[3] Adolphe Niel, Minister of War for France under Emperor Napoleon III, was in charge of implementing the plan.
[1] But the law to create the Garde was passed in diluted form in January 1868 by 199 to 60 votes and came into force on February 1st of that year.
[2] Additionally, conscripts with any prior knowledge of drill and military education were excused altogether from training.
[3] The discipline and equipment of the Garde were regarded as quite bad, especially when compared to the regular army.
[1] After Niel's death in 1869, his replacement Edmond Le Leboeuf regarded the Garde with disdain.