Cavalry School


The Cavalry school is a French military training establishment at Saumur. Originally set up to train the cavalry of the French Army, it now trains the troops of France's arme blindée cavalerie in reconnaissance and armoured warfare.

History

In 1763, Louis XV reorganised the French cavalry. A new school for officers from all the cavalry regiments was set up at Saumur, managed and supervised by the "Corps Royal des Carabiniers" - since its inception the school has been hosted in the carabinier regiment's quarter of the town, latterly in a magnificent 18th century building. This functioned until 1788. At the end of 1814, after the First Restoration, Louis XVIII set up the "École d'Instruction des Troupes à cheval" in Saumur. Its activities declined from 1822 onwards so it was regenerated by Charles X under the name of the "École Royale de Cavalerie". Most of its building complex was taken up with a military riding area and a riding-academy training hall. From 1830, with the disappearance of the École de Versailles, Saumur became the capital and sole repository of the French equestrian tradition, and its knowledge is still recognised throughout the world. At the end of the Second World War the French mounted cavalry and armoured troops merged to form the 'Arme blindée et cavalerie', with the École de Saumur becoming the new branch's training centre.
After a 1985 reorganisation, the 12th Light Armoured Division was planned as a mobilisation division of the French Army, with its headquarters to be formed on the basis of the staff of the École d'application de l'Arme blindée et de la cavalerie at Saumur. The division comprised the 507 RCC at Saumur, the 3 RCh, also at Saumur and also attached to the EAABC, the Legion's 4th Foreign Regiment at Castelnaudary, and the 33rd Regiment of Artillery, at St Maixent, attached to an NCO school.

Commandants of the E.A.A.B.C.

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