French Foreign Legion: Arms Contexts

Jim McDougall · Yesterday, 05:10 PM

In keeping with what has just been noted, the questions I have concerning the Foreign Legion are, it seems the concept began with the Chasseurs d'Afrique in 1831, which was essentially a colonial contingent of the French Army.

Since foreigners were not allowed to join the French Army, they arranged a special type unit which was comprised of foreign nationals. This evolved into units into a larger contingent which it seems to have coincided. Here things get conflicting for me, as in the book (realizing of course it is faction) "Under Two Flags" (by Ouida) has an English noble escaping scandal enter the Chausseurs d'Afrique, under assumed name of course.

There were apparently other cavalry as auxiliary forces known as 'Spahi' (from the Ottoman light cavalry) made up of numerous tribal groups. This is where much of the connection between native and French arms come in.

I have also not found examples of weapons with regimental or 'rack' markings directly aligned with Foreign Legion units, and it would be pretty exciting to see an example of a native weapon with such marks!

Yesterday, 05:10 PM	#6
Jim McDougall Arms Historian Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Route 66 Posts: 10,579	In keeping with what has just been noted, the questions I have concerning the Foreign Legion are, it seems the concept began with the Chasseurs d'Afrique in 1831, which was essentially a colonial contingent of the French Army. Since foreigners were not allowed to join the French Army, they arranged a special type unit which was comprised of foreign nationals. This evolved into units into a larger contingent which it seems to have coincided. Here things get conflicting for me, as in the book (realizing of course it is faction) "Under Two Flags" (by Ouida) has an English noble escaping scandal enter the Chausseurs d'Afrique, under assumed name of course. There were apparently other cavalry as auxiliary forces known as 'Spahi' (from the Ottoman light cavalry) made up of numerous tribal groups. This is where much of the connection between native and French arms come in. I have also not found examples of weapons with regimental or 'rack' markings directly aligned with Foreign Legion units, and it would be pretty exciting to see an example of a native weapon with such marks!