Gendarmerie of France

The gendarmerie of France , known as also gendarmerie of ordinance , is a military Unité of France of Ancien Mode.

The gendarmerie is the heiress of the units of men-at-arms , i.e. riders in armours of the armies of the 15th century and 16th century. These riders were then gathered in companies of ordinance create in 1442 and were distinguished from the remainder of the cavalry, called by extension " cavalry légère". In the companies of ordinance were mixed with the gendarmes and the archers, light riders charged to assist them. Progressively of the 17th century, the difference practices between heavy and light cavalry. Nevertheless, they remained distinct in their organization. The permière schedules concerning the gendarmerie of France goes back to 1665

The gendarmerie of France indeed continued to remain organized in companies and not in Régiment S like the light cavalry. These companies were not subjected to the general Colonel of the cavalry. These companies were of two types: gendarmes itself and light horsemen, successors of the archers of the companies of ordinance. The gendarmerie of France strictly speaking did not form part of the military household of the king, but it remained a privileged body, similar to the Gardes-Françaises in the infantry. The privilege to have a company of gendarmes was reserved to the king and for the wire and to grandson of France, which explains the nickname of Gendarmerie of the king and the princes . The number of the companies of the gendarmerie thus depends on the royal favor. Only the four first, which form the large gendarmerie, are permanent, the others being created only for certain princes.

To belong to the gendarmerie was regarded as an great honor: the majority of the Guidon S (rank corresponding to current the Second lieutenant) were recruited among Capitaine S of other regiments. The gendarmes of the row and the non-commissioned officer (our current Warrant officer S) could not hope to become officers. Indeed the ranks of the companies were venal, which held their purchase with a certain economic elite.

In 1720, the Constabulary of France, body of police force charged to maintain the order on the ways, was attached to the organic command of the gendarmerie of France. The king Louis XV left to the small gendarmerie at the disposal of his father-in-law the king Stanislas Leszczyński. These companies, in garrison with Lunéville were called gendarmerie of Lunéville . In 1763, the companies of light horsemen were joined together with those of gendarmes, decreasing the number of police companies. In 1788 the gendarmerie of France is dissolved.

The day before her suppression, the gendarmerie of France counted eight companies:

Large gendarmerie

Gendarmes Scot
English Gendarmes
Burgundian Gendarmes
Gendarmes of Flandres

Small gendarmerie

Gendarmes of the Queen , body created for the queen Marie-Therese
Gendarmes dolphins body created for the Large dolphin
Gendarmes of Berry , body created for the duke of Berry
Gendarmes of Artois , body created for the count d' Artois, brother of the king Louis XVI

In 1791 the legislative Assemblée removed the constabulary and replaced it by the national police. The name of gendarmerie was taken again of that of the gendarmerie of France, on which the constabulary depended, but one should not see in this body the predecessor of the current gendarmerie.

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