David Lehmann
11-19-2004, 11:27 AM
CREATION OF THE FIRST FRENCH INFANTRY REGIMENTS
During a very long time the French army was mainly composed of the Chivalry and very few troopers from the nobility The majority of the infantry was provided by urban militias ("milices communales"), mobilized peasants or mercenaries (Swiss, German, Genoese, Irish etc.).
The urban militias were for example outstanding during the battle of Bouvines in 1214 but otherwise not very skilled. The Battle of Bouvines was the first great international conflict of alliances among national forces in Europe. Philip Augustus of France (4000 knights and 11,000 infantry) defeated Otto IV of Germany, count Ferrand of Flanders and count of Salisbury (6500 knights and about 40,000 infantry) so decisively that Otto was deposed and replaced by Frederick II Hohenstaufen. Ferrand was captured and imprisoned. Philip was himself able to take undisputed control of the territories of Anjou, Brittany, Maine, Normandy, and the Touraine, which he had recently seized from Otto's kinsman and ally John of England.
http://xenophongroup.com/montjoie/bouvines.htm
The Hundred Years War (1337-1453) which saw some significant battles :
• Auray (1341)
• Crécy (1346)
• Poitiers (1356)
• Azincourt (1415)
• Orléans (1429)
• Reims (1429)
• Rouen (1431)
• Formigny (1450)
• Castillon (1453)
http://www.xenophongroup.com/montjoie/hywchron.htm#directory
At the beginning of the Hundred Years War, there is still no real organic 'French infantry' in the French army. The Chivalry constitute the royal Ost (royal army), only noblemen are seen as having the right to master the art of arms and of cavalry. But from the battle of Bouvines on, the urban militias of the cities send their foot troops, equipped and trained at their cost. These men are often not well trained and not very well armed. In 1356 for example when the French army is deploying to counter the advance of the Black Prince, the French king wanted to use only mercenaries as infantry troops.
At this time the French army is therefore mainly composed of :
• the chivalry (nobility) + several support foot troops accompanying each knight. The nobility constitute the whole French cavalry and the men who master the art of arms and war. The noblemen didn't want to face skilled people in revolts. In some occasions, sieges, battles like Poitiers and Azincourt they had also to fight as foot troops.
• mercenaries
• urban militias
The situation evolves during the war. It appeared urgent to be less dependent from the nobility which was not always outstanding and from the use of mercenaries which was too expensive. Charles VII with the edicts of 1439, 1445, 1448 and 1455 organized a French standing army. All the privately held troops (some knights) were abolished and the whole army was under the direct control and payment of the crown. The French army is then mainly composed of :
• companies (called "compagnie d'ordonnance") : cavalry + infantry unit formed with noblemen
• the "francs-archers" : infantry and bowmen. These men are not from the nobility, except the officers.
All the people, even not from the nobility, had now access to military instruction. The "franc-archers" behaved very well during the battle of Formigny in 1450 for example.
But the evolution is slow, even one century later mercenaries are still used, especially Swiss mercenaries.
After the XVth century the French army is mainly composed of :
• royal troops
• infantry
• cavalry
Around 1480 the birth of a standing French infantry goes on and several hundred Swiss soldiers have been enlisted as instructors.. François the First attempts to reactivate the idea of the "francs-arches" in 1534 by creating the "Légions" (9000 men), somewhat similar to the Spanish "Tercios" (3000 men) also created at that time.
Infantry units called "Bandes" are formed like the "Bandes du Piémont", "Bandes de Picardie". These "Bandes" will give birth to the first French infantry regiments (officially in 1558) whose history is still continuing today. One regiment is then a military unit commanded by a colonel or a lieutenant-colonel. Each regiment had 3-4 infantry battalions each comprising 9 to 17 companies. The regiment was at first rather an administrative unit, each battalion being the basic manoeuvring unit. In 1659 the French army consists in 40,000 men ; 72,000 men in 1667 ; 120,000 men in 1672 and 200,000 men in 1680.
