The Military King’s House
In 1671, Louis XIV decided that during wartime, the King’s guards, the Gendarmes and light cavalry of the king's ordinary guard, the grey and black musketeers and the horse grenadiers would all fall under one cavalry corps: the King’s House. He also added the Gendarmerie de France and two infantry regiments: the French Guards and the Swiss Guards. This new military entity had a threefold role: protecting the monarch at close hand in royal residences and surrounding areas as well as during his travels, lending to the prestige of royal ceremonies and distinguishing itself in various battles and sieges. This album retraces the history of these units and presents key figures from the Ancien Régime. Basing his account on 20 years of research conducted by Gabriele Mendella, Alexandre Loire describes the role of the King’s House in battle, daily life and ceremonies, giving us a fuller picture of the Court of Versailles.

les éditions Soteca
Dimensions 19 x 26 cm, 96 pages
ISBN 978 2 37663 002 9
Publication : 8 December 2016