Louis XV's army (5) Colonial and Naval Troops

In 1715, when the infant Louis XV became king, France had a sizeable overseas empire in America, Africa and Asia. These colonies were garrisoned by thousands of regular officers and soldiers who belonged to the Navy's colonial establishment or by the French East India Company's troops. This represented some 4,500 European officers and men in 1720; about 6,500 Europeans with about 10,000 Sepoys in 1756; and about 8,800 Europeans and 1,000 Sepoys by 1770. The Navy had its own establishment of troops based in France for sea service, hovering between 6,000 and 11,000 officers and men. These troops did not form part of the regular army, and are not usually covered in histories of the French forces. Yet, since the end of the 17th century, they saw most action against the enemy overseas [usually the British] and in ships on the high seas; it was only from 1755 that metropolitan army battalions first saw action overseas. Thus, we are dealing with a largely 'unknown' colonial and naval army. Much of the information presented by René Chartrand in this last volume in a series of five [Men-at-Arms 296, 302, 304, 308 & 313], is entirely new and abstracted from considerable historical data. This fine text detailing the uniforms, arms and accoutrements of these troops is accompanied by numerous photographs and illustrations, including eight full page colour plates by Eugène Lelièpvre.

Introduction
Colonial regular troops
Uniforms, arms and accoutrements
Colonial artillery corps
Auxiliary colonial troops
Colonial troops 1763-1772
Colonial militias
Naval troops
Select bibliography
The plates

Auteur
René Chartrand was born in Montral and educated in Canada, the United States and the Bahamas. A senior curator with Canada's National Historic Sites for nearly three decades, he is now a freelance writer and historical consultant for cinema and historic sites restorations. He has written numerous articles and books including almost 20 Osprey titles and the first two volumes of Canadian Military Heritage. Also a student of wines, he currently lives in Hull, Quebec, with his wife and two sons.
Illustrateur
Eugène Lelièpvre has been painting military subjects for over fifty years. In 1950 he was made the Official Painter to the French Army and he is also a fellow of the Company of Military Historians. An acknowledged expert on 18th century military subjects, he is married and lives in Paris.