The French Army was composed of 121 regiments of
infantry, including: 11 German, 12 Swiss, 6 Irish, 2 Scot, 2
Italian, 3 Waloon, 1 Basque and 1 Swedish. Coat colors
were generally greyishwhite for French, Italians and
Wallons; red for Swiss and Irish; and blue for the others.
Each regiment had different facing and flag colors, button
arrangements and lace distinctions. While easy for the
wargamer to paint, there is a splendid amount of variety to choose from.
To attempt to summarize the uniforms and flags of the various infantry regiments on a few charts would be to mislead the serious painter. Alternatively, I advise all those interested in the Eighteenth Century (or uniforms in general) to purchase the series of booklets by and available from R.D. Pengel of 70 Balden Road, Harborne, Birmingham B32 2EW, England. I dislike the term, but these excellent booklets are 'indispensable'. They include uniform and flag information in minute detail for all Seven Years War armies' infantry.
Publications relative to the French include FRENCH INFANTRY UNIFORMS, FLAGS AND UNIFORMS REGIMENTS ETRANGERE. FLAGS OF THE FRENCH INFANTRY (and Supplement), and UNIFORMS OF SWEDISH AND GERMAN STATES.
Artillery uniforms are also covered in Mr. Pengel's publications. French gun carriages were painted red (older system) or light blue (newer uniform system) during the war. Both colors coexisted.
In the articles in this and forthcoming issues, l will summarize the uniforms and flags of the French cavalry, dragoons, hussars, light troops and household units.
CAVALRY
The regiments of horse were the heavy battle cavalry of the French Army, but for reasons only known to the French, kept the name "light cavalry". The quality of French horseflesh was poor being smaller animals than the German or, comparatively mammoth, British mounts.
In 1757, there were 61 regiments of 1 31 squadrons of 524 companies of 20,760 men and 2500 officers. Regiments were composed of two squadrons, except ColonelGeneral which had three and the Carabiniers which had ten. The campaign strength of a squadron would have been about 100 troopers.
In the following list, each regiment's number and name is given followed by uniform, horse, furniture and standard information. Change in the regiment's title is given in parenthesis with the date. On December 1,1761, the regiments numbered: 16, 25, 28, 29, 31, 32, 33, 34, 35 36, 37 38,39,40,44,45,46,47,49,50,51,52,53,55,58 68 end Bezons were incorporated into the remaining regiments. Fitz-James was discharged.
I have abbreviated as follows: S - Guidon or Standard; (Type I is the basic design (see figure 1) and centered a gold sun-burst with 32 rays of alternating lengths with the face of the King on the sun. Over the sun is a silver scroll with the inscription "nec pluribus impar". Around the perimeter of the standard is a gold wreath with a large gold fleur de lys in each corner. Fringe is gold.
Type II is the same as type I except that there are 14 small fleur de lys at points of the sun rays.
Type III is simply covered with 9 rows of 8 gold fleur de lys. From the gold staffhead hung gold cords and knots, also a large white bow was tied to the staffhead);
U - uniform; AG - aiguillette; VT - vest trim; and H - horse's housings and blankets first is given the color of the housings followed by the color and design of the edging. Officers had gold or silver edging. All blankets have rounded crners.
TYPE I CAVALRY
The "standard" uniform was a gray-white coat with red lining, lapels and large cuffs. Uniforms of the "royal" design were royal blue with red lining, lapels and large cuffs. Buttons on both coats were tin. It is my personal opinion that the light gray-white coat became more white as better quality material became available in the 1750's.
Generally the troopers of horse wore dark buff breeches and vests, black boots and tricorne hats. Bandoliers were buff. The overcoat rolled up behind the saddle was the same color as the uniform coat. If the coat buttons were silver or tin, the hat edge was taped false silver. If the buttons were gold, "yellow", or copper, the hat was taped false gold. Hat cocades were white. Plumes were not worn.
Subalterns wore a narrow silver fringe on their shoulder. Officer's uniforms were of a better quality material, so instead of the gray-white color they should be a pure white. Musicians wore the livery of their regiment's mestre-de-camp (owner), while the King's blue laced gold livery was worn in royal regiments. Trumpet banners and kettledrums bore the arms of the regiment's mastre-decamp. The crossbelt of the standard bearer was medium blue trimmed silver.
Troopers wore a breastplate (Plastron) underneath their coats and skull cap. Officers of all regiments and the men of the Cuirassier du Roi wore a full cuirass on the outside of their coat. Officers generally discarded the cuirass on campaign. Black grenadier style fur hats with bags of the facing color were worn by regiments 7,11, 13, 53, 56, 69 and 70. These became very popular and were probably worn by many other regiments. Musketoons with a red sling were carried. Ammunition pouches carried on a bandolier over left shoulder were black.
