The Republican Guard (french: Garde républicaine) is part of the French

National Gendarmerie The National Gendarmerie (french: Gendarmerie nationale, ) is one of two national law enforcement forces of France, along with the National Police. The Gendarmerie is a branch of the French Armed Forces placed under the jurisdiction of the Mini ...

. It is responsible for special security duties in the

Paris Paris () is the Capital city, capital and List of communes in France with over 20,000 inhabitants, most populous city of France, with an estimated population of 2,165,423 residents in 2019 in an area of more than 105 km² (41 sq mi), ma ...

area and for providing

guards of honour Guard or guards may refer to: Professional occupations * Bodyguard, who protects an individual from personal assault * Crossing guard, who stops traffic so pedestrians can cross the street * Lifeguard, who rescues people from drowning * Prison gu ...

at official ceremonies of the French Republic. Its missions include guarding important public buildings in Paris, such as the Élysée Palace (the residence of the

President of the French Republic The president of France, officially the president of the French Republic (french: Président de la République française), is the executive head of state of France, and the commander-in-chief of the French Armed Forces. As the presidency is ...

), the

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(the residence of the Prime Minister of France), the

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(the Senate), the

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(the

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) and the Palais de Justice, as well as keeping public order in Paris. Ceremonial and security services for the highest national personalities and important foreign guests, military ceremonies and guards of honour for fallen soldiers, support of other law enforcement forces with intervention teams, as well as staffing horseback patrol stations (particularly for the forests of the

Île-de-France The Île-de-France (, ; literally "Isle of France") is the most populous of the eighteen regions of France. Centred on the capital Paris, it is located in the north-central part of the country and often called the ''Région parisienne'' (; en, Pa ...

region) are also part of its duties. The close physical protection of the President of the Republic is entrusted to the Security Group for the Presidency of the Republic (GSPR), a mixed police– gendarmerie unit that is not part of the Republican Guard. However, the Republican Guard does provide counter-sniper teams (''observateurs-contre-tireurs'') and intervention platoons (''pelotons d'intervention''). The Republican Guard also represents France at international events at home and abroad.

History

The Republican Guard is the heir of the various bodies that preceded it in the course of French and Parisian history and whose task was to honor and protect the high authorities of the State and the capital city – ''Gardes Françaises'' of the French kings, Consular and

Imperial Guard An imperial guard or palace guard is a special group of troops (or a member thereof) of an empire, typically closely associated directly with the Emperor or Empress. Usually these troops embody a more elite status than other imperial forces, i ...

Napoleon Napoleon Bonaparte ; it, Napoleone Bonaparte, ; co, Napulione Buonaparte. (born Napoleone Buonaparte; 15 August 1769 – 5 May 1821), later known by his regnal name Napoleon I, was a French military commander and political leader who ...

, etc. Its name derives from the Municipal Guard of Paris, established on 12 Vendémiaire XI (October 4, 1802) by Napoleon Bonaparte. This unit distinguished itself in battles of historical significance, including Danzig and Friedland in 1807, Alcolea in 1808 and Burgos in 1812. In 1813, the Municipal Guard was dissolved following the attempted coup of General Malet and replaced by the Imperial Gendarmerie of Paris and then, under the

Restoration Restoration is the act of restoring something to its original state and may refer to: * Conservation and restoration of cultural heritage ** Audio restoration ** Film restoration ** Image restoration ** Textile restoration * Restoration ecology ...

, the Royal Guard of Paris and the Royal Mounted Police of Paris. In 1830, it was recreated, but after the Revolution of 1848, it was removed in favor of the Civic Guard (which proved to be a transient institution). In June 1848, under the Second Republic, the Republican Guard of Paris was created, including an infantry regiment and a regiment of cavalry. On February 1, 1849, president Louis-Napoléon Bonaparte made the Guard a part of the

. It received its insignia on July 14, 1880. The Republican Guard didn't take part in

World War I World War I (28 July 1914 11 November 1918), often abbreviated as WWI, was one of the deadliest global conflicts in history. Belligerents included much of Europe, the Russian Empire, the United States, and the Ottoman Empire, with fightin ...

as a unit, but more than one third of its personnel were seconded to Army regiments for the duration of the conflict. As a consequence, its flag and banner are decorated with the Knight's Cross of the Legion of Honour. During

World War II World War II or the Second World War, often abbreviated as WWII or WW2, was a world war that lasted from 1939 to 1945. It involved the vast majority of the world's countries—including all of the great powers—forming two opposing ...