The first infantry regiments being formed under the Ancient Regime are called the "Quatre Vieux" or "Four Oldies" :
• Régiment de Picardie (1e RI) - created 1479
• Régiment de Piémont (3e RI) - created 1569
• Régiment de Navarre (5e RI) - created 1558
• Régiment de Champagne (7e RI) - created 1569
From the "Four Oldies", the 1e RI is I think the oldest European infantry regiment still operational. The 1e RI is created from the "Bandes de Picardie". On the regiment's flag are indicated some battles in which the 1e RI honoured itself :
• 1792 : Valmy
• 1794 : Fleurus
• 1800 : Moeskirch
• 1800 : Biberach
• 1842 : Milliana
• 1914 : Guise
• 1916 : Verdun
• 1916 : Somme
• 1917 : Yser
• 1918 : Ourcq
• 1942 : Berry (resistance)
Key dates :
• 1479 : "Bandes de Picardie"
• 1585 : "Régiment de Picardie"
• 1780 : "Régiment Colonel-Général"
• 1791 : "1e régiment d'infanterie" (1e RI)
• 1794 : "1e demi-brigade de bataille" (1st battle half-brigade), with following battalions :
---- 1st battalion of the 1e RI
---- 2nd battalion of the volunteers from "la Butte des Moulins de Paris"
---- 3rd battalion of the volunteers from "Loiret"
• 1796 : "1e demi-brigade d'infanterie" de ligne and "131e demi-brigade de bataille"
• 1803 : 1e RIL (Régiment d'Infanterie de Ligne)
• 1814 : "1e régiment d'infanterie de ligne-Le Roi
• 1815 : "1e régiment d'infanterie de ligne"
• 1815 : "Légion de l'Ain"
• 1820 : "1e régiment d'infanterie de ligne"
• 1854 : "1e régiment d'infanterie"
Some important battles and location :
Ancient Regime
• 1643 : battle of Rocroi
• 1756 : garrisoned at Dunkerque
• 1757 : with the army of marechal d'Estrée
• 1758 : with the Hanovre army
• 1760 : on the Werra.
• 1763 : at Amoeneberg.
Revolution and First Empire
• 1792 : battle of Valmy
• 1793 : battle of Wissembourg
• 1794 : battle of Fleurus
• 1799 : battle of Zurich
• 1800 : battle of Moeskirch and of Biberach
• 1805 : battle of Caldiero
• 1806 : battle of Civita-del-Tronto and of Galiano
• 1809 : battle of Sacile and Wagram
• 1811 : battle of Miranda-Castegna
• 1812 : battle of Arapiles (Salamanca)
• 1813 : battle of Saint-Sébastien
• 1813 : battle of Lutzen, Bautzen, Dresde and Leipzig
• 1814 : battle of Saint-Julien
• 1814 : battle of Brienne, Sézanne, Montmirail, Vauchamps, Laon and Paris
• 1815 : battle of Quatre-Bras and Waterloo
From 1815 to 1848
Engaged in Spain in 1823 and in Belgium in 1832
Algeria (1837-1842)
The 1e RI took the city of Miliana on 17th June 1842.
Second Empire
Battle at Gravelotte and at Saint-Privat, encircled at Sedan
WW1
• At the eve of WW1 the 1e RI is garrisoned in Cambrai.
• 21st to 23rd August 1914 : advance towards Charleroi
• 5th to 13th September 1914 : battle of the Marne
• 15th to 20th September 1914 : engaged in various battle at Soupir and hill 108
• 9th January 1915 : offensives on Argonne and Champagne, capture of the fort of Beauséjour
• 1916 : Verdun, Douaumont and Vaux forts
• 24th August 1916 : battle of the Somme (capture of the cities of Maurepas and Combles)
• 1917 : offensives on the Chemin-des-Dames and in the Flanders along the Yser river
• 1918 : engaged in the Oise area and took part in the battles of Noyon and of Riez wood. Then engaged in Champagne on the Ourcq and in Alsace.