1. Colonel General: U-redcoat & lining, black lapels & cuffs with gold edge; VT-white & black check; H-red & black & white check (stand of three flags design on housings); S-7 flags, black fringe gold with sunburst upon a background of four rows of silver towers alternating with four rows of gold fleur de lys, on reverse was column of flame. The first company of the first squadron carried an entirely white standard fringed silver that was only dipped to the King.
2. Mestre de Camp General: U-medium gray coat & lining, black lapels & cuffs, gold buttons; VT- blue and red check, AG-black and aurore; Hblue, blue and red check (three white-red-blue flag stand on housings); S- red, sunburst upon a background of eight rows of gold flames, embroidered gold.
3. Commissair General: U-white coat & lining, black lapels & cuffs, gold buttons; VT-white & red stripes; H-red, aurore stripe on white; S-5 of red type l; reverse a crayfish on land with inscription, one blue type III.
4. Royal: U - royal, gold buttons, AG-aurore; VT-white & red stripes; H-blue, aurore; S-blue type II.
5. Le Roi: U-royal, gold buttons; VT-red & grey check; AG-white; H-blue, red & grey check; S-blue type III, on reverse Type I.
6. R. Etranger U-royal; VT & AG-aurore; H- blue, aurore; S-blue type III
7. Cuirassiers du Roi: U-royal; VT-red; AG- white; H-blue, white; S-blue Type I.
8. R. Cravattes: U-royal, VT & AG-red; H- blue, red; S-blue Type I.
9. R. Roussillion: U-royal; VT & AG-red; H- red, white; S-blue Type II.
10. R. Piemont U-royal; VT-aurore; AG-blue & white; H-red, white; S-blue Type I.
11. R. Allemand: U-blue coat & red lining; red "Polish" cuffs, vest & collar all white trim; red chain on white buttonhole lace & AG; H-blue, white; S-blue Type II.
12. R. Carabiniers: U-royal; silver buttonhole lace, cuff trim 8 AG; VT-red; H-blue, silver; S-20 flags blue Type II. Two standards per squadron and one kettledrum per brigade of two squadrons.
13. R. Pologne: same as 11 except lace plain white.
14. La Reine: U-red coat, blue lining & cuffs, yellow buttons, white VT & AG; H-red, white & blue check; S-red type I with background of fleur de lys, obverse is type III and had Queen's monogram in each corner.
15. Le Dauphin: U-royal, VT-red, white; AG- gold buttons; H-blue, aurore; S-blue type I, reverse had four rows of silver dauphins alternating with four rows of gold fleur de lys.
16. Dauphin-etranger. U-royal; AG-white; Hblue, aurore laced red, white & blue; S-blue type I, reverse had rows of dauphins.
17. Bretagne (Bourgogne): Uroyal; VT-red; AG-aurore; H-blue, aurore; S-blue, enlongated octogonal painting of an eagle perched on wood pile against a sky background of gold embroidery with silver scroll above painting.
18. Aquitaine (Artois 12/61): U-royal; VT- aurore; AG-aurore; H-blue, aurore; S-blue type I, reverse is type III with wreath in each corner.
19. Berry: U-royal; VT-white; AG-white & blue; H-blue, blue chain on white; S-blue type II; on reverse the arms of the duc d' Berry.
20. Orleans: U-standard; VT-white & blue stripes; AG-white & blue; H-red, white & blue stripes; S- red type I, on reverse the arms of Orleans (light blue oval with three gold fleur de lys) with fleur de lys in each corner.
21. Conde: U-standard; VT & AG-red; H-buff, red; S-blue type I.
22. Clerrnont U-standard; VT & AG-red; H- red, red chain on white; S-red type I.
23. Conti: U-grey coat, lining, cuffs & lapels; tin buttons; VT-red & blue chain on white; H-buff, as VT; S- pale yellow type I.
24. Bourbon: U-standard; AG-white & red; VT-red stripe on black & white check; H-red, white; S-blue type I.
25. Archiac: U-standard, white lining; H-red, yellow chain on green; S-red type I.
27. Poly (r. Normandie 12/61): U-standard; AG-red & white; H-buff, red chain on white; S-aurore type I, on reverse an eagle in midst of thunder and lightening.
28. Lusignem: U-standard (no lapels until 1860); AG-red & white; H-red, white & red check (1760 red, yellow & blue check); S-white type I, reverse red type I.