, it reported to the police headquarters and took the name of Guard of Paris. Part of its staff rallied to General de Gaulle, and the Guard was involved in fighting alongside the FFI during the liberation of Paris. From 1947 to 1954, the Republican Guard took part in the

Indochina War The First Indochina War (generally known as the Indochina War in France, and as the Anti-French Resistance War in Vietnam) began in French Indochina from 19 December 1946 to 20 July 1954 between France and Việt Minh (Democratic Republic of Vi ...

by sending three "Legions of March", which were mainly assigned to the training of allied indigenous troops and to the defense of certain places. The three legions, comprising a constant workforce of nearly 3,000 men, suffered heavy losses (more than 600 dead and 1,500 wounded during the conflict), which earned it the Croix de Guerre TOE. In 1954, the Republican Guard split into two distinct branches, the

Mobile Gendarmerie The Mobile Gendarmerie (french: Gendarmerie mobile) (GM) is a subdivision of the French National Gendarmerie whose main mission is to maintain public order (from crowd control to riot control) and general security. Contrary to the Departmental G ...

and the Republican Guard of Paris. In 1978, the unit took its current name of 'Republican Guard'. President

Valéry Giscard d'Estaing Valéry René Marie Georges Giscard d'Estaing (, , ; 2 February 19262 December 2020), also known as Giscard or VGE, was a French politician who served as President of France from 1974 to 1981. After serving as Minister of Finance under prime ...

gave it new insignia on 11 November 1979.

Michèle Alliot-Marie Michèle Yvette Marie-Thérèse Jeanne Honorine Alliot-Marie (; born 10 September 1946), known in France as MAM, is a French politician and Member of the European Parliament (MEP) from France. She is a member of the Republicans, part of the Eu ...

, Minister of Defence, said in October 2002: "The Republican Guard has a popularity that transcends borders", and it contributes "to the splendour of the French military and France."

Missions

Ceremonial duties

These ceremonial functions are performed mainly by the first infantry regiment, the cavalry regiment and occasionally by the second infantry regiment. Detachments from the cavalry regiment reinforce the two infantry regiments in carrying out ceremonial and security duties in and around state buildings. These include the lining of both sides of the entry stairs of the Elysée or Matignon Palaces (and other buildings) by dismounted cavalry on special occasions. These Republican Guards belong to the Cavalry Regiment and not to the infantry units whose mission is to ensure the security of these palaces and of senior government figures. Certain ceremonial duties in the form of honour guards are performed during state visits to the Paris museums or the Opera, as well as during other ceremonies (for example at the French Academy).

Security missions

Although the ceremonial duties attract more public attention, more than 80% of the missions assigned to the Garde are security missions. These include missions performed for the state such as protection of state buildings but also missions performed for the benefit of the population (for example patrols in the parks and streets). OCT-GR1.jpg, Guard counter-snipers (''observateurs-contre-tireurs'') File:Garde républicaine Louvre 2007 07 17.jpg, Mounted guards in service dress patrolling near the

Louvre The Louvre ( ), or the Louvre Museum ( ), is the world's most-visited museum, and an historic landmark in Paris, France. It is the home of some of the best-known works of art, including the ''Mona Lisa'' and the ''Venus de Milo''. A central l ...

Demontration Escort Nov 2013.jpg, Escorting a rider demonstration in Paris PIGR2 AVRIL 2015.jpg, Guard intervention team (''peloton d'intervention'')

Other missions

Some guards are assigned to more specific missions: * Security of diplomatic bags entering and leaving the

Ministry for Foreign Affairs In many countries, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs is the government department responsible for the state's diplomacy, bilateral, and multilateral relations affairs as well as for providing support for a country's citizens who are abroad. The entit ...

and the airports. * Safety of sport events such as the

Tour de France The Tour de France () is an annual men's multiple-stage bicycle race primarily held in France, while also occasionally passing through nearby countries. Like the other Grand Tours (the Giro d'Italia and the Vuelta a España), it consists ...

cyclist race by the motorcycle squadron. * Reinforcement and support to the Departmental Gendarmerie * Assistance and coopereration in foreign countries and especially in former French colonies.

