Little represents the glory, power and strength of France better than the Musketeers. Romanticized, idolized and immortalized by modern movies, books and legends, the musketeer has taken on an almost mythological status in modern minds-and for good reason. Their prowess in battle, rambunctious style, dangerous lifestyle and romantic attitude seem to represent the perfect qualities of a man. Women wanted them and men wanted them. However, this view is only accurate for a very small selection of Musketeers throughout history.
The name "musketeer" applies to soldiers from around the world whose primary weapon the musket, a precursor of the gun was. It was a muzzle loading smooth bore gun, which is only accurate to 50 to 100 meters, depending on the purpose was. Nations around the world with their infantry muskets which, with the addition of the bayonet, both pikes and older gunpowder weapons made redundant. Musketeers was the rank and file soldiers of an army, the fundamental infantry.
Immortalized the image of a musketeer, however, refers to the French Musketeers of the guard, an elite group of soldiers that consists entirely of experienced nobles or the high elite of the common soldiers. They defended the King and his family in addition to participating in almost every French campaign in the 17th and 18th century. They were the best of the best; the cream of the crop. Their days were spent training or wary and they got the best of everything. In war they were rightly feared and their presence can turn the tide of the battle. They were in the deadly duels with their gun or trademark rapier and main gauche. Many competing nobles lost their lives in this elite honor duels with Musketeers.
Strongly influenced by Renaissance style clothing of the time, blue musketeer Tabard with the Silver Cross and fleur-de-lis crested dashing style combined with daring and adventurous usability. Leather gloves and Black Suede boots along with an undershirt, dueling leather pants, and a cavalier Hat completed the look and created a powerful symbol of the pronunciation of the French monarchy. Cardinal Richelieu organized a personal musketeer guard for himself and gave them blood-red Tabard Inn. Ruthless drop rebellions and political opponents in the French Government, it was blood red a disturbingly accurate color for his "reign" as the King's main adviser and right hand man. A black colored Tabard Inn appeared in Alexandre Dumas, the Man in the iron mask.
Numbers ranged between 150 and 300 depending on what point in history is a watching, they are a very reliable and powerful fighting force. Fighting foot on long distance with a musket or pistol as well as in close hand-to-hand combat with the rapier and main gauche, the Musketeers of the Guard were ready for any situation. Next to it on the foot, they were experienced horsemen and could both fire and fighting horse. They were eventually fully disbanded in 1816 after 200 years of service as the French Government can no longer be financed.
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