Government of Canada / Gouvernement du Canada Symbol of the Government of Canada


 Français

 Contact Us

 Help

 Search

 Canada Site

Canadian Military Heritage
Table of Contents


CHAPTER 1
The First Warriors
CHAPTER 2
Soldiers of the Sixteenth Century
CHAPTER 3
The First Soldiers of New France
CHAPTER 4
The King's Soldiers
Royal Control Replaces Private Enterprise
The Dispatch Of Royal Troops
The Carignan
Attacks On The Iroquois
Peace
Military Colonization
A "Royal" Garrison
The Establishment Of A Canadian Militia
Irregular Soldiers And Hardened Voyageurs
Acadia
Placentia, Newfoundland
An Era Of Progress
CHAPTER 5
The Compagnies Franches de la Marine of Canada
CHAPTER 6
Soldiers of the Atlantic Seaboard
CHAPTER 7
The Military Empire
APPENDIX A
The Organization of New France
APPENDIX B
Daily Life in New France
APPENDIX C
Flags and Uniforms
APPENDIX D
Reference

    
CHAPTER 4 The King's Soldiers

    
    
An Era Of Progress ( 1 page )

    
Back Next
         
    
The dispatch of the Carignan-Salières Regiment brought an era of peace to the French colony in North America, which it had despaired of ever seeing again, and gave a strong impetus to colonization.  As a result, this period was one of the most decisive in the history of New France.  The dismissal of the soldiers weakened the colony's defences but gave rise to another royal initiative which proved just as beneficial: the founding of a Canadian militia.  These steps provided a solid base for initial forays to the west and south and for the realization of a dream as vast in scope as America itself: the creation of a great French empire.  However, French control over access to the continent via the St. Lawrence remained weak, especially in Acadia and Newfoundland.  Furthermore, another enemy besides the Iroquois was looming on the horizon: the British colonies, already well-populated and increasingly aggressive.

    
Back Next


  Last Updated: 2004-06-20 Top of Page Important Notices