French Royal Army
In the early 15th century, Charles VII established France's first permanent army. This force received regular wages instead of relying on feudal levies. The need for reliable troops during the Hundred Years' War drove this change. Units were governed by an ordonnance issued at the outbreak of conflict. These documents defined service length and payment terms.
The Compagnies d'ordonnance formed the core of the Gendarme well into the 16th century. They stationed themselves throughout France and summoned larger armies as needed. A militia called francs-archers consisted of bowmen and foot soldiers from non-noble classes. These units disbanded once war ended.
Urban or provincial militias provided most infantry initially. These groups raised locally to fight within their specific area. Swiss instructors arrived in the late 15th century to improve training. Temporary Legions of up to 9000 men emerged from combined Bandes. Henry II later formed standing infantry regiments to replace the Militia structure.
Regiments named Picardie, Piedmont, Navarre, and Champagne became known as Les vieux corps. Policy dictated disbanding these units after wars concluded. Only the Vieux and French Royal Guard survived repeated conflicts. Louis XIII left only a handful of regiments when he took the throne. These survivors gained the privilege of remaining active.
Louis XIV ascended to the French throne in 1661 with about 70,000 men under his command. This force remained loosely organized compared to other European powers. It mixed mercenaries, guard units, local militias, and conscripts for specific campaigns.
Michel Le Tellier and his son the Marquis de Louvois restructured the army into a disciplined professional force. They implemented permanent regiments under central control. Weapons, promotion systems, drill routines, uniforms, and organization all improved or were introduced during this period. The army nearly doubled in size under their direction.
The War of Devolution began in 1667 when Louis claimed the Spanish Netherlands as Marie-Thérèse's dowry. Marshal Turenne and Prince de Condé commanded forces that seized much territory. France retained eleven towns including Lille and Douai despite pressure from the Triple Alliance.
France invaded the Netherlands in May 1672 starting the Franco-Dutch War. England allied with France until 1674 before withdrawing. The Dutch position stabilized by late July with support from Emperor Leopold and Brandenburg-Prussia. French armies advanced steadily from 1674 to 1778 along the Rhine and southern Netherlands.
Sébastien Le Prestre de Vauban designed intricate fortifications during Louis XIV's reign. He oversaw building or improving many fortresses in Flanders and elsewhere. His expertise in siege warfare proved crucial for French military operations.
Louis XV inherited the throne in 1715 after his great-grandfather died. Three major wars occurred during his peaceful reign compared to previous decades. The War of the Polish Succession started in 1733 while the War of Austrian Succession began in 1740.
Frederick II ignored the Pragmatic Sanction agreement and annexed Habsburg Silesia in 1740. Britain allied with Maria Theresa while Louis XV forged an alliance with Frederick. Marshal de Saxe achieved a great triumph at Fontenoy in 1745. This victory made French conquest of much of the Austrian Netherlands possible.
The Seven Years' War officially began in 1756 when Prussia and Austria went to war again. France and Austria formed an alliance against Britain and Prussia. French forces suffered defeat at the Battle of Rossbach in 1757.
Raiding parties composed of French-Canadian militiamen and Indians attacked English settlements in North America. British forces captured Quebec, the French colonial capital, by 1759. Fighting also occurred on the Indian subcontinent where French troops captured several settlements before allies were defeated by British troops in 1756.
France signed an unfavorable treaty in 1763 ending the Seven Years' War. Louis XVI authorized an expeditionary force under Count de Rochambeau to aid American revolutionaries after Saratoga's victory. The Siege of Yorktown in 1781 resulted in colonial independence.
Pikes appeared in France at the beginning of the 16th century but disappeared by the end of the 17th century. Matchlock muskets introduced themselves after the battle of Pavia in 1525. The French army abandoned the musket in 1700 with flintlock adoption.
Different models of the Charleville musket, a .69 caliber standard infantry weapon, manufactured from 1717 into the 1840s. The Vallière artillery system of 1732 standardized pieces for siege warfare though less satisfactory for movement wars.
