The Life Guards () was the senior formation of the

King of France France was ruled by monarchs from the establishment of the Kingdom of West Francia in 843 until the end of the Second French Empire in 1870, with several interruptions. Classical French historiography usually regards Clovis I () as the first ...

's Household Cavalry within the ''

Maison militaire du roi de France The ''maison militaire du roi de France'', in English the military household of the king of France, was the military part of the French royal household or '' Maison du Roi'' under the Ancien Régime. The term only appeared in 1671, though such a ...

''.

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 series of armed conflicts between the kingdoms of Kingdom of England, England and Kingdom of France, France during the Late Middle Ages. It originated from disputed claims to the French Crown, ...

. 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 during the

Italian Wars The Italian Wars, also known as the Habsburg–Valois Wars, were a series of conflicts covering the period 1494 to 1559, fought mostly in the Italian peninsula, but later expanding into Flanders, the Rhineland and the Mediterranean Sea. The pr ...

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 Francis I or Francis the First may refer to: * Francesco I Gonzaga (1366–1407) * Francis I, Duke of Brittany (1414–1450), reigned 1442–1450 * Francis I of France (1494–1547), King of France, reigned 1515–1547 * Francis I, Duke of Saxe-Lau ...

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 as well as ruler of Spain, Au ...

. 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 that took place between 1740 and 1748. Fought primarily in Central Europe, the Austrian Netherlands, Italy, the Atlantic and Mediterranean, related conflicts included King George's W ...

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 (french: Régiment des Gardes françaises) 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 ...

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 Body Guard 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

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 will often have 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 courts of law. Depending on the country and jurisdiction's traditions, members of the court ( judges, magistrates, and so on) may wear formal robes, gowns, ...

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 The French Revolution ( ) was a period of radical political and societal change in France that began with the Estates General of 1789 and ended with the formation of the French Consulate in November 1799. Many of its ideas are considere ...

. 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 composed the basis of European land armies from the late 17th century to the mid-19th century. Maurice of Nassau and Gustavus Adolphus are generally regarded as its pioneers, while Turenne and Monte ...

regiment of the Royal Army, which had been brought to Versailles 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 formally 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 sto ...

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. Gardes-du-Corps du Roi, 1814

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 I 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 ...

in April 1814 and the Bourbon Restoration,

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. He spent twenty-three years in ...

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 (french: les Cent-Jours ), 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 ...

. After Waterloo and the return of the

Bourbons The House of Bourbon (, also ; ) is a European dynasty of French origin, a branch of the Capetian dynasty, the royal House of France. Bourbon kings first ruled France and Navarre in the 16th century. By the 18th century, members of the Spani ...

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 Louis Philippe (6 October 1773 – 26 August 1850) was King of the French from 1830 to 1848, and the penultimate List of French monarchs#House of Orléans, July Monarchy (1830–1848), monarch of France. As Louis Philippe, Duke of Chartres, h ...

in 1830 after the

July Revolution The French Revolution of 1830, also known as the July Revolution (french: révolution de Juillet), Second French Revolution, or ("Three Glorious ays), was a second French Revolution after the first in 1789. It led to the overthrow of King ...

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 , house = Bourbon , father = Louis XIII , mother = Anne of Austria , birth_date = , birth_place = Château de Saint-Germain-en-Laye, Saint-Germain-en-Laye, France , death_date = , death_place = Palace of Vers ...

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, 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 blade with a pointed ti ...

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

Organization

The number of guardsmen increased between the reign of

and that of

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 (french: le Victorieux) or the Well-Served (), was King of France from 1422 to his death in 1461. In the midst of the Hundred Years' War, Charles VII inherited the throne of F ...

* 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 (french: Duc d'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 Charle ...

* 1508-1512 : John Stewart ( † 1512), seigneur d'

Henrichemont Henrichemont (), formerly known as Boisbelle, is a commune in the Cher department in the Centre-Val de Loire region of France. The village was created and named in honour of Henri IV in 1609 by Maximilien de Béthune, Duke of Sully to be the ca ...

* 1512 : Robert Stewart (1570-1544),

, ''

Maréchal de France Marshal of France (french: Maréchal de 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 (1 ...

'' (1515) * 1514-1544 : Jean Stuart ( † 1551), sieur de Vézinnes 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 ordered the construction of the ''fort et bastide Saint Anthoi ...

* 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 newly ...

(1620-1678),

Duke of Noailles The title of Duke of Noailles was 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 (1650-1708), comte d'Ayen,

, ''

'' (1693) * 1707 :

Adrien Maurice de Noailles Adrien is a given name and surname, and the French spelling for the name Adrian. It is also the masculine form of the feminine name Adrienne. It may refer to: People Given name * Adrien Auzout (1622–1691), French astronomer * Adrien Baillet ...

(1678-1766),

, ''

'' (1734) * 1731 :

Louis de Noailles Louis de Noailles, 4th Duke of Noailles (21 April 1713 in Versailles22 August 1793 in Saint-Germain-en-Laye) was a French peer and Marshal of France. He was the son of Françoise Charlotte d'Aubigné, niece of Madame de Maintenon, and a nephew ...

