On March 10, 2016, the French Foreign Legion commemorates the 185th anniversary of its founding on March 10, 1831. That day, a decree of the Council of State ratified the royal ordinance signed by Louis Philippe, the King of the French, on March 9. In the Article 1re of this three-article ordinance, the king authorized to form a Legion of Foreigners (Légion d’Etrangers) inside France.
The only detail regarding the Legion was provided in that ordinance of the 9th March: the Legion is allowed to be engaged outside France only.
Next day, on March 10, 1831, a second royal ordinance signed by King Louis Philippe followed the first one. Consisting of nine articles, the ordinance thoroughly specified the establishment of the new unit composed of foreigners and named the unit as Foreign Legion (Légion étrangère). The ordinance, besides other things, allowed foreigners to serve for France under a declared identity. A permission valid to this day. However, in this new ordinance of the 10th March, the reference to the engagment of the Legion outside France was left out this time.
This Legion (which is called Vieille Légion, Old Legion now) was based in northern Algeria to participate in the pacification of the then French colony. The Legion served France until June 1835, when the whole Legion (about 4,000 men) was sent to Spain. There, the unit was transferred to the Spanish forces loyal to Madrid, to fight the Carlists in the First Carlist War (1833-39).
On December 15, 1835, a new royal ordinance of King Louis Philippe ordered to create a New Legion (Nouvelle Légion). That Legion, with its HQ also based in Algeria (up to 1962), became the current Foreign Legion.
When the war in Spain ended in 1839, only 200-250 survivors from the original “Vieille Légion” returned to France
Royal Ordinance of March 10, 1831
| Royal Ordinance of March 10, 1831 of King Louis Philippe | |
|---|---|
| Art. 1 | It will be formed a Legion composed of Foreigners. This Legion will be called Légion étrangère. |
| Il sera formé une Légion composée d’Étrangers. Cette Légion prendra la dénomination de Légion étrangère. | |
| Art. 2 | Battalions of the Foreign Legion will be formed as the French elementary infantry battalions, exept for elite companies. Every company, if possible, will be composed of men of the same nationality and speaking the same language. |
| Les bataillons de la Légion étrangère auront la formation que les Bataillons d’infanterie de ligne francaise, excepté qu’ils n’auront point de compagnie d’élite. Chaque compagnie sera, autant que possible, composée d’hommes de méme nation et parlant la méme langue. | |
| Art. 3 | As for the salary, the masses and its administration, the Foreign Legion will be assimilated into the French regiments. The uniform will be blue with simple rose madder piping and trousers of the same color, the buttons will be yellow and will carry the words Légion étrangère. |
| Pour la solde, les masses et son administration, la Légion étrangère sera assimilée aux régiments français. L’uniforme sera bleu avec le simple passepoil garance et le pantalon de même couleur, les boutons seront jaunes et porteront les mots Légion étrangère. | |
| Art. 4 | Any foreigner who wants to join the Foreign Legion will not be accepted until having signed a volunteer contract in front of a non-commissioned officer. |
| Tout étranger qui voudra faire partie de la Légion étrangère ne pourra y être admis qu’après avoir contracté, devant un sous-intendant militaire, un engagement volontaire. | |
| Art. 5 | The duration of the contract will be for a minimum of three years and a maximum of five years. |
| La durée de l’engagement sera de trois ans au moins et de cinq ans au plus. | |
| Art. 6 | To be capable to join, the foreigners will have to be not more than forty years old, and have to be at least eighteen years old, and 1 meter and 55 centimeters tall. They also have to be holders 1) of their birth certificate or any other similar document; 2) of an acceptance certificate of a military authority stating that they are qualified to provide good service. |
| Pour être reçus à s’engager, les étrangers devront n’avoir pas plus de quarante ans, et avoir au moins dix-huit ans accomplis, et la taille de 1 metre et 55 centimetres. Ils devront en outre être porteur 1) de leur acte de naissance ou de tout autre pièce équivalente; 2) d’un certificat d’acceptation de l’autorité militaire constatant qu’ils ont les qualités requises pour faire un bon service. | |
| Art. 7 | In the absence of that documents, a foreigner will be send in front of the general officer who will decide if enlistment can be accepted. |
| En l’absence de pièces, l’Étranger sera envoyé devant l’Officier Général qui décidera si l’engagement peut être reçu. | |
| Art. 8 | The soldiers being a part of the Foreign Legion can be re-engaged for a minimum of two years and a maximum of five years. Re-engagements will not guarantee the right for a high pay such as the soldiers having completed five years service. |
| Les militaires faisant partie de la Légion étrangère se pourront rengager pour deux ans au moins et cinq ans au plus. Les rengagements ne donneront droit à une haute paie qu’autant que les militaires auront accompli cinq ans de service. | |
| Art. 9 | Our Minister of War is responsible for the execution of this presented ordinance. |
| Notre Ministre Secrétaire d’État au Département de la Guerre est chargé de l’exécution de la présente ordonnance. | |
Royal Ordinance of March 9, 1831
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Related posts:
French Foreign Legion history