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CHAPTER XIV. 



French Cavalry — Campaigns of Cond6, Turenne, 



AND Luxembourg. 



SECTION I. organisation, ARMAMENT, AND EQUIPMENT 



OF CAVALRY UNDER LOUIS XIV. 



At this period the cavahy of all European nations, 

 except that of the Turks, was composed either of 

 cuirassiers or of horsemen, who, although equipped and 

 uniformed in various ways, were yet in reality simply 

 dragoons. After the time of Gustavus Adolphus the 

 cavalry seemed gradually to have fallen back somewhat 

 in their tactics and method of fighting, and for a long 

 period the system of providing cavalry with firearms, 

 and relying mainly upon them, again came into use. 



Louis XIV. increased the number of his guards or 

 household troops very materially, and spent enormous 

 sums in uniforming and equipping them, so that they 

 were probably the most magnificent and expensive body 

 of soldiery at that period maintained in Europe.' A 

 large portion of them consisted of cavalry, there being 

 four companies of body-guards, one company of 

 gendarmes, one of light horse, and two companies of 

 mousquetaires.^ The companies of body-guards consisted 

 of 360 men each, with a captain, three lieutenants, three 

 ensigns, twelve exempts, twelve brigadiers, twelve sub- 

 brigadiers, and six standard-bearers. Each company 

 was divided into six divisions, called brigades, com- 



• Daniel, ii. 81. » Ibid. 82. 