(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" (french: le 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 revol ...

, 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 northern France. It is the prefecture of the Regions of France, region of Normandy (administrative region), Normandy and the Departments of France, department of Seine-Maritime. Formerly one of ...

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

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

Versailles The Palace of Versailles ( ; french: Château de Versailles ) is a former royal residence built by King Louis XIV located in Versailles, about west of Paris, France. The palace is owned by the French Republic and since 1995 has been managed, u ...

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 * 1482 :

Jacques Ier de Crussol Jacques de Crussol is the son of Louis de Crussol, a member of the chivalric Order of Saint-Michel. Born into a relatively small inheritance of the castle Crussol - later abandoned in favour of the castle in Uzès - Jacques was the first of his ...

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

Bourbonnais Bourbonnais () was a historic province in the centre of France that corresponds to the modern ''département'' of Allier, along with part of the ''département'' of Cher. Its capital was Moulins. History The title of the ruler of Bourbonnais ...

(1525), et bailli de

Gévaudan Gévaudan (; oc, Gavaudan, Gevaudan) is a historical area of France in Lozère ''département''. It took its name from the Gabali, a Gallic tribe subordinate to the Arverni. History After the conquest of Gaul, the Romans preserved the c ...

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

Cherbourg Cherbourg (; , , ), nrf, Chèrbourg, ) is a former commune and subprefecture located at the northern end of the Cotentin peninsula in the northwestern French department of Manche. It was merged into the commune of Cherbourg-Octeville on 28 Feb ...

Marmande Marmande (; in Occitan, ''Marmanda'') is a commune in the Lot-et-Garonne ''département'' in south-western France. Geography Marmande is located 35 km north-west of Agen, on the southern railway from Bordeaux to Sète. The town is situa ...

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, Loui ...

and Battle of Saint-Denis (1567) * 1574 : Nicolas d'Angennes (1533-1611), marquis de Rambouillet, vidame du Mans, chevalier du Saint-Esprit * 1580 : Jean d'O, seigneur de Manou, chevalier du Saint-Esprit * 1595 : Louis de L'Hospital († 1611), marquis de Vitry, chevalier du Saint-Esprit * 1611 :

Nicolas de L'Hospital Nicolas or Nicolás may refer to: People Given name * Nicolas (given name) Mononym * Nicolas (footballer, born 1999), Brazilian footballer * Nicolas (footballer, born 2000), Brazilian footballer Surname Nicolas * Dafydd Nicolas (c.1705–1774), ...

, 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 river ...

* 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''). Se ...

lieutenant-général Lieutenant general (Lt Gen, LTG and similar) is a three-star military rank (NATO code OF-8) used in many countries. The rank traces its origins to the Middle Ages, where the title of lieutenant general was held by the second-in-command on the ...

des ville et citadelle de

Calais Calais ( , , traditionally , ) is a port city in the Pas-de-Calais department, of which it is a subprefecture. Although Calais is by far the largest city in Pas-de-Calais, the department's prefecture is its third-largest city of Arras. Th ...

, 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, Duke of Duras (9 October 1625 – 12 October 1704) was Marshal of France. Life Jacques Henri was the oldest son of Guy Aldonce de Durfort (1605–1665), marquis of Duras, count of Rozan and of Lorges, maréchal de c ...

(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) was a French soldier. He was created count of Cagny (modern Crillon) and duke of Boufflers and named marshal of France. Biography Louis-François was bor ...

(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 Gaston-Pierre-Charles de Lévis-Lomagne, duc de Mirepoix (1699–1757), maréchal de France (1757) and Ambassador of Louis XV, was a French aristocrat. His family was established in Languedoc as Seigneurs of Mirepoix, Ariège since the 11th cen ...

(1699-1757), Duke of Mirepoix * 1757 :

Charles Juste de Beauvau, Prince of Craon Charles Juste de Beauvau, Prince of Craon (10 September 1720 – 21 May 1793), 2nd Prince of Craon (1754), Marshal of France (1783) was a French scholar, nobleman and general. The son of Marc de Beauvau, he was also brother of the famous Madame ...

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

prince de Poix Duke of Mouchy ( es, Duque de Mouchy) was a hereditary title in the Spanish nobility, peerage of Spain, accompanied by the dignity of Grandee and granted in 1747 by Ferdinand VI of Spain, Ferdinand VI to Philippe de Noailles (1715–1794), Philip ...

Duke of Mouchy Duke of Mouchy ( es, Duque de 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 s ...

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

3rd Company (2nd French Company)

Louis XI, 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

. 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 Nanciaco ...

* 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 ''La Chambre du Roi'' (), "the king's bedchamber"), has always been the central feature of the king's apartment in traditional French palace design Ceremonies surrounding the daily life of the king — such as the ''levée'' (the ceremonial raisi ...