The Gribeauval system replaced Vallière guns in 1765 revolutionizing French artillery. It improved cannons, howitzers, and mortars making them lighter without sacrificing range. New guns contributed to victories even during Revolutionary Wars and Napoleonic Wars.
Guard regiments adopted complete uniforms in early 1660s substituting cassocks with civilian clothing. Garden Francais wore grey and red uniforms with silver embroidery shortly after 1661. Line infantry adopted regimental colors decided by colonels starting early 1660s completing late 1670s.
Cavalry wore buff leather coats until November 1671 when dark blue ordered for royal mounted units. Grenadiers mostly wore tricorn hats like fusiliers until bearskins came full use about 1770.
Many French soldiers sympathized with masses drawn from their ranks increasing desertions in 1789. Bulk rank and file of Gardes Françaises refused obeying officers at crucial Revolution stages. Some Gardes joined Parisian mob on the 14th of July 1789 storming Bastille fortress-prison symbolizing governmental repression.
King Louis' powers regulated by National Assembly authorizing creation of National Guard as counterweight to royal army. Regular army weakened by flight of many aristocratic officers facing erosion of privileges and political mistrust. Twelve foreign regiments mostly German mercenaries amalgamated into line in July 1791 followed disbanding Swiss regiments a year later.
Major reorganizations occurred in 1791 and 1792 creating new elected officers changing structure fundamentally. Battalions of volunteers merged surviving former royal units forming amalgamated demi-brigades. This force tested itself during Battle of Valmy in 1792 against Austro-Prussian invasion restoring King's powers.
Napoleon returned from exile in 1815 causing most army members switching sides forcing Louis flight. Waterloo defeat brought Louis XVIII back throne realizing existing army lacked loyalty to restored monarchy. Government undertook wholesale disbandment replacing Napoleonic regiments with Departmental Legions system having no historic connections to empire or republic.
King Charles X forced to abdicate in July Revolution 1830 after participating little fighting. Duke of Orléans installed as Louis-Philippe I establishing supposed constitutional monarchy. Army transferred allegiance to House of Orléans until overthrow in 1848 when Second Republic established short-lived existence.
French Royal Army permanently dissolved
following July Revolution 1830 serving Bourbon dynasty from mid-17th century reign Louis XIV through Charles X 19th century. Interlude existed from 1792 to 1814 plus another during Hundred Days 1815 before official disbandment.
The French Royal Army became model for new regimental system imitated throughout Europe from mid-17th century onward. It regarded Europe's greatest military force for much its existence despite eventual collapse.
Swiss Guards massacred by mob supporters French Revolution including radical-leaning National Guard marching Tuileries Palace the 10th of August riot 1792. King Louis XVI escaped family but fighting broke courtyard resulting massacre some captured jailed later guillotined.
Dark blue coatees adopted 1819 replacing white uniforms restored after Bourbon Restoration modified modern appearance introducing trousers taller shakos Fleur-de-lis insignia.
Continue Browsing
Common questions
When did Charles VII establish France's first permanent army?
Charles VII established France's first permanent army in the early 15th century. This force received regular wages instead of relying on feudal levies to ensure reliable troops during the Hundred Years' War.
Who restructured the French Royal Army into a disciplined professional force under Louis XIV?
Michel Le Tellier and his son the Marquis de Louvois restructured the army into a disciplined professional force. They implemented permanent regiments under central control and nearly doubled the size of the army through their direction.
What happened to the French Royal Army after the July Revolution of 1830?
The French Royal Army permanently dissolved following the July Revolution of 1830. It had served the Bourbon dynasty from the mid-17th century reign of Louis XIV through Charles X before its official disbandment.
Which musket model became the standard infantry weapon for the French army between 1717 and 1840s?
Different models of the Charleville musket, a .69 caliber standard infantry weapon, were manufactured from 1717 into the 1840s. The French army abandoned the matchlock musket in 1700 with flintlock adoption prior to this period.
How did the Seven Years' War end for France in terms of territory and treaties?
France signed an unfavorable treaty in 1763 ending the Seven Years' War. British forces captured Quebec by 1759 and defeated French allies on the Indian subcontinent in 1756 during the conflict.