WW2
1940 : the 1e RI belongs to the 1e RIM (1st motorized infantry regiment) fighting heavily in Belgium. Heroic defence at Mont-Saint-Guilbert (Belgium) but 65% of the regiment is destroyed in the Raismes wood. The regiment is rebuild in the Cher and dissolved in 1942. Many of these men including the commander, colonel Bertrand, maintain the traditions of the 1e RI as partisans in the Berry. The 1e RI is reconstituted on the liberation.
1945 - 1955 : French forces in Germany
1955 - 1962 : Algeria
1962 - 1968 : garrisoned in Bitche
1968-1985 : garrisoned in Sarrebourg as motorized infantry regiment of the 1st Army Corps
1985 : the regiment becomes 100% professional and is then "régiment de combat aéromobile" (RCAM) which is an airmobile combat regiment (infantry carried by helicopters) from the 4th airmobile division in the Force d'Action Rapide (FAR) (Rapide Reaction Force). The regiment takes part in many deployments and operations out of France, especially in operation Desert Storm in 1991.
1999 : The regiment becomes a motorized infantry regiment equipped with VAB APCs, it is part of the 1st mechanized brigade.
The current 1e RI is composed of about 1200 men organized in 8 companies.
• 1 command and logistic company
• 1 reconnaissance and support company
• 4 combat companies
• 1 instruction company
• 1 reserve company
The regiment has a standard French armament with
• 82 VAB APCs
• 10 light armored vehicles (VBL)
• 27 ERYX ATGM lauchers
• 16 MILAN ATGM launches
• 81mm mortars etc.
Here is the insignia of the 1e RI :
http://www.inf.terre.defense.gouv.fr/web/fr/services/insigne/originales/1ri.jpg
With the motto : "on ne relève pas Picardie" which means "Picardie (the regiment) is never relieved"
Regards,
David
During a very long time the French army was mainly composed of the Chivalry and very few troopers from the nobility The majority of the infantry was provided by urban militias ("milices communales"), mobilized peasants or mercenaries (Swiss, German, Genoese, Irish etc.).
The urban militias were for example outstanding during the battle of Bouvines in 1214 but otherwise not very skilled. The Battle of Bouvines was the first great international conflict of alliances among national forces in Europe. Philip Augustus of France (4000 knights and 11,000 infantry) defeated Otto IV of Germany, count Ferrand of Flanders and count of Salisbury (6500 knights and about 40,000 infantry) so decisively that Otto was deposed and replaced by Frederick II Hohenstaufen. Ferrand was captured and imprisoned. Philip was himself able to take undisputed control of the territories of Anjou, Brittany, Maine, Normandy, and the Touraine, which he had recently seized from Otto's kinsman and ally John of England.
http://xenophongroup.com/montjoie/bouvines.htm
The Hundred Years War (1337-1453) which saw some significant battles :
• Auray (1341)
• Crécy (1346)
• Poitiers (1356)
• Azincourt (1415)
• Orléans (1429)
• Reims (1429)
• Rouen (1431)
• Formigny (1450)
• Castillon (1453)
http://www.xenophongroup.com/montjoie/hywchron.htm#directory
At the beginning of the Hundred Years War, there is still no real organic 'French infantry' in the French army. The Chivalry constitute the royal Ost (royal army), only noblemen are seen as having the right to master the art of arms and of cavalry. But from the battle of Bouvines on, the urban militias of the cities send their foot troops, equipped and trained at their cost. These men are often not well trained and not very well armed. In 1356 for example when the French army is deploying to counter the advance of the Black Prince, the French king wanted to use only mercenaries as infantry troops.
