Even today, the French Fifth Republic has within its armed forces a contingent composed of foreigners: the French Foreign Legion. The latter, however, has traditions that date back to the Ancien Régime, when national identities were still in their in their developing state. Indeed, from the reign of Louis XIV, the kingdom of France raised a number of foreign regiments: these were Swiss, Germans, Irish, Scottish, Italian, Walloon, Liègois and Hungarian. Although contradictory to the idea that we have today of the formation of the modern military apparatus, characterized by citizenship and finally by compulsory military service in France until 2002, these troops were still needed for the French war effort. It helped to bolster the ranks, in addition to consolidating alliances with states in the French zone of influence. The Swiss and German regiments were not only the largest contingents, but they also had special privileges. Freedom of worship – they are the only corps in the French army to openly accept Protestants – and the delegation of justice to regimental colonels, one of the main royal rights, are not the least. The latter therefore became both a motivation for military service to the Most Christian Kings and an obstacle to the strengthening of military justice in the kingdom of France during the 18th century.