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Warmatrix

War Matrix - French Foreign Legion

Geopolitical Race 1830 CE - 1880 CE, Armies and Troops

Modern Legionnaires on parade with traditional képi's blanc
Modern Legionnaires on parade with traditional képi's blanc
The French Foreign Legion is the oldest and most famous of foreign volunteer armies. It is nearly two centuries old and survives where most others have been dissolved or changed to regular armies.
The Legion was created in 1831 CE by king Louis Philippe to siphon off a large influx of foreigners into France. The first recruits came from Swiss and German regiments that had served under the previous king. The royal ordinance of the Legion states that it can serve only outside France, unless the country itself is invaded. It was first stationed in Algeria, part of the French colonial empire in Africa. That country would remain its base for 130 years and shape the Legion's character.
The Legion accepts recruits from all over the world and allows them to dispense with their former nationality and - after at least five years of impeccable service - acquire the French one. For some it has been a way to shed a troublesome past and this has created the image of a safe haven for tough criminals, revolutionaries and other misfits. Over time the Legion's recruitment has become more and more selective, though it still seeks out rough and tough soldiers. Recruits are required to serve a five year contract, which they can extend if they desire to do so. Though the ranks are filled with foreigners, the officers are French.
After its first actions in Algeria, the Legion fought in almost all of France's overseas wars: in the First Carlist War; the Crimean War; in the Second Italian War of Independence; in Mexico; in the Franco-Prussian War; in the Sino-French War and in various campaigns in Africa. At first it was a single infantry regiment of about 800 men, but soon grew rapidly. In the 1850's CE it was expanded to brigade strength.
In its early years the Legion was a weak force that suffered from lack of experienced officers and motivated soldiers. However reorganizations by a few competent leaders dissolved frictions between nationalities and established the spirit of a regiment. The soldiers were instilled with severe discipline, a code of honor, comradeship and bravery. Over several decades the Legion gradually transformed itself into a battle-hardened elite force and started to make a name for itself. In 1863 CE, during the Mexican campaign, it gained its widespread fame when a company of 65 men fought off 3,000 Mexicans until only a handful of Legionnaires were left alive.
Throughout its history, the fortunes of the Legion waxed and waned. Sometimes it was used as a dump for riffraff, sometimes it was nearly disbanded because the French government had no need for it and sometimes it got a chance to show its worth in war. Throughout its lifetime it has often operated on the frontline and suffered more than 35,000 casualties in all its wars combined. But these were always replaced with new recruits, as the idea of starting with a clean slate in life appealed to many volunteers.
In World War I the quality of the Legion suffered again from a large influx of volunteers and nationalistic refugees. Nonetheless both they and the hardened veterans fought valiantly against the Germans and further enhanced the Legion's reputation. In the 1920's CE the infantry was supplemented by cavalry, artillery and engineers. During World War II the role of the Legion was smaller, part of the it serving the Free French and part the opposing Vichy regime. After the world wars it was involved in the First Indochina War and The Algerian War of Independence, both of which were lost by France.
In the latter the Legion lost its traditional home base. This prompted one of its regiments to join in a coup against president de Gaulle. The coup failed and de Gaulle disbanded the regiment. After 1962 CE the Legion was downsized from around 30,000 men to 8,000 and relocated to France itself. Since then it has slowly been integrated with the regular French army. It has been deployed in peacekeeping operations, several wars and anti-terrorist operations. Today the Legion employs men from 150 nations; 10% - 15% are of French origin.