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Why was the French Foreign Legion created during France’s conquest of Algeria?

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French Foreign Legion soldiers in uniform with white hats and rifles stand in formation during a Bastille Day parade on the Champs Elysees in Paris. — French Foreign Legion Soldiers of the French Foreign Legion in a parade celebrating Bastille Day in Paris.

The French Foreign Legion was founded by King Louis-Philippe on March 9, 1831, specifically to support the conquest of Algeria, which France had invaded the previous year.1

The creation of the Legion served as a temporary expedient to address two primary needs:
* Military Manpower: The French army at the time barred foreigners from serving in its regular ranks. By creating a separate unit, France could utilize foreign volunteers to meet the heavy demands of imperial conquest.21
* Managing Refugees and Unemployed Soldiers: The unit provided a structured role for the large number of refugees and unemployed soldiers—such as members of former Swiss regiments—who had crowded into France following the July Revolution of 1830.1

While the Legion’s early performance was hampered by mismanagement and high desertion rates, it eventually became a central force in the brutal counterinsurgency campaigns against Abdelkader, the leader of the tribal coalition resisting French rule.1