29. Marcieu: U-standard, white collar, copper buttons; H-red, blue chain on isabelle; S-red type I.
30. De Salles (r. Lorraine): U-standard; AG- white, gold buttons; H-red, white; S-crimson type I.
31. Talleyrand: U-standard (no lapels until 1760) H-red, green & isabelle check; S-crimson type I, on reverse a silver lion.
32. Clerrnont- Tonnem (Noe 5/58): U- standard (no lapels until 1760); VT-white; H-red, blue chain on red; S-lemon type I, on reverse a lion facing the sun.
33. Chabrillant: U-standard; H-red, black chain on white; S-red type I.
34. Egnomt (7/56 Charost): U-standard, white collar & vest, copper buttons; AG-yellow & black (narrow yellow bandolier); H-yellow, wide black border; S-yellow type I, on reverse a flowering rose tree, embroidered in silver.
35. Beauvillie: U-standard; H-red, red chain on isabelle; S-aurore type I. 36.
Grammont - Fallon (balincourt 2/59): U- standard, no lapels; AG-red & green; H-red, green chain on isabelle; S-yellow type I.
37. Bourbon-Bussett U-standard; AG-red & white; H-red, yellow chain on blue; S-red type I.
38. La Viefville (St. Aldegonde): Ustandard, white collar; H-red, blue chain on white; S- red type I.
39. Maugiron (Trasegnies 5/58): U- standard; H-red, violet & isabelle check; S-red type I.
40. Saint-Jal (vogue '59): U-standard, no lapels; H-red, green chain on red; Sred type I.
41. Fumel (R. Picardie 12/61): U-standard, AG-white; Hred, white; S-green type I (Mouillard shows red).
42. La Rochefoucauld (R. Champagne 12/61): U-standard; AGwhite; H-yellow, black; S- yellow type I.
43. Vienne or Dames (R. Navarre 12/61): U- standard; AG-white; H-red, white; S-red type I.
44. Lameth-Hennecourt (Ray 2/61): Ustandard; H-red, violet chain on isabelle; S-crimson type I.
45. Crussol d' Uzes: U-standard, no lapels, copper buttons; H-red, violet & white check; S-red type I.
46. Fleury (Toulouse-Lautrec 2/61): U- standard, white collar & lining; H-red, white & red check; S- red type I.
47. Lenoncourt (Tousain-Viray): U- standard, white lining; H-red, green (1760 blue & white check); S-green type I, on reverse the arms of Lenoncourt.
48. Bellefonds (Durfort 58 Chartres '62): U-standard; VT-white & red stripes; AG-white; H-red, white; S-red type I.
49. Dampieree (Espinchal '59): U-standard, gold buttons; H-red, green chain on white; S-poppy type I.
50. Henachemont (Escouloubre '59): U- standard, white lining, copper buttons; H-red; S-red type I, on reverse Virgin.
51. Moustiere: U-standard; H-red, violet chain on white; S-aurore type I.
52. Saluces Seyssel 2/59) U-standard, gold buttons; H-red, red chain on white; S-red type I, on reverse a lion.
53. Wurttenburg: U-standard, white cuff trim; VT & AG-white & Bavarian blue, gold buttons; H- yellow, black; S-yellow type II with silver trophy of arms in corner.
54. Noailles: U-red coat, lining, lapels & cuffs, copper buttons; VT-aurore & Bavarian blue check; H- red, as VT; S-red type I.
55. Beuvron (Preyssac 4/59): U-red coat, blue lining & cuffs, tin buttons; AG-white; H-green, green & yellow check; S-isabelle type I.
56. Fritz James: U-red coat, Bavarian blue lining, cuffs & lapels; tin buttons; VT-white; H-yellow, white (1760 green & white check); S-yellow type I.
57. Volontaires liegeois (Cavalene liegeois 2/58): U-Bavarian blue coats & hat bag, yellow lapels & cuffs, aurore lining & AG, buttonhole lace & VT white, tin buttons; H-Bavarian blue, aurore; Scrimson type I.
58. Escars: U-standard; H-red, green & red check; S-aurore type I.
68. Montcalm: U-standard; H-red, yellow & red check; S-unknown.
69. Bezons (Hency 5/58): U-standard; H- red, black & yellow check; unknown.
70. Nassau-Saarbruck (Nassau-Usingen 3/58): U-Bavarian blue coat & hat bag, straw cuffs & lapels, yellow lining buttonhole lace, buttons & AG; H-Bavarian blue, yellow; S-unknown. The uniform of the horse regiment Corse (Corsica) which garrisoned that island is unknown.
A corps of cavalry was formed by General Montcalm in Canada in 1759. The men wore blue coats with red collar, lining and cuffs. Officers were from infantry units except the commander who was from the Montcalm Cavalry. Officers wore their original uniforms.
