Third French Company of Life Guards, France 1515

The Third Company of Life Guards was created by François 1 of France from a company of archers who had served him prior to his coronation. 

Their function was to accompany the king on foot within the palace, guard any room in which he was present, and to provide a mounted escort whenever he left the palace. 

They participated in François I’s wars against Charles V for dominion over Europe and were defeated in the battle of Pavía in which Charles V’s army captured the French monarch.