Organization

The Republican Guard belongs to the French National Gendarmerie. It is made up of approximately 2,800 men and women (drawn from an overall body of 100,000 gendarmes). As a historically Parisian organization, the guards wear the armorial bearings of the city on their uniforms. It consists of two

infantry Infantry is a military specialization which engages in ground combat on foot. Infantry generally consists of light infantry, mountain infantry, motorized infantry & mechanized infantry, airborne infantry, air assault infantry, and mar ...

regiment A regiment is a military unit. Its role and size varies markedly, depending on the country, service and/or a specialisation. In Medieval Europe, the term "regiment" denoted any large body of front-line soldiers, recruited or conscript ...

s (one includes a

motorcycle A motorcycle (motorbike, bike, or trike (if three-wheeled)) is a two or three-wheeled motor vehicle steered by a handlebar. Motorcycle design varies greatly to suit a range of different purposes: long-distance travel, commuting, cruising ...

squadron) and a horse cavalry regiment. It also has four musical formations, as well as display teams demonstrating prowess in horseback or motorcycle maneuvers. The Guard is commanded by a ''general de division'' (major general). It is headquartered in the ''Quartier des Célestins'', Paris, built in 1895–1901, designed by the renowned French architect

Jacques Hermant __NOTOC__ Jacques-René Hermant (7 May 1855 in Paris, France – 5 June 1930 in France) was a French architect, one of the most renowned architects of fin-de-siècle Paris. Born in Paris, the son of the architect Achille Hermant (1823-1903) ...

Cavalry regiment

Headquartered in the Quartier des Célestins, and Quartier Carnot barracks the cavalry regiment is made up of approximately 480 gendarmes and civilians of whom a little more than 10% are women. It has approximately 550 horses (11% mares) and remains the last mounted regiment in the French armed forces. The regiment is composed of: * Three squadrons of cavalry (the first is based at Quartier des Célestins, in Paris, and two others based at Quartier Carnot, also in Paris at the fringe of Bois de Vincennes), * Reserve squadron * A squadron ''hors rang'' (based at Les Célestins) and composed of: **

mounted band A mounted band is a military or civilian musical ensemble composed of musician playing their instruments while being mounted on an animal. The instrumentation of these bands are limited, with the musician having to play his/her instrument, as well ...

** horse-shoeing (farriers), ** veterinary service. * The training centre (centre d'instruction) at Quartier Goupil

Saint-Germain-en-Laye Saint-Germain-en-Laye () is a commune in the Yvelines department in the Île-de-France in north-central France. It is located in the western suburbs of Paris, from the centre of Paris. Inhabitants are called ''Saint-Germanois'' or ''Saint-Ge ...

* Hunting Horns Platoon (''Trompes de Chasse de la Garde'') This unit has a section of high level sportsmen, in particular Hubert Perring, dressage champion of France in 2005, and member of the French team for the World Equestrian Games of 2006. The Guard Cavalry Regiment is twinned with the British

Household Cavalry Mounted Regiment The Household Cavalry Mounted Regiment (HCMR) is a cavalry regiment of the British Army tasked primarily with ceremonial duties. Part of the Household Division, it is classed as a regiment of guards, and carries out mounted (and some dismount ...

, the Italian Carabinieri Cavalry Regiment and the Senegalese

Red Guard Red Guards () were a mass student-led paramilitary social movement mobilized and guided by Chairman Mao Zedong in 1966 through 1967, during the first phase of the Cultural Revolution, which he had instituted.Teiwes According to a Red Guard le ...

