Foreign Legion

[Julnar]

When was the French Foreign Legion formed and why?

[Octavius]

In 1831.

The legion was specifically created as a unit for foreign volunteers, to be commanded by French officers and to dispose of numerous recently-displaced foreign nationals (many of whom were thought to hold revolutionary political beliefs) by sending them to Algeria to fight in the French campaign of colonialisation.

[dl56uk]

The French Foreign Legion (French: L�gion �trang�re) is a unique unit of the French Army, established in 1831. The legion was specifically created as a unit for foreign volunteers, to be commanded by French officers; it is however also open to French citizens, who amount to 24% of recruits[1]. After the July Revolution of 1830, foreigners were forbidden to enlist in the French Army, and so the Legion was created to allow France a way around this restriction. The Legion was also seen as a convenient way to dispose of numerous recently-displaced foreign nationals (many of whom were thought to hold revolutionary political beliefs) by sending them to Algeria to fight in the French campaign of colonialisation.

The Legion was primarily used to protect and expand the French colonial empire during the 19th century, but it also fought in all French wars including the Franco-Prussian War and both World Wars.