Re-enactment is a topsy-turvy world, where people portray peasants and princes as much as their imagination (and wallets) desire. This also makes for a world in which those who are French…aren’t. This is therefore a challenge – how does one portray someone in a different language? All the sources relating to our regiment, such as the drill, uniform regulations, and personal accounts, are in French – and an earlier form of French, at that!
One major barrier is, of course, drill. In our case, we must work from the 1776 Ordonnance du Roi pour régler l’Exercice de ses Troupes d’Infanterie (the Orders of the King to Regulate the Exercise of his Infantry Troops). Unlike the British or Americans, we have to translate it before we interpret it. We do this by:
1) Using modern translation aids
2) Asking friendly Francophones, particularly with colloquialisms and phrasing
3) Building upon the work conducted by our colleagues in Le Régiment Bourbonnais.
4) The most obscure leg-up is the limited application of English-language translations of the 1791 drill manual. Whilst changes were made, this document gives insight into how later soldats were instructed – and can be particularly useful in understanding how the French army approached teaching basic movements.
We are (unfortunately) in the position of being the first group in the UK to approach this impression, but we also greatly benefit from the international effort to represent the army of King Louis XVI. If we are not able to do or source something, there will be someone else who can. We work in the spirit of co-operation, and can address challenges together.
Vive le Roi!
Le Régiment Gatinois 