This unit has the distinction of being the oldest regiment of horse in the army, taking the field for the first time in 1726 (mundane year 1976). At that time, they sported red coats and were known as Maria Catherina's Horse Guards. It was thought that the red coats may have attracted a little too much attention from opposition artillery. It was almost two years after first taking the field that the regiment was finally able to survive bombardment long enough to actually close with the enemy. They managed to lose that engagement also.
The high command, in a noble if misguided attempt to change the fortunes of the horsemen, re-named the unit and changed the coat color to yellow. To this day, their morale continues to live up to their coat color. For all of it's lackluster history, the Gendarmere are the oldest mounted unit in St. Maurice, and currently remain the only cavalry component among the brigade of guards. Their organization has become the standard for all cavalry regiments, and consists of:
1. Colonel - currently Guy-Henri Count Muskatelle
2. 1 Trumpeter
3. 1 Regimental Standard/Guidon (in St. Maurice these two devices amount to the same thing).
4. 2 Additional officers.
5. 24 Troopers.
Well, I've finally decided to toss my chapeau into the blog arena, and create a home for the citizenry of St. Maurice. Intentions being what they are, I thought I'd start off by saying that my plan is to post a couple of time a month unless something earth-shaking (or at the very least, Imagi-Nation-shaking) occurs. The early posts will be a description of the organization and composition of the Army of St. Maurice, and I'll attempt to post appropriate pictures as often as possible. And now, on with the Show!
A Little History - The kingdom of St. Maurice was established in the year 1675, When Louis-Phillipe I, at that time an itenerate Count in the French court, managed to lay hands on the deed to territory amounting to approximately the lower one-third of the current Alsace region. It took the new owner only a short time to realize that he was sitting on one of the more important trade routes connecting greater France (read Paris) in the west and Vienna in the east. Within ten years, no commerce operating between the two capitols was safe from the wholesale shakedown the Latrine family instigated and Louis-Phillipe had socked away enough cash to hire most of the thugs in eastern France.
When Louis XIV ordered the unfortunate Count to court to explain himself, Louis-Phillipe claimed he never got the message. When Le Roi Soleil threatened to send troops, the resourceful Phillipe declared the territory independent, made himself king and sent emissaries to all the major Germanic states as well as Austria seeking protection. This diplomatic juggling act survives to the present day (December 16, 1757).