Special displays of the cavalry regiment

Exhibition drill Exhibition drill is a variant of drill that involves complex marching sequences which usually deviate from drill used in the course of ordinary parades. Teams performing exhibition drill are often affiliated with military units, but the scope of ...

squads present five shows and reenactments: *le carrousel des lances (the lancer's carrousel); *la maison du Roy (the King's household cavalry); *la reprise des tandems (the tandem riders); *la reprise des douze (demonstration/lesson with 12 riders); *l’équipe de démonstration de sécurité publique (modern mounted police demonstration) CARNOT 28 SEPTEMBRE 2013 363.jpg, The lancer's carrousel CARNOT 28 SEPTEMBRE 2013 127.jpg, ''La Maison du Roy'' reenactment CARNOT 28 SEPTEMBRE 2013 122.jpg, The tandem riders CARNOT 28 SEPTEMBRE 2013 081.jpg, Public security demonstration team

Infantry regiments

The Republican Guard has two regiments of infantry: * The first infantry regiment is composed of : ** The Republican Guard Band and Bugles (

military band A military band is a group of personnel that performs musical duties for military functions, usually for the armed forces. A typical military band consists mostly of wind and percussion instruments. The conductor of a band commonly bears the ti ...

and fanfare battery unit) ** Motorcycle squadron ** ''Compagnie de sécurité de la Présidence de la république'' (presidential palace security company) ** Three ''compagnies de sécurité et d'honneur'' (security and honor companies) * the second regiment of infantry is composed of : ** ''Compagnie de sécurité de l'Hôtel Matignon'' (prime minister security company) ** ''Compagnie de sécurité des palais nationaux'' (CSPN) (national palaces security company; i.e., national assembly and senate) ** Four ''compagnies de sécurité et d'honneur'' (CSH) ** Auxiliary platoon. Each of the seven security and honor companies is composed of three regular sections (i.e., platoons) and one peloton d'intervention (intervention platoon). The regular sections perform ceremonial duties and guards. The intervention platoons provide special security in the government buildings and palaces protected by the Guard. They are also tasked with police missions in support of the Gendarmerie in the Paris area (home arrests, escorts etc.). One of the seven intervention platoons is permanently deployed on a rotational basis to either

French Guiana French Guiana ( or ; french: link=no, Guyane ; gcr, label=French Guianese Creole, Lagwiyann ) is an overseas department/region and single territorial collectivity of France on the northern Atlantic coast of South America in the Guianas. ...

in support of forces combating illegal gold mining or to another French oversea territory (typically Guadeloupe or Saint Martin).

Special displays of the infantry regiments

* Bayonet drill team (quadrille des baïllonnettes; 1st régiment) * The battery

fanfare band A fanfare band, fanfare corps, fanfare battery, fanfare team, horn and drum corps, bugle band, drum and bugle corps, or trumpet and drum band (including the German ''fanferenzug'', ''fanfarenkorps'' and ''regimentsblaserkorps'', the Dutch ''drumba ...

* The Napoleonic Drumline, made up of drummers wearing uniforms of the Napoleonic Wars * Emperor's grenadiers company, serving as a reenacting unit (2nd régiment) * Motorcycle display teams CARNOT 28 SEPTEMBRE 2013 214.jpg, ''Quadrille des baïonnettes'' CARNOT 28 SEPTEMBRE 2013 052.jpg, ''Les grenadiers de l'Empereur'' reenactment company CARNOT 27 SEPTEMBRE 2014-1 823.jpg, ''Carrousel motocycliste'' CARNOT 28 SEPTEMBRE 2013 277.jpg, ''Équipe d'acrobatie''

Band and Orchestra of the Republican Guard

Depending on needs, the orchestra performs in three configurations: * the concert band (80 musicians) * the string orchestra (40 musicians), likely to be presented in configurations of 24 or 12 bows, or in string quartets * Symphony orchestra (80 musicians) It was founded in 1848 by Jean-Georges Paulus.

Armed Forces Choir

This men's choir is composed of 46 professional singers. In spite of its name (Choir of the French army), it is part of the Guard and thus reports to the Gendarmerie and through the Ministers of the Armed Forces and Interior (owing to the military character of the service). The choir performs mainly during official ceremonies and commemorations but also during festivals and sport events of national and international importance. Since 2007, it has been led by a woman, Major Aurore Tillac, who serves as choir master and director.

