lauzun * 1673 : François-Henri de Montmorency (1628-1695), Duke of Piney, ''

'' * 1693 : François de Neufville (1664-1730), Duke of Villeroy, ''

'' * 1708 : Louis Nicolas de Neufville (1663-1734), Duke of Villeroy * 1734 : Louis François Anne de Neufville (1695-1766), Duke of Villeroy * 1758 : Gabriel Louis François de Neufville (1731-1794), Duke of Villeroy * 1791-1830 : Antoine-Louis-Marie de Gramont (1755-1836),

Duke of Gramont The title of Duke of Gramont (''duc de Gramont'') is a French List of French dukedoms, dukedom and former List of French peerages, peerage. It was created in 1648 for French Marshal Antoine III de Gramont. History The family of Gramont was a Kin ...

4th Company (3rd French Company)

Upon his accession to the throne, Francis I possessed a company which was commanded by a lieutenant-captain, Raoul de Vernon, Lord of Montreuilbouyn. He also had a personal guard commanded by Louis Leroy de Chavigny. Wishing to have five companies of the bodyguards, all organized on the foot of the Scottish company, he transformed in 1515, as it was said above, the two companies of archers of the small guard of Louis XI, and added two others trained with his personal guards and with detachments of companies of archers of Crussol and La Chatre. In 1545 he remodeled the organization of the bodyguards, and he kept only four companies. The 4th company had its yellow flags, shoulder straps and crews. She served the Court from October 1 to December 31, and was usually quartered in

Dreux Dreux () is a Communes of France, commune in the Eure-et-Loir Departments of France, department in northern France. Geography Dreux lies on the small river Blaise (river), Blaise, a tributary of the Eure (river), Eure, about 35 km north of Cha ...

. Captains/Chefs de corps: * 1553 : Louis d'Humières de Contay * 1557 : Philippe de Maillé-Brézé, vicomte de Verneuil * 1575 : Nicolas de La Haulle, seigneur de Grémonville * 1592 : Jacques-Nompar de Caumont,

Duke of La Force The title of Duke of La Force, Peer of France, in the peerage of France, was created in 1637 for members of the Caumont family, who were lords of the village of La Force in the Dordogne region. The family originated as Lord of Caumont (Seigneur d ...

* 1632-1651 : Antoine d'Aumont de Rochebaron, Duke of Aumont, marquis de Villequier, Captain of the Gardes-du-Corps of

Louis XIII Louis XIII (; sometimes called the Just; 27 September 1601 – 14 May 1643) was King of France from 1610 until his death in 1643 and King of Navarre (as Louis II) from 1610 to 1620, when the crown of Navarre was merged with the French crown. ...

* 1651-1669 : Louis Marie Victor d'Aumont de Rochebaron, Duke of Aumont, marquis de Villequier, Captain of the Gardes-du-Corps of

* 1669-1675 : Henri Louis d'Aloigny, marquis de Rochefort, Captain of the Garde-du-Corps of

* 1676-1696 : Guy Aldonce II de Durfort, comte de Lorges, Duke of Quintin, ''

'' (1676) * 1696-1702 : Guy Nicolas de Durfort, Duke of Lorges * 1703-1718 : Henry d'Harcourt,

Duke of Harcourt When the Viking chieftain Rollo obtained the territories via the Treaty of Saint-Clair-sur-Epte which would later make up Normandy, he distributed them as estates among his main supporters. Among these lands were the seigneurie of Harcourt, near ...

* 1718-1750 :

François d'Harcourt François d'Harcourt (10 December 1928 – 5 November 2020), 12th Duke of Harcourt, was a French politician. Biography He was the son of François-Charles d'Harcourt, 11th Duke of Harcourt, and Antoinette Gérard, a French resistant. From 1954 ...

* 1750-1764 : Charles II Frédéric de Montmorency,

Duke of Piney-Luxembourg Duke of Piney () was a title in the Peerage of France. The holders were also sometimes called duc de Luxembourg, after the House of Luxembourg, from whom they were descended. History The duchy-peerage was created in 1581 for François de Luxem ...

