French Guards

Gardes Françaises
Regimental flag of the Gardes françaises
Active	1563-1792
Country	France
Branch	French Army
Type	Guard Infantry
Role	Infantry

The French Guards (French: Gardes Françaises) were an infantry regiment of the Military Household of the King of France (Maison militaire du roi de France) under the Ancien Régime.

The French Guards, who were located in Paris, played a major part in the French Revolution as most of the guardsman defected to the revolutionary cause and ensured the collapse of absolute monarchy in France. French Guards led the Storming of the Bastille and formed the cadre for the National Guard.

The regiment was created in 1563 by Charles IX. With a strength of 9000 men it counted 30 companies in 1635 with 300 fusiliers per company. They were armed with a form of musket ("fusils") or steel-handled pikes, and were allowed to conduct a normal civilian life in times of peace. In practice this meant that they could undertake civilian employment when not required on duty.

At Catherine de' Medici's insistence, they were at first spread over several garrisons, but after the attempted kidnapping of King Charles IX near Meaux by Huguenots, the Gardes were brought back together specifically to protect the monarch.

In times of war the Gardes Françaises had the privilege of choosing their own battle positions (usually in the center of the first line of infantry). Other privileges included being that of leading the assault when a wall was breached during a siege, the first choice of barracks, and special rights of trial. When on parade, the Gardes Francaises took precedence over all other regiments in the Royal Army.