Swiss Guards of the Seven Years’ War
The Swiss Guards were an infantry regiment composed of Swiss mercenaries serving the Kings of France between 1616 and 1792. In the 18th century, the Gardes Suisses were brigaded with the Gardes Françaises. They fought at the Battle of Dettingen, 27 june 1743, and at Fontenoy, 11 may 1745. The regiment had a strength of 1600 all ranks in twelve companies. Many of its captains were general officers or colonels of Swiss infantry regiments of the French army. In 1760, the French army had 12.888 Swiss soldiers in eleven Swiss infantry regiments, compared to 2324 men in the Swiss Guards. In 1763, the Gardes Suisses received a grenadier company of 100 men.