Buzz
Members of the French Foreign Legion examining a map near the southern Lebanese border. France deployed Legionnaires to assist in Lebanon's reconstruction following the 2006 Hezbollah-Israel conflict. Explore more images of soldiers.
Thomas Coex/AFP/Getty ImagesMain Points
- Founded in 1831 by King Louis-Philippe, the French Foreign Legion was created to manage the surge of radicals entering France, enabling foreign soldiers to serve in a distinct unit separate from the French military.
- Initially, the legion provided a refuge for individuals with minor criminal backgrounds or those desiring a fresh start, implementing a policy of "anonymat" (anonymity) to safeguard recruits' identities, a tradition that persists today (though with stricter recruitment standards).
- Initially aimed at redirecting potential threats from France and supporting colonial endeavors in Algeria, the French Foreign Legion has transformed into an elite military force that continues to admit foreign recruits under the condition of anonymity.
For decades, young men have sought solace in the army by leaving their homes. Some aim to escape challenging circumstances, while others flee from disgraceful situations. Regardless of their reasons, they view the army as a sanctuary for redemption—a chance to rebuild their lives and gain respect. While numerous military organizations recognize this phenomenon, one leverages it as a recruitment strategy. This is the French Foreign Legion, a distinctive mercenary division within the French military that promotes itself as "the school of second chances."
A key feature of the legion is its anonymat rule (French for "anonymity"), requiring all Legionnaires to relinquish their civilian identities upon enlistment. Recruits adopt a declared identity—a new name used during their initial year of service. After this period, a Legionnaire can reclaim their original name through a process called "military regularization of the situation," involving the acquisition of new identity documents from their home country. Alternatively, they may continue their five-year service under their declared identity.
This practice may appear unusual until you understand the legion's unique structure. Unlike standard national armies that enlist their own citizens, this military unit exclusively recruits foreigners, hence its name, the French Foreign Legion. French nationals wishing to join must first adopt the nationality of another French-speaking country.
In many respects, Legionnaires are abandoning their previous national identities to embrace a new French identity. Additionally, many men (the legion does not accept women) who enlist have dubious pasts they aim to escape. The declared identity rule ensures equality among all Legionnaires, regardless of their history.
The legion's distinctive traditions are deeply rooted in the turbulent history of 19th-century France. On the following page, we will briefly explore this history to better understand the origins and significance of the declared identity rule in the French Foreign Legion.
History of the French Foreign Legion
King Louis-Philippe played a role in designing the uniforms worn by French Foreign Legion soldiers during their 2007 parade on the Champs-Elysees.
AFP/Getty ImagesIn 1830, during the July Revolution, King Louis-Philippe ascended to the throne following the overthrow of King Charles X and the Bourbon monarchy by Parisian radicals. This event inspired many Europeans to advocate for the revolution's principles of liberty and equality in their own nations. However, their efforts often failed, leading to an influx of fervent revolutionaries seeking sanctuary in France among fellow radicals.
Despite gaining power through radicalism, King Louis-Philippe was concerned about the surge of radicals entering France. Many possessed military skills, and the king viewed them as a threat to his reign. Redirecting them to military service seemed logical, but foreign soldiers were barred from joining the French army. To circumvent this, the king proposed the creation of a légion étrangère—a foreign legion.
On March 9, 1831, King Louis-Philippe outlined the framework for his new military force in eight articles. These articles covered essential details, ranging from service terms to the design of the Legionnaire uniforms.
While the rule of anonymat wasn't explicitly stated, other provisions made anonymity appealing. For instance, the sixth article required recruits to present a birth certificate, a certificate of "good life manners," and a military endorsement of their service capabilities. However, the seventh article granted officers the authority to assess recruits lacking these documents at their discretion. In the early years, minimal background checks were conducted, making the legion a haven for criminals, vagrants, and societal outcasts.
This arrangement suited the king, who intended to deploy the newly established legion to Algeria, an African territory France started colonizing in 1830. This strategy achieved two goals: it eliminated potential revolutionary threats from French territory and advanced France's colonial ambitions. For approximately 120 years, the French Foreign Legion and Algeria were nearly inseparable. The legion maintained its headquarters in Algeria until 1962, when the newly independent Algerian government insisted on its removal.
Today, nearly two centuries later, the legion continues to enlist foreign soldiers and individuals often deemed undesirable. Initially, the legion accepted almost anyone who appeared fit and was eager to fight for France. Now, the recruitment process is more stringent. Minor criminal records may be overlooked, but serious crimes like murder are not tolerated. Deserters from other military forces are also rejected. Despite these changes, the rule of anonymat persists, along with the legion's unwavering dedication to safeguarding its recruits' identities.
Continue to the next page for additional insights into the French Foreign Legion and other military-related topics.
The French Foreign Legion is the most renowned of its kind, but it isn't the only one. In 1920, Spain established the Spanish Foreign Legion, modeled after the French army, though its ranks are now primarily filled by Spaniards serving overseas. The Spanish struggled to recruit foreigners as effectively as the French, leading to its current designation: the Spanish Legion.
Some military analysts propose that the U.S. could enhance its effectiveness in the war on terror by forming an American Foreign Legion. One preliminary concept involves three 8,000-member infantry divisions composed of foreign-born soldiers led by regular Army officers [source: Hommer].
