In the Battle of Fornovo during the Italian Wars the Garde du Corps saved King Charles VIII from being captured by enemy forces.

[1] Individual courtier guardsmen stationed at Versailles were not subject to regular training beyond ceremonial drill, and extended periods of leave from duty were common.

[3] Officers of the Garde du Corps resented having to wear uniforms (perceived as a form of servant livery) when on duty at Versailles and eventually won the concession of appearing in civilian court dress with their military belts and swords, except when on parade.

The Garde du Corps featured conspicuously in several incidents in the opening stages of the French Revolution.

During the night of 5 October about 500 members of the crowd broke into the palace, killing two of the Gardes du Corps on duty.

The Garde du Corps narrowly escaped massacre and, disarmed, was obliged to accompany the Royal Family to Paris.

The Garde du Corps was however reorganised, reduced in numbers to about 1,500 and integrated more closely with the regular army.

The reconstituted Garde du Corps served the returned Bourbons loyally until being finally abolished, along with all Guard units, by Louis-Philippe I in 1830 after the July Revolution.

[5] The original motto of the Garde du Corps was Erit haec quoque cognita monstris (They will be recognized, them also, with their brilliant deeds), but during the reign of Louis XIV it changed to Nec pluribus impar (No unequal match for many (suns)), which also was Louis XIV's personal motto.

This troop was for a long time known under the nickname of gentilshommes au bec de corbin, because they carried a balanced ax on its handle by a bent tip.

By letters patent given at Rouen on 10 June 1475, the King exempted these gentlemen from the maintenance of the archers; he took them in his pay and formed a special company, which he entrusted to Jean Blosset, Lord of Plessis-Pate.

This company of archers was called la petite garde du roi, to distinguish it from the 1st Company (Scottish Guard) which was officially designated under the title of Cent lances des gentilshommes de l’hôtel du Roy, ordered for the guard his person, that is, his escort.