1st Cuirassier Regiment (France)

1er Régiment de Cuirassiers
Flag of the regiment
Active	1635-1815 1816-1920 1939-1940 1943-1999
Country	France
Branch	French Army
Type	Heavy cavalry
March	Le Regiment de Fer (Eng: The Iron Regiment)
Engagements	Thirty Years' War War of the Spanish Succession French Revolutionary Wars Napoleonic Wars World War I World War II
Commanders
Notable commanders	Henri de la Tour d'Auvergne, Vicomte de Turenne

The 1st Cuirassier Regiment (French: 1er Régiment de Cuirassiers, 1er RC) was the oldest armoured regiment in the French Army, until it was amalgamated with 11th Cuirassiers Regiment. Today its traditions are carried on by the 1st Cuirassier Squadrons Group of the 1st-11th Cuirassier Regiment.

The regiment was a part of a small army raised by Bernhard of Saxe-Weimar in 1631 to help Gustavus Adolphus against the emperor during the Thirty Years' War. The regiment fought together with the Swedish Army at Breitenfeld, Rain and Lützen. With the death of Gustavus Adolphus and the disaster at Nördlingen the army of Bernhard of Saxe-Weimar entered French service on 26 October 1635. During this time the regiment was commanded by colonel Trefsky and carried his name: Trefsky regiment.

With Saxe-Weimers army France began involving itself directly into the war, instead of only subsidizing the Swedes. The Trefsky regiment takes part in the victories of Rheinfelden and Breisach, but with Saxe-Weimers death in the summer of 1639 the army loses its master. Some men want to return to Swedish service, but Guébriant, a future Marshal of France, persuades the army, with the help of strong pensions, to remain permanently in France.

The Regiment was renamed Colonel-General in 1657. In 1791 renamed to 1er Régiment de Cavalerie . In 1801 renamed to 1er Régiment de Cavalerie-Cuirassiers. In 1803 renamed to 1er Régiment de Cuirassiers. In 1814 renamed to Cuirassiers du Roi, but restored to 1er Régiment de Cuirassiers by Napoleon during the Hundred Days, was disbanded on 24 December 1815 at Loches after Napoleon's defeat. Re-raised in 1816 and named Cuirassiers de la Reine.