Military of New France

An illustration of French Canadian militiaman during the Seven Years' War
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The military of New France consisted of a mix of regular forces from the French Royal Army (Carignan-Salières Regiment) and French Navy (Troupes de la marine, later Compagnies Franches de la Marine) supported by small local volunteer militia units (Colonial militia).[1] Most early troops were sent from France, but localization after the growth of the colony meant that, by the 1690s, many were volunteers from the settlers of New France, and by the 1750s most troops were descendants of the original French inhabitants.[2] Additionally, many of the early troops and officers who were born in France remained in the colony after their service ended, contributing to generational service and a military elite.[3] The French built a series of forts from Newfoundland to Louisiana during the 1600s to the late 1700s.[4] Some were a mix of military posts and trading forts.[4]

  1. ^ Leslie CHOQUETTE; Leslie Choquette (2009). Frenchmen into Peasants: Modernity and Tradition in the Peopling of French Canada. Harvard University Press. p. 14. ISBN 978-0-674-02954-5.
  2. ^ Mark Zuehlke; C. Stuart Daniel (2009). Canadian Military Atlas: Four Centuries of Conflict from New France to Kosovo. D & M Publishers. pp. 5–23. ISBN 978-1-926706-70-2.
  3. ^ Gerard J. Brault (1986). The French-Canadian Heritage in New England. UPNE. p. 110. ISBN 978-0-87451-359-2.
  4. ^ a b Rene Chartrand (2013). French Fortresses in North America 1535–1763: Quebec, Montreal, Louisbourg and New Orleans. Osprey Publishing. pp. 3–5. ISBN 978-1-4728-0317-7.