Commanders of the Republican Guard

* 1813–1815: Colonel Bourgeois * 1815–1815: Colonel Colin * 1815–1819: Colonel Tassin * 1819–1820: Colonel Christophe de la Motte Guerry * 1820–1822: Colonel Tassin * 1822–1830: Colonel Foucaud de Malembert * 1830–1831: Colonel Girard * 1831–1839: Colonel Feisthamel * 1839–1843: Colonel Carrelet * 1843–1848: Colonel Lardenois * 1848–1849: Colonel Raymond * 1849–1849: Colonel Lanneau * 1849–1852: Colonel Gastu * 1852–1855: Colonel Tisserand * 1856–1858: Colonel Texier of the Pommeraye * 1859–1862: Colonel Faye * 1862–1868: Colonel Letellier-Blanchard * 1868–1870: Colonel Valentin * 1870–1873: General Valentin * 1873–1875: Colonel Allavene * 1875–1875: Colonel Grémelin * 1875–1877: Colonel Lambert * 1877–1881: Colonel Guillemois * 1881–1886: Colonel Azaïs * 1886–1889: Colonel Massol * 1889–1894: Colonel Mercier * 1894–1895: Colonel Risbourg * 1895–1897: Colonel De Christen * 1897–1899: Colonel Quincy * 1899–1902: Colonel Prevot * 1902–1903: Colonel Doutrelot * 1903–1904: Colonel Weick * 1904–1909: Colonel Bouchez * 1909–1910: Colonel Vayssière * 1910–1914: Colonel Klein * 1914–1917: Colonel Brody * 1917–1917: Colonel Lanty * 1917–1918: Colonel Brione * 1918–1922: Colonel Somprou * 1922–1924: Colonel Pacault * 1924–1926: Colonel Verstraete * 1926–1928: Colonel Miquel * 1928–1930: Colonel Moinier * 1930–1935: Colonel Gibaux * 1935–1936: Colonel Maze * 1936–1938: Colonel Durieux * 1938–1941: Colonel Ruel * 1941–1943: Colonel Martin * 1943–1944: Colonel Pellegrin * 1944–1944: Colonel Charollais * 1944–1944: Lt-Colonel FFI Chapoton * 1944–1944: Colonel Houllier * 1944–1945: Lt-Colonel Heurtel * 1945–1948: Colonel Gauduchon * 1948–1953: Colonel Nicolini * 1953–1957: Colonel Pelabon * 1957–1959: Colonel Dorin * 1959–1961: Colonel Bouchardon * 1961–1964: Colonel Gérard * 1964–1969: Brigadier general Dumont * 1969–1970: Colonel Chevrot * 1970–1976: Brigadier general Herlem * 1976–1980: Brigadier general Personnier * 1980–1984: Brigadier general de la Rochelambert * 1984–1986: Brigadier general Depardon * 1986–1988: Brigadier general Hérisson * 1988–1991: Brigadier general Kretz * 1991–1995: Brigadier general Lorant * 1995–1998: Brigadier general Villermain-Lecolier * 1998–2000: Brigadier general Puyou * 2000–2002: Brigadier general Prigent * 2002–2004: Brigadier general Schott * 2004–2007: Brigadier general Poupeau * 2007–2010: Major general Moulinié * 2010–2014: Major general Schneider * 2014-2019: Major general Striebig * 2019 onwards: Major general Bio-Farina

Alliances

* –

Gallery

Image:Republican Guard Cavalry Regiment Bastille Day 2008.jpg, Cavalry of the French Republican Guard - Bastille Day 2008 celebrations Image:1st Infantry Republican Guard Bastille Day 2008 n1.jpg, The 1st infantry regiment of the Republican Guard during

Bastille day Bastille Day is the common name given in English-speaking countries to the national day of France, which is celebrated on 14 July each year. In French, it is formally called the (; "French National Celebration"); legally it is known as (; "t ...

File:EMGR Domenjod1 24-6-2017.jpg, VIP escort File:Garde républicaine quartier Célestins.jpg, Quartier des Célestins barracks and RG headquarters File:Garde et Officier Régiment cavalerie garde républicaine.jpg, Guard (left) and officer (right) of the mounted Republican Guard File:EMGR Domenjod5 27092015.jpg, Guard motorcyclists File:French GR Cavalry squadron Domenjod 140717.jpg, Cavalry squadron gathered on Bastille Day 2017

References

External links

*
Dans les coulisses de la Garde républicaine
{{Authority control

Republican Guard A republican guard, sometimes called a national guard, is a state organization of a country (often a republic, hence the name ''Republican'') which typically serves to protect the head of state and the government, and thus is often synonymous wit ...

Guards regiments of France Mounted police Guards of honour Military units and formations established in 1848