At this time the French army is therefore mainly composed of :
• the chivalry (nobility) + several support foot troops accompanying each knight. The nobility constitute the whole French cavalry and the men who master the art of arms and war. The noblemen didn't want to face skilled people in revolts. In some occasions, sieges, battles like Poitiers and Azincourt they had also to fight as foot troops.
• mercenaries
• urban militias
The situation evolves during the war. It appeared urgent to be less dependent from the nobility which was not always outstanding and from the use of mercenaries which was too expensive. Charles VII with the edicts of 1439, 1445, 1448 and 1455 organized a French standing army. All the privately held troops (some knights) were abolished and the whole army was under the direct control and payment of the crown. The French army is then mainly composed of :
• companies (called "compagnie d'ordonnance") : cavalry + infantry unit formed with noblemen
• the "francs-archers" : infantry and bowmen. These men are not from the nobility, except the officers.
All the people, even not from the nobility, had now access to military instruction. The "franc-archers" behaved very well during the battle of Formigny in 1450 for example.
But the evolution is slow, even one century later mercenaries are still used, especially Swiss mercenaries.
After the XVth century the French army is mainly composed of :
• royal troops
• infantry
• cavalry
Around 1480 the birth of a standing French infantry goes on and several hundred Swiss soldiers have been enlisted as instructors.. François the First attempts to reactivate the idea of the "francs-arches" in 1534 by creating the "Légions" (9000 men), somewhat similar to the Spanish "Tercios" (3000 men) also created at that time.
Infantry units called "Bandes" are formed like the "Bandes du Piémont", "Bandes de Picardie". These "Bandes" will give birth to the first French infantry regiments (officially in 1558) whose history is still continuing today. One regiment is then a military unit commanded by a colonel or a lieutenant-colonel. Each regiment had 3-4 infantry battalions each comprising 9 to 17 companies. The regiment was at first rather an administrative unit, each battalion being the basic manoeuvring unit. In 1659 the French army consists in 40,000 men ; 72,000 men in 1667 ; 120,000 men in 1672 and 200,000 men in 1680.
The first infantry regiments being formed under the Ancient Regime are called the "Quatre Vieux" or "Four Oldies" :
• Régiment de Picardie (1e RI) - created 1479
• Régiment de Piémont (3e RI) - created 1569
• Régiment de Navarre (5e RI) - created 1558
• Régiment de Champagne (7e RI) - created 1569
From the "Four Oldies", the 1e RI is I think the oldest European infantry regiment still operational. The 1e RI is created from the "Bandes de Picardie". On the regiment's flag are indicated some battles in which the 1e RI honoured itself :
• 1792 : Valmy
• 1794 : Fleurus
• 1800 : Moeskirch
• 1800 : Biberach
• 1842 : Milliana
• 1914 : Guise
• 1916 : Verdun
• 1916 : Somme
• 1917 : Yser
• 1918 : Ourcq
• 1942 : Berry (resistance)
Key dates :
• 1479 : "Bandes de Picardie"
• 1585 : "Régiment de Picardie"
• 1780 : "Régiment Colonel-Général"
• 1791 : "1e régiment d'infanterie" (1e RI)
• 1794 : "1e demi-brigade de bataille" (1st battle half-brigade), with following battalions :
---- 1st battalion of the 1e RI
---- 2nd battalion of the volunteers from "la Butte des Moulins de Paris"
---- 3rd battalion of the volunteers from "Loiret"
• 1796 : "1e demi-brigade d'infanterie" de ligne and "131e demi-brigade de bataille"
• 1803 : 1e RIL (Régiment d'Infanterie de Ligne)
• 1814 : "1e régiment d'infanterie de ligne-Le Roi
• 1815 : "1e régiment d'infanterie de ligne"
• 1815 : "Légion de l'Ain"
• 1820 : "1e régiment d'infanterie de ligne"
• 1854 : "1e régiment d'infanterie"
Some important battles and location :
Ancient Regime
• 1643 : battle of Rocroi
• 1756 : garrisoned at Dunkerque
• 1757 : with the army of marechal d'Estrée
• 1758 : with the Hanovre army
• 1760 : on the Werra.
