Foreign Legion, French

Foreign Legion, French

 French Légion étrangère

French military corps consisting originally of foreign volunteers in the pay of France but now including many Frenchmen. It was founded in 1831 as a highly disciplined professional army to help control French colonies in Africa. Since its founding, it has been in almost continuous combat; its forces have fought or been stationed in such places as Europe, Mexico, Syria, and Southeast Asia. The new volunteer swears to serve not France but the legion; after three years of service with good conduct, foreign-born soldiers are eligible for French citizenship. Since the legion keeps a volunteer's past secret, it has been romanticized as a haven for those seeking new identities, including criminals, but legionnaires typically are professional soldiers. Originally headquartered in Algeria, the legion moved its headquarters to France after Algerian independence.