DRAGOONS
In the French Army dragoons were not generally used
as main battle cavalry as they were in the Anglo-German
or Prussian Armies. Dragoons, however, saw much active
service both with the light troops in the "petite guerre" and
in guarding the French against British raids.
The regiments of dragoons are listed below with their number, title and changes of title in parenthesis.
1. Colonel General. 2. Mestre de Camp General. 3. Royal. 4. Le Roil 5. La Reine. 6. Le Dauphin. 7. Marboeuf (Chambri11ant 11/61). 8. Beuvron (Flarnarens 5/58). 9. Orleans. 10. Aubigne' (Choiseul '61). 11. Beauffremont. 12. Caraman (Antichamp 12/61). 13. Volom taires de Schomberg. 14. La Ferronais (Rohan Chabot '62). 15. Apchon (Nicolai 2/61). 16. Thianges. 17. Languedoc.
In 1750 the dragoons distinctive bonnet (see figure) was introduced for all ranks. Both this bonnet and the silver laced tricorne hat were worn during the war. In 1762 the helmet, already worn by Schomberg, was introduced to all regiments. Buttons were tin for the ranks and silver for officers. Buttonholes were laced white for the ranks and silver for officers. Silver fringed epaulettes distinguishing officer rank appeared after 1759 as in the infantry. Horse blankets had rounded corners.
Dragoon Bonnet
The uniform details given in the chart are generally from Mouillard. See Funckens' Lace Wars for different details, and for housing border design.
| RGT | COAT | LINING | CUFF | VEST | BONNET/BAG | PANTS | HOUSINGS | STANDARD |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | R | B | B | B | B/R | B | B | W |
| 2 | R | R | R | R | R/R | R | R | B |
| 3 | B | R | R | R | R/B | R | B | B |
| 4 | B | B | R | R | B/B | R | B | B |
| 5 | R | B | B | B | B/R | B | R | R |
| 6 | B | B | B | B | W/W | B | B | B |
| 7 | R | R | R | R | R/R | R | R | Y |
| 8 | R | R | Bk | R | R/R | R | T | R |
| 9 | R | B | B | B | B/R | R | R | R |
| 10 | R | R | R | R | R/R | R | R | R |
| 11 | R | R | R | Y | B/Y | R | Y | B |
| 12 | R | R | R | B | B/R | R | B | B |
| 13 | G | R | R | Y | * | Y | * | R |
| 14 | R | R | B | R | B/Y | R | Y | B |
| 15 | R | G | G | G | G/R | R | G | G |
| 16 | R | R | R | R | R/R | R | Br | B |
| 17 | B | R | R | B | R/B | R | B | B |
| a) B-blue, R-red, G-green, Bk-black, W-white, Y-yellow, Br-brown; uniform yellow is a straw color. b) Collars: B, 12,14B, 1}R. c) Red lapels, sheepskin blanket, and brass helmet with turbin and black horsetail worn by number 13. d) Housing edges can be left white. Detail is available in Funcken or Mouillard. | ||||||||
1st Regt. Dragoons
Dragoon standards had a rounded swallow tail design
and were fringed in gold, see figure. Most standards had
the gold sunburst device with scroll turned sideways with
top facing staff. No. 1 - had gold cipher and crown, No. 2 -
covered with gold fleur de lys, No. 5 - arms of Queen (blue
& red ovals surrounded by gold crown and wreath) on
background of fleur de lys, No. 7 - blue shield with three
fleur de lys on background of fleur de lys, No. 9 - arms of
Orleans (blue oval with three fleur de lys) in gold wreath on
background of fleur de lys, No. 11 - gold shield with a lot of
red flames flanket by two white angels all on background
of rows of red flames under silver scroll, No. 12 - gold
wreath with two swords under silver scroll, Nos. 6 & 17 -
sunburst device on background rows of fleur de lys.
Standards can be examined on plates in Mouillard or
those by Rigo.
BIBLIOGRAPHY
Lucien Mouillard, Les Regiments Sous Louis XV
Paris 1882.
Louis Susane, Histoire de la Cavalerie Francaise
Hetzel, Paris 1874. Le Plumet Series of plates by
Rigo.
A. Cart, Uniformes des Regiments Francais de
Louis XV a Nos Jours Paris 1945.
Knotel, Uniformknde IX Band, No. 9.
Lee Kennett, The French Armies During the
Seven Years War Duke University Press, Durham,
N.C. 1967.
Corps of Cavalry, Canada 1759-60 (Plate No.
441), Military Dress in America Series of plates by the
Company of Military Historians.
L. and F. Funcken, L' Uniforme et les Armes des
Soldats de la Guerre en Dentelle Casterman 1976.
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