* ???? : Gaspard de La Châtre (vers 1539–1576), seigneur de Nançay * 1580 : Charles de Balzac (vers 1565–1610), baron d’Entragues * 1590 : François du Plessis, seigneur de Richelieu (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 Marie Louise d'Orléans, Duchess of Montpensier, (, – ) known as ''La Grande Mademoiselle'', was the only daughter of Gaston d'Orléans with his first wife, Marie de Bourbon, Duchess of Montpensier. One of the greatest heiresses 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 Antoine Nompar de Caumont, duc de 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 XIV. ...

(1633-1723),

Duke of Lauzun The title of Duc de Lauzun was a French peerage created in 1692 for Antoine Nompar de Caumont under influence of Mary of Modena. All dukes were marshals of France or renowned generals. Ducs de Lauzun * Antoine Nompar de Caumont (1632–1723) ...

* 1673 : François-Henri de Montmorency (1628-1695),

Duke of Piney Duke of Piney (french: Duc de 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 ...

, ''

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

Duke of Villeroy The Neufville de Villeroy family was a French noble family, the most notable member of which was François de Neufville, duc de Villeroi. It was descended from a finance minister to Louis XII. Arms Its arms are "d’azur au chevron d’or acc ...

, ''

'' * 1708 : Louis Nicolas de Neufville (1663-1734),

* 1734 : Louis François Anne de Neufville (1695-1766),

* 1758 : Gabriel Louis François de Neufville (1731-1794),

* 1791-1830 : Antoine-Louis-Marie de Gramont (1755-1836),

Duke of Gramont The title of Duke of Gramont (''duc de Gramont'') is a French dukedom and former peerage. It was created in 1648 for French Marshal Antoine III de Gramont. History The family of Gramont was a Navarrese medieval noble house and owned the chateau ...

4th Company (3rd French Company)

Upon his accession to the throne,

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

, 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 commune in the Eure-et-Loir department in northern France. Geography Dreux lies on the small river Blaise, a tributary of the Eure, about 35 km north of Chartres. Dreux station has rail connections to Argentan, Paris and Granvi ...

. 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 * 1632-1651 :

Antoine d'Aumont de Rochebaron Antoine is a French given name (from the Latin ''Antonius'' meaning 'highly praise-worthy') that is a variant of Danton, Titouan, D'Anton and Antonin. The name is used in France, Switzerland, Belgium, Canada, West Greenland, Haiti, French Guiana ...

, 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 Henry d'Harcourt (2 April 1654 – 19 October 1718) was a French noble, first Duke of Harcourt, Marshal of France, and extraordinary ambassador to Madrid. Life As son of François III d'Harcourt, marquis of Beuvron and Thary-Harcourt, he was a ...

Duke of Harcourt {{Unreferenced, date=June 2019, bot=noref (GreenC bot) When the Viking chieftain Rollo obtained via the Treaty of Saint-Clair-sur-Epte the territories which would later make up Normandy, he distributed them as estates among his main supporters. Amo ...

* 1718-1750 :

François d'Harcourt François d'Harcourt, 12th Duke of Harcourt (10 December 1928 – 5 November 2020) was a French politician. Biography He was the son of François-Charles d'Harcourt, the 11th Duke of Harcourt, and Antoinette Gérard, a French resistant. From 19 ...

* 1750-1764 : Charles II Frédéric de Montmorency,

Duke of Piney-Luxembourg Duke of Piney (french: Duc de 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 ...

* 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'' ( en, Guards of the Sleeve) 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 Marche'' 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, also known as the Forty-five Rebellion or simply the '45 ( gd, Bliadhna Theàrlaich, , ), was an attempt by Charles Edward Stuart to regain the British throne for his father, James Francis Edward Stuart. It took pl ...

, recruited by the

Duke of Épernon Duke of Épernon (french: Duc d'Épernon) was a noble title in the peerage of France granted to Jean Louis de Nogaret de La Valette by Henry III of France in 1581. It is named after Épernon. List of Dukes of Épernon, 1581—1736 Louis de Pa ...

to provide

Henry III of France Henry III (french: Henri III, né Alexandre Édouard; pl, Henryk Walezy; lt, Henrikas Valua; 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 ...

with protection in the midst of the War of the Three Henrys. They served Henry III and

Henry IV of France Henry IV (french: Henri IV; 13 December 1553 – 14 May 1610), also known by the epithets Good King Henry or Henry the Great, was King of Navarre (as Henry III) from 1572 and King of France from 1589 to 1610. He was the first monarc ...

, 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 (french: le Bien-Aimé), 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 reache ...

, 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 175421 January 1793) was the last King of France before the fall of the monarchy during the French Revolution. He was referred to as ''Citizen Louis Capet'' during the four months just before he was ...

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 Philip Mansel (born 1951) is a historian of courts and cities, and the author of a number of books about the history of France and the Ottoman Empire. He was born in London in 1951 and educated at Eton College, Balliol College, Oxford, and obtain ...

. ''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