• 1763 : at Amoeneberg.
Revolution and First Empire
• 1792 : battle of Valmy
• 1793 : battle of Wissembourg
• 1794 : battle of Fleurus
• 1799 : battle of Zurich
• 1800 : battle of Moeskirch and of Biberach
• 1805 : battle of Caldiero
• 1806 : battle of Civita-del-Tronto and of Galiano
• 1809 : battle of Sacile and Wagram
• 1811 : battle of Miranda-Castegna
• 1812 : battle of Arapiles (Salamanca)
• 1813 : battle of Saint-Sébastien
• 1813 : battle of Lutzen, Bautzen, Dresde and Leipzig
• 1814 : battle of Saint-Julien
• 1814 : battle of Brienne, Sézanne, Montmirail, Vauchamps, Laon and Paris
• 1815 : battle of Quatre-Bras and Waterloo
From 1815 to 1848
Engaged in Spain in 1823 and in Belgium in 1832
Algeria (1837-1842)
The 1e RI took the city of Miliana on 17th June 1842.
Second Empire
Battle at Gravelotte and at Saint-Privat, encircled at Sedan
WW1
• At the eve of WW1 the 1e RI is garrisoned in Cambrai.
• 21st to 23rd August 1914 : advance towards Charleroi
• 5th to 13th September 1914 : battle of the Marne
• 15th to 20th September 1914 : engaged in various battle at Soupir and hill 108
• 9th January 1915 : offensives on Argonne and Champagne, capture of the fort of Beauséjour
• 1916 : Verdun, Douaumont and Vaux forts
• 24th August 1916 : battle of the Somme (capture of the cities of Maurepas and Combles)
• 1917 : offensives on the Chemin-des-Dames and in the Flanders along the Yser river
• 1918 : engaged in the Oise area and took part in the battles of Noyon and of Riez wood. Then engaged in Champagne on the Ourcq and in Alsace.
WW2
1940 : the 1e RI belongs to the 1e RIM (1st motorized infantry regiment) fighting heavily in Belgium. Heroic defence at Mont-Saint-Guilbert (Belgium) but 65% of the regiment is destroyed in the Raismes wood. The regiment is rebuild in the Cher and dissolved in 1942. Many of these men including the commander, colonel Bertrand, maintain the traditions of the 1e RI as partisans in the Berry. The 1e RI is reconstituted on the liberation.
1945 - 1955 : French forces in Germany
1955 - 1962 : Algeria
1962 - 1968 : garrisoned in Bitche
1968-1985 : garrisoned in Sarrebourg as motorized infantry regiment of the 1st Army Corps
1985 : the regiment becomes 100% professional and is then "régiment de combat aéromobile" (RCAM) which is an airmobile combat regiment (infantry carried by helicopters) from the 4th airmobile division in the Force d'Action Rapide (FAR) (Rapide Reaction Force). The regiment takes part in many deployments and operations out of France, especially in operation Desert Storm in 1991.
1999 : The regiment becomes a motorized infantry regiment equipped with VAB APCs, it is part of the 1st mechanized brigade.
The current 1e RI is composed of about 1200 men organized in 8 companies.
• 1 command and logistic company
• 1 reconnaissance and support company
• 4 combat companies
• 1 instruction company
• 1 reserve company
The regiment has a standard French armament with
• 82 VAB APCs
• 10 light armored vehicles (VBL)
• 27 ERYX ATGM lauchers
• 16 MILAN ATGM launches
• 81mm mortars etc.
Here is the insignia of the 1e RI :
http://www.inf.terre.defense.gouv.fr/web/fr/services/insigne/originales/1ri.jpg
With the motto : "on ne relève pas Picardie" which means "Picardie (the regiment) is never relieved"
Regards,
David