* 1764-1784 : Charles François Christian de Montmorency-Luxembourg, prince de Tingry * 1784-1790 : Anne Paul Emmanuel Sigismond de Montmorency-Luxembourg, prince de Luxembourg * 1790-1790 : Anne Christian de Montmorency-Luxembourg, Duke of Beaumont * 1815 : Pierre Louis François Paultre de Lamotte (1774-1840),

, commandant of the 4th Company of the Gardes-du-Corps (Luxembourg)

''Gardes de la Manche''

The ''Gardes de la Manche'' () was an elite detachment formed as the king's personal guard by Charles VII with men from the Company of Scottish Archers. They were the 24 oldest men of the 1st Scottish Company. The name came from the fact that they stood so close to the king as to be brushed by his sleeves. In 1775 this guard was reduced to 18 men. The captain of the ''Garde de La Manche'' was called the First

Man-at-arms A man-at-arms was a soldier of the High Medieval to Renaissance periods who was typically well-versed in the use of arms and served as a fully-armoured heavy cavalryman. A man-at-arms could be a knight, or other nobleman, a member of a kni ...

of France. A less successful bodyguard was

The Forty-Five The Jacobite rising of 1745 was an attempt by Charles Edward Stuart to regain the British throne for his father, James Francis Edward Stuart. It took place during the War of the Austrian Succession, when the bulk of the British Army was fightin ...

, recruited by the Duke of Épernon to provide

Henry III of France Henry III (; ; ; 19 September 1551 – 2 August 1589) was King of France from 1574 until his assassination in 1589, as well as King of Poland and Grand Duke of Lithuania from 1573 to 1575. As the fourth son of King Henry II of France, he ...

with protection in the midst of the

War of the Three Henrys The War of the Three Henrys (), also known as the Eighth War of Religion (), took place during 1585–1589, and was the eighth conflict in the series of civil wars in France known as the French Wars of Religion. It was a three-way war fought be ...

. They served Henry III and

Henry IV of France Henry IV (; 13 December 1553 – 14 May 1610), also known by the epithets Good King Henry (''le Bon Roi Henri'') or Henry the Great (''Henri le Grand''), was King of Navarre (as Henry III) from 1572 and King of France from 1589 to 16 ...

, but were unable to prevent both monarchs being assassinated.

Gallery

File:Maison du Roi, Louis XIV, 1688 (Garde de la Porte et Garde du Corps).jpg, Maison du Roi,

, 1688 (Garde de la Porte and Garde du Corps) File:Garde du corps et officier du régiment du Roi, Louis XIV, 1676.jpg, Garde du corps and an officer of the régiment du Roi, Louis XIV, 1676 File:Maison du Roi, Louis XV, 1724 (Gardes du Corps).jpg, Maison du Roi,

Louis XV Louis XV (15 February 1710 – 10 May 1774), known as Louis the Beloved (), was King of France from 1 September 1715 until his death in 1774. He succeeded his great-grandfather Louis XIV at the age of five. Until he reached maturity (then defi ...

, 1724 : Gardes du Corps File:Chantereau - Rue d'un camp destiné pour une brigade des gardes du corps.jpg, Encampment of the Guard, 1742 File:Eisen - Garde de la Manche (époque de Louis XV).jpg, ''Garde de la Manche'' (Louis XV) File:Charles de Riberolles (1752-1827).jpg, Charles de Riberolles (1752-1827), Garde du corps of

and

Louis XVI Louis XVI (Louis-Auguste; ; 23 August 1754 – 21 January 1793) was the last king of France before the fall of the monarchy during the French Revolution. The son of Louis, Dauphin of France (1729–1765), Louis, Dauphin of France (son and heir- ...

File:Nicolas Hoffmann - Garde du Corps du roi en petit uniforme 1786-1791.jpg, Garde du Corps of the King in undress uniform 1786-1791 File:Louis-François-Joseph de Ferre (ou Ferry) du Pommier (1755-1833).jpg, Louis-François-Joseph de Ferre (ou Ferry) du Pommier (1755-1833) File:Gardes du corps du Roi - garde de la Marche, 1814-1830.jpg, ''Garde de la Manche'', 1814-1830 File:Titeux - Trompette des Gardes-du-Corps du Roi (petite tenue, 1815).jpg, Mounted trumpeter of the Guard, 1815 File:Maison du roi. Gardes du corps du roi en uniforme et en surtout.jpg, Guardsmen of the Restoration Period File:Francois Potier, marquis de Gesvres, marechal de camp MET DP819831.jpg, François Potier (1612-1646), marquis de Gesvres

References

Sources

*Chartrand, René. ''Louis XIV's Army.'' London: Osprey Publishing, 1988. *Chartrand, René. ''Louis XV's Army (1) Cavalry & Dragoons.'' London: Osprey Publishing, 1996. * Philip Mansel. ''Pillars of Monarchy.'' London: Quartet Books 1984. * {{France topics 1440 establishments in Europe 1440s establishments in France Royal guards Guards regiments of France Bodyguards 1791 disestablishments in France 1814 establishments in France 1830 disestablishments in France Guard regiments of the Ancien Régime